Travel advisory · UgandaSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Uganda.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

50 km strip along the South Sudan border · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, New Zealand
Border zone with the DR Congo · avoid all travel · Spain, France
Karamoja subregion · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, New Zealand
Semliki National Park · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France

Also named by one government: Bwera and surroundings (France), 20 km strip along the DR Congo border (Germany), 50 km strip along the DR Congo border (New Zealand), National parks near the DR Congo border (Spain), National parks near the South Sudan border (Spain)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against travel	Oct 8, 2026	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Level 4: Do Not Travel	Jun 4, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Avoid non-essential travel to Uganda	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	Erhöhte Vorsicht im ganzen Land (Terror, Kriminalität) (regional advisories)	Oct 29, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Zone de vigilance renforcée (reste du pays) (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Kampala

Kampala is a city of hills, markets and cathedrals, and a common starting point for trips into Uganda's national parks and along Lake Victoria.

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Kampala is the capital of Uganda, built across a group of hills on the northern shore of Lake Victoria. Its streets mix government offices, university campuses and open-air markets, and traffic is slow at peak times. Common reasons to visit include the Kasubi Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site and burial ground of Buganda kings, the cathedrals on the hilltops of Namirembe and Rubaga, and the lake shore at Ggaba. Kampala is also a base for trips elsewhere in Uganda, including gorilla trekking in the southwest.

The city suits a stay of two to three days, either at the start or end of a trip, or a longer visit for people who want to spend time in its neighborhoods, restaurants and museums. Distances look short on a map, but a cross-town drive can take much longer than expected. The drier months, December to February and June to August, are the easiest time to visit, though the city is warm year-round.

Kampala in five

Apply for the Uganda eVisa before you flyMany visitors need a visa, and the eVisa is applied for online before you travel. Keep the approval with your passport for arrival at Entebbe.Visas and entry
Set up MTN MoMo or Airtel MoneyMobile money is used for many everyday payments in Kampala, and MTN MoMo and Airtel Money are the two main wallets. Bring your passport to register a local SIM, since the wallet is tied to it.Money and costs
Book rides on Uber or SafeBodaBoth apps show the fare before you ride, which helps when a short trip takes much longer in traffic. Keep small notes for any boda-boda you hail without an app.Getting around
Leave early for Entebbe airportThe airport is about 35 km from the city centre, and traffic can make the drive much longer than the distance suggests. Plan the transfer around your flight time.
Carry small Ugandan shilling notesStreet food stalls, boda fares and market sellers often cannot break large notes. Keep a few small notes apart from the rest of your cash for the day.

Things to do in Kampala

See all attractions in Kampala

Church · KampalaUganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine Basilica, Namugongo

Museum · KampalaUganda Museum

Sight · KampalaKasubi Tombs for Members of the Baganda royal family

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KampalaPut the places you like in Kampala on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Ugandan shilling (UGX)
Entry: Visa or eVisa needed by most nationalities; check before you fly Read more
Emergency: 999 or 112 for police, ambulance or fire
Tipping: Not expected at street stalls; a service charge may be added in restaurants
Time: UTC+3, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Drier, warm
FebruaryRain17 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Dry, warm
MarchRain23 rainy daysHigh27°Low19°Rains start
AprilRain27 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Heavy rains
MayRain25 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Long rains
JuneRain17 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Drier spell
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Dry season
AugustRain19 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Dry season
SeptemberRain23 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Rains return
OctoberRain25 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Rainy season
NovemberRain25 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Rainy, green
DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Dry, festive

Average daily high and low in Kampala, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kampala

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 23°
Humidity: 82%
Wind: 6 km/h
Chance of rain: 82%

Kampala

11:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+3

Today28°19°82%Monday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 82%.
Tue28°20°67%Tuesday: Rain. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 67%.
Wed27°20°59%Wednesday: Rain. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 59%.
Thu27°20°78%Thursday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 78%.
Fri26°20°78%Friday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 78%.
Sat27°20°61%Saturday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 61%.
Sun27°18°64%Sunday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 64%.

Updated 09:04 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 4,267 UGX

Amount

Converted to

UGX · Ugandan Shilling

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Kampala

eSIM for KampalaMTN and Airtel SIMs, data for ride appsRead the guide

Travel insurance for UgandaCover for medical care and road tripsRead the guide

Money and mobile paymentsCash, card and MoMo for daily costsRead the guide

Where to stay in KampalaHotels and guesthouses by areaRead the guide

Rules for Kampala, checked

Most nationalities need a visa or eVisa before arrival. Check entry rules on the official Uganda immigration portal before you book.Source
Carry a yellow fever certificate if your passport or route requires one. Check the current rule with Uganda immigration or your airline.
Uganda's 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act criminalizes same-sex relations. Read your government's current travel advice before you go.
Remove shoes and cover shoulders and knees at mosques and churches, including Namirembe Cathedral. Ask before photographing people or government buildings.

Plan around Kampala

All of Uganda

Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Uganda trip

Read the guide Getting around

Ride apps, buses and airport transfers from Entebbe

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, cards and mobile money for a city stay

Read the guide Visas and entry

Which passports need a visa and how to apply

Read the guide Where to stay

Kampala neighborhoods and guesthouses by area

Read the guide Trip idea

A short trip that adds Entebbe and Jinja to the city

Read the guide

Kampala FAQ

Is Kampala worth visiting?

Yes, for markets, museums and the Kasubi Tombs, a royal burial site of the Buganda kingdom. It is busy and slow in traffic, so it suits travellers who want the city plus a trip to Lake Victoria or Jinja.

How do you get from Entebbe airport to Kampala?

By taxi or a ride-hailing app, about 35 km, and the drive can take well over an hour in traffic. Book the ride before you land, or agree the fare with the driver if you do not use an app.

How many days do you need in Kampala?

Two to three days cover the main sights and markets, with one day out to Entebbe or Jinja. Add a night if you want the lakeside at Entebbe without the city traffic.

What is the best time to visit Kampala?

December to February and June to August have the most dry days. The long rains from March to May and the shorter rains from September to November make roads and hills slippery.

Should I stay in Kampala or Entebbe?

Stay in Kampala for restaurants, markets and transport links. Choose Entebbe if your flight leaves early, since the airport is close and the lakeside is calmer.

Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Uganda?

It depends on your passport and the countries you travelled through before arriving. Check the current requirement with Uganda immigration or a travel clinic before you fly.