Shopping
Necessary commodities are available in supermarkets, shops and local markets countrywide. Roadside markets offer a variety of fruits like bananas, mangoes, oranges, avocado, pawpaw, apples, carrots etc. Make sure that you wash the fruits thoroughly before eating; however, you can enjoy roasted chicken, goat meat and banana (gonja) on the spot.
Weather
The climate in Uganda is as near to perfect as you can find. The nights are cool, but rarely cold. A fleece or light jumper is all that is necessary. The days hover around 24-28 degrees C. The sun is hot on the equator and a wide brimmed hat provides the best protection against sunburn and heat stroke. Suncream is also essential.
Rainy season comes twice a year – April /May and again in October /November /December. But the sun still shines during the rainy season, and the rain still falls during the dry. The wettest month is probably November, and the hottest month is February.
Medical Precautions
Yellow Fever immunisation is Mandatory for entry into the country.
We also strongly recommend that all visitors take malaria prophylactics and carry repellent with them. Mosquitoes are rarely bad, but malaria is simply not worth it.
Prescription drugs should be carried with you, but over the counter drugs are easy to find in Uganda and very inexpensive. If you have any allergies, please ensure you are equipped to deal with any reactions you may have. Ideally, you should let us know before you arrive if you suffer from any dangerous allergies.
Visas
Visas are needed to visit Uganda. You can get one before you leave, or they are obtainable on arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Visas cost US $30.
Currency
We use the Ugandan Shilling here, but often things are quoted in dollars as well. Currently one US Dollar is worth approximately 1,840 shillings. Credit Cards are rarely accepted, and upcountry it is advisable to carry shillings in smaller denominations. There are numerous forex bureaux in the main towns.
Language
English is the national language of Uganda.
Airlines Which Fly To Uganda
Air Tanzania: Flies to Uganda three times a week from Dar es Salaam.
British Airways : Flies to Uganda direct from the UK three times a week. British Airways is the UK’s largest international scheduled airline, flying to over 550 destinations.
Egypt Air : Flies to Uganda once a week from Cairo. Egypt Air is one of the pioneer airlines in the world, established in May 1932 to become the seventh carrier to be established in the world.
Ethiopia Air : Flies to Uganda six times a week from Addis Abba. Ethiopian Airlines was founded on 30th December 1945, initially with the contractual assistance of TWA.
Emirates : Flies to Uganda seven times a week from Dubai. Emirates is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world and has received more than 250 international awards for excellence since its launch in 1985.
Kenya Airways : Flies to Uganda seven times a week /several times per day from Nairobi. Kenya Airways was established in 1977 following the break up of the East African Community and subsequent disbanding of the jointly-owned East African Airways.
South African Airways : Flies to Uganda three times a week from Johannesburg.
SN Brussels : Flies to Uganda three times a week from Brussels. SN Brussels Airlines was founded in 2002, when a group of Belgian investors set up SN Air Holding.
Hotels In Kampala/Entebbe (just a few)
Backpacker Range : Red Chilli Hideaway , Fraba Hostel (Entebbe)
$50 – $85 Range : Africana Hotel , American Recreation Association , The Boma , Fang Fang Hotel .
$100 – $125 Range : Mamba Point Guesthouse , Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel , Grand Imperial Hotel .
$130 – $185 Range : Speke Resort , Sheraton Hotel
4wd Car Rentals
City Cars : Approx $125.00 per day. Includes 150 free km – .30 cents for each additional km. Rates include VAT.
Hertz Uganda: +256 (0)41 347 191. Approx $128.00 per day. Includes 150 free km – .40 cents for each additional km. Rates exclude VAT.
Extras
You’ll Need a Visa: Ugandan visas are issued at their Missions/Embassies abroad and also at the Entry/Exit Points e.g. Entebbe, Busia, Malaba etc. Cost is 30$ ; having exact change will make visa processing time much faster. More here: www.immigration.go.ug .
Medical:
The Surgery : The practice was originally established in the 1940’s and follows a long line of British expatriate GP’s. The current proprietor Dr. Stockley joined Dr Gibbons in 1993 and took over when Dr Gibbons retired in 1998.
The International Medical Centre: Emergency Number: +256 (0) 77 741 291.
Extra Activities (close to Kampala):
ATV Safaris: Quad-Bike Safaris beside the River Nile, Bujagali Falls, Uganda. Use our all terrain vehicles (ATVs) to get to parts of Africa that you can’t get to with any other vehicle. Drive yourself. You require no previous experience.
Adrift Adventure : Whitewater Rafting and Adventure Activities. More than four thousand miles in length, the might Nile is the longest river on earth. The great waterway has played a monumental role in history.
Newspapers:
The New Vision : The New Vision was set up in 1986 after Yoweri Museveni and the National Resistance Army captured state power in Uganda.
The Monitor : Uganda’s independent newspaper.
Resource Sites:
Visit Uganda : The Uganda Tourist Board Web site.
My Uganda : Uganda’s leading internet resource guide.
Travel Uganda : This Travel Planner is for those seeking information on available tourism services in Uganda.
Money Tips
Uganda operates a liberal banking and foreign currency exchange policy. There is a wide array of banks and forex bureaus to choose from, with several international banks represented; Barclays, Standard Chartered, Stanbic, DFCU, City Bank.
Credit cards are not widely accepted (but it is improving). They can generally be used with tour companies, car rental companies, larger hotels and upper-end restaurants. You will be charged a 5% surcharge.
Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered offer cash advances against Visa cards through their network of ATM’s.
The US$ dollar is the most common foreign currency – but comes with a few conditions. Bills issued before 1996 are generally not accepted in most shops and forex bureaus. Also, bills that are not in crisp condition sometimes have problems being read by the machines and may be rejected. Finally, if possible and with the exception of buying an entry visa, bring only 50 /100$ bills. A denomination less than 50$ will get exchanged at a significantly lower rate. As of yet no other currency (Pounds, Euro, etc) has these problems.
Kampala is the best place to exchange money as outside the city the rate is significantly lower.
The latest exchange rates are listed on the New Vision’s web site (far right-hand side column).
Principal Taxes:
Uganda’s principal taxes are income tax both on individuals and companies, Value Added Tax, customs, and excise duty levied by the Central Government through the Uganda Revenue Authority and Graduated Tax and land rates, which are levied by local authorities.
Capital Markets:
The Capital markets Authority was established in 1996 following the enactment of the CMA Statute. Its mandate is to promote, develop and regulate the capital markets industry in Uganda.
Investing in Uganda – Facts you need to know
Uganda is landlocked country located in East Africa. The country is bordered by Sudan in the North, Kenya in the east, the United Republic of Tanzania in the south, Rwanda in the southwest and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west. Uganda has over the past decade reversed past the policy that caused destruction to the economy and and investment climate. Through liberalisation of the economy and privatisation of state owned company has been achieved and exiled Asian business community invited back with their properties expropriated.
Regulatory Issues
Potential investors in Uganda, as in all countries, investors must, before they start operations, obtain various permits or certificates.
Uganda Investment Authority was et up to act as one – stop – center for facilitating investors, who may not be familiar with the various procedures that may be required.
Investment Opportunities
Uganda’s existing comparative advantage is heavily concentrated in agriculture, forestry and mineral resources and their primary processing.
Business and Companies in Uganda
Business in Uganda have seen major increases in business opportunities in the last few years. In the last couple of years for example, the Telecommunication industry alone has been marked with entries of major players in sectors such as the Mobile Cellular services, Internet, Cafe’s, Networking and Web designing.