Flying to Uganda
Airlines serving Uganda include British Airways, Emirates, KLM, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airways and Kenya Airways. The national airline, Uganda Airlines, closed in 1992, but as traffic through Entebbe has doubled in the past five years, there are talks about reviving the airline. Flights to Uganda are cheapest during the rainy seasons from March to May and October to November. The best wildlife viewing months are June to September and December to February, when flights are likely to be more expensive.
Flight times:
From London to Kampala is 8 hours; from New York is 15 hours.
Air passes:
Uganda is one of the featured destinations in the Star Alliance Africa Air pass, which allows passengers to take between three and 10 flights across Africa.
Departure tax:
Visitors to Uganda are required to pay US$40 in cash when leaving the country by air.
Airports in Uganda
Entebbe International Airport
Uganda has only one international airport at Entebbe. Airport Code: EBB. Location: 40km (22 miles) southwest of Kampala (journey time: 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic flow). There are bus and taxi services to Kampala. Most hotels in Kampala and Entebbe will arrange airport transfers if contacted. Commuter Taxis are also available from the neighboring town of Kitooro.
Other local air ports and airfield include; Nyakisharara air field, Mweya, Pakuba, Gulu, Kasese, Kihihi, and Kisoro air fields which handle domestic air charters among while the one in Soroti is a flying school where pilots are trained. The air field in Kasese is under plan to expand it and become an international air port same as Gulu and Arua.
Travel by rail
There are currently no international passenger train services running in or out of Uganda, although the railway is still used in places for carrying freight from Kampala to the eastern region.
Driving to Uganda
Uganda shares land borders with Tanzania, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and South Sudan. Several international reputable bus companies link Kampala to other major cities in the region.
If driving from Europe, the most direct route would be to travel from southern Spain, through Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic and the DRC, but drivers should check Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) updates regarding traveling through other countries in the region. Yellow fever certificates will be required at the border if entering Uganda from a country where yellow fever is present.
Driving in Uganda is challenging due to the poor condition of the roads in up country remote places (especially in the rainy season), the somewhat erratic driving of others on the road and potential collisions with livestock. Before setting off, ensure your vehicle is in good working order and has a sound spare wheel (preferably two) as the country’s corrugated and dirt roads will take their toll. A four-wheel drive would be advisable if you intend to go off the beaten track, along with a jerry can with spare petrol, oil, water, a fire-extinguisher, a wheel spanner, jack and a first-aid kit.
While driving, drivers are supposed to keep left while pedestrians keep right.
A number of coaches / buses operate from Kampala to other major towns while minibuses/ taxis and motor bikes (bodabodas) are also commonly used. The speed limit in Uganda is 80km/hr and 100km/hr on highways.
Getting to Uganda by boat
Following suspension of the ferry service, passenger boats no longer run between Uganda’s main ferry port on Lake Victoria, Port Bell, and Mwanza in Tanzania. However, cargo boats will sometimes take passengers, so it may pay to ask around.