Uganda - Traveller information

Local laws and conventions: Photographing airports or military installations is prohibited and commercial photographers should consult the Ministry of Information for a permit. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting and casual dress is generally acceptable for most occasions. Ugandans operate a smart dress code for business. Business appointments must always be made, and English is widely used. Conference facilities are available in Kampala, which has an international conference centre. Office hours are Mon–Fri 0800–1300 and 1400–1700.

Immigration and customs: Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended length of stay. Visas are required for visitors from all countries except Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Burundi, Comoros, Cyprus, Eritrea, Fiji Islands, The Gambia, Grenada, Ireland, Italy (diplomatic passport holders only), Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Rwanda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Visitors should keep a copy of the relevant pages of their passport and visa on them at all times, while storing the originals in a safe place.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by all those arriving from infected areas.

A special permit is needed to export game trophies.

Travel within the country: Traffic drives on the left and visitors will need an international driving permit. National speed limits are 100kph on highways and 80kph elsewhere. Car hire is available in Kampala, though those without experience of driving in the country are advised to organise a vehicle with a driver.

Bus services run throughout Uganda; visitors can also use the Post Bus, which is run by the Ugandan Post Office and is recommended when travelling between towns in Uganda.

In urban areas, there is an extensive network of Matatas, or minibuses, which are a quick and convenient method of transport. Taxis, identifiable by their black and white stripes, are widely available but are more expensive.

Travel health: Visitors should ensure they have comprehensive health insurance which includes air evacuation in case of serious accident or illness.

Visitors will need protection against malaria, which is widespread, as well as insect repellent and suitable clothing to protect against mosquito bites.

Water should be boiled or sterilised before use.

Money: The local currency is the Uganda shilling (USh). Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and exchange bureaux. Credit cards and travellers cheques are not widely accepted outside of Kampala. The US dollar is traditionally the hard currency of preference, but euros and pounds sterling can also be used. Banking hours are Mon–Fri 0830–1400 and Sat 0900–1200.

There were 467,728 tourist arrivals in 2005.