Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO UGANDA

* Yellow fever outbreaks occur occasionally and an international health certificate showing proof of vaccination is advised, especially if you are travelling to another country from Uganda.

CAPITAL

Kampala

LANGUAGE

English is the official language, with Swahili, Luganda and other Bantu languages also spoken

RELIGION

66% Christian & 16% Muslim with the remaining being atheist or belonging to traditional religions. There are tiny minorities that practice Hinduism and Judaism

LOCAL TIME

Eastern African Time (EAT) is 3 hours ahead of GMT.

ELECTRICITY

240 volts AC, 50Hz. British-style three-pin plugs are used

PASSPORT & VISA

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

Social conventions:

Visitors to the country will generally find Ugandans to be warm, friendly, and relaxed. Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting and it’s considered rude not to greet a person properly before rushing into asking them a question. Most people will know ‘Hello’, but the Swahili ‘Jambo’ is also used. Casual dress is usual for most occasions in the daytime or evening.

Ugandans have adopted a socially conservative culture and expressing emotions or affection in public is best avoided. Expressing anger is also frowned on and generally counter-productive, so try and keep calm in frustrating situations.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The local currency is the Uganda Shilling (UGX). Notes are in denominations of UGX50000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of UGX500, 200, 100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1. However, UGX1000 notes are soon to be replaced by coins. Try not to accept very old or damaged notes where possible, as some places may refuse to take them.

The US dollar, Euro and Pound sterling are all recognised currencies in Uganda, and both euros and dollars are now widely accepted for cash payments. When you exchange money, use big notes (50 or 100 US dollar). The exchange rate of smaller notes is much lower. In Uganda they do NOT accept US dollars given out before 2006

Make sure notes are not cut or damaged in any way. They will not be accepted. Other international currencies may also be accepted in some places in major cities, although visitors may struggle with other currencies in smaller towns.

Credit cards:

American Express, Diners, MasterCard and Visa are accepted but not widely used. Some large hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and shops in urban areas accept credit cards.

ATM:

In all cities and big towns, you can find ATM machines from Stanbic Bank. They accept most international bank cards and Visa. Please note that the amount you can take out per day is limited to about $100. ATM's can be empty or not working due to power cuts so make sure you always have enough cash with you as a backup!

Banking hours:

Generally, Mon-Fri 0830-1400, Sat 0900-1200. Forex bureaux are open until 1700 and able to do electronic transfers to and from overseas.

Currency exchange:

Foreign currency may be exchanged at the Central Bank, commercial banks, and foreign exchange bureau. Be aware that dollar notes from before 2006 will not be accepted for exchange.

CLOTHING

Lightweight clothes with a warm cover-up for the evenings are advised. Take a pair of good walking shoes or boots for forest trekking, and long-sleeved tops to protect against mosquitoes. If you’re planning to go to mountainous areas, be sure to take warm clothing, as temperatures drop substantially.

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Telephone:

Service for local calls is unreliable. Phone shops are available in towns.

Mobile phone:

Coverage extends to all major towns and international roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. There are several mobile providers including MTN, Orange and Warid. You can purchase a SIM card for a relatively low cost (3 USD). SIM cards and airtime for the different companies are available all over Uganda. MTN has the best network. Make sure that your phone is unlocked.

Internet:

Internet cafés are found all around the country and are even found in remote areas. But keep in mind that internet speed is often very slow. Most lodges/hotels provide Wi-Fi.

If you bring your own laptop, you can buy a 3 GB wireless internet stick from either Orange or MTN. This Internet is relatively quick. The cost for this stick is about 50 USD per month (minimum 1 month). This stick can be bought in Entebbe, Jinja and Kampala.

When you buy a MTN sim card (you will need to register with your passport) you can use the 3G option to provide internet to your smartphone or tablet.

Post:

Airmail to Europe can take from three days to several weeks.

Post office hours:

Mon-Fri 0800-1230 and 1400-1700. Some post offices are open Sat 0900-1300.

Shopping in Uganda

Souvenirs from the country include interesting local musical instruments, woven goods such as baskets, wooden carvings, batiks, and ceramics. The best places to buy are in one of the country’s many markets, and there are also opportunities to purchase crafts along the side of the road from stalls or established outlets in well-travelled areas. Locally produced jewellery, including bangles and necklaces, and packets of local tea and coffee are also popular gifts.

The craft market next to Daisy’s Arcade in Kampala is one of the city’s biggest, with over 30 stalls and there’s also a market every Friday night in Nsambiya on Ggaba Road where you can practice your bargaining skills.

Nommo Gallery in Uganda’s National Art Gallery, in Kampala’s Nakasero, has a shop selling African arts and crafts. Banana Boat shops sell African crafts and tribal arts, including work from Ugandan women’s groups, from their three shops in Kampala at Garden City Shopping Centre, Plot 23 Cooper Road in Kisementi and the Lugogo Mall.

Try to find time to pay a visit to Uganda Crafts 2000 in Kampala, a non-profit fair-trade shop which sells some unusual, well-made craft items, the proceeds of which go towards helping the country’s disabled and disadvantaged people.

While it is always fun to barter, remember that many of Uganda’s residents live below the poverty line, so paying an extra dollar or two for goods may make a huge difference to the seller. Be generous wherever you are able.

Shopping hours:

Mon-Sat 0830-1800, some shops may close earlier on Saturdays.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Uganda has a tropical climate, with temperatures ranging from 21-25°C (70- 77°F), apart from in the mountainous areas, which are much cooler; the top of Mount Elgon is often covered with snow. The hottest months are December to February. Evenings can feel chilly after the heat of the day with temperatures around 12- 16ºC (54-61°F).

Most regions of Uganda, apart from the dry area in the north, have an annual rainfall of between 1,000mm and 2,000mm. There is heavy rain between March and May and between October and November when road travel can become difficult in parts of the country. The best time for trekking is during the dry seasons, between January and February and June to September. Wildlife viewing is best at the end of the dry seasons, when game is more concentrated around water sources.

Kampala: (approx)

Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack: $US 3-5
• Light meal: $US 5-10
• 3 course meal: $US 10-15
• Fancy restaurant: $US 25+

DRINKS

Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below. Prices in restaurants, hotels and lodges can be as much as double those specified.

• 1.5l of water: $US 0.50
• 30cl bottle of soft drink: $US 0.50
• 33cl bottle of beer: $US 0.60-2

Food and Drink

Ugandan cuisine draws on English, Arab and Asian – especially Indian – influences and uses home-grown local produce including plantains, sweet potatoes, corn, beans, and cassava. It is easy to eat cheaply almost anywhere in the country. International restaurants can be found in larger towns, with Indian, Chinese, and Italian being the most popular.

Traditional foods include ugali (solidified maize meal porridge) served with a stew of groundnuts (peanuts), beans, chicken, or meat such as beef, goat or mutton. Game can be found on menus in some restaurants and at safari lodges. Fish including the tiger fish, mukini, mputa and tilapia are popular.

Vegetarians may struggle outside of major towns, but Uganda’s Indian and Chinese restaurants generally offer a selection of vegetarian dishes. Traditional desserts include mandazi, a doughnut often served with cinnamon or sugar.

Specialties:

• Cassava (a starchy root, commonly made into flour).
• Chapati (Indian-style flat bread fried in oil).
• Grasshoppers (the crunchy, deep-fried insects are a popular street food).
• Luwombo (stew made from meat, vegetables or fish steamed in banana leaves).
• Matoke (a green banana, often steamed in its own leaves and mashed).
• Millet bread (a mixture of millet and cassava flour, eaten with peanut or meat sauce).
• Posho (made from white cornflower, this starchy staple is similar to polenta).
• Samosa (deep-fried savoury pastries filled with vegetables and sometimes meat).
• White ants (a popular fried insect snack).

Regional drinks:

• Tea (many places serve spiced chai masala tea, especially good in rural areas near the plantations).
• Beer (local brands include Nile Special, Bell and Moonberg).
• Wine (mainly South African wines on offer, but these aren’t always well stored).
• Waragi (a strong local gin made from millet).
• Pombe (locally made fermented banana beer).

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

In Tanzania tipping is not expected but a tip of around 10% for good service is greatly appreciated by restaurant and hotel staff, most of whom receive very low pay. Large hotels, safari lodges and beach resorts many have tip boxes in reception to be are shared amongst the staff.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

 

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.