Uganda
Republic of Uganda
Eastern Africa · UGA
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Uganda
Uganda suits travelers who want primate trekking, greener landscapes, and a more varied wildlife trip than a pure savannah circuit. It works best as Entebbe or Kampala plus Bwindi and one or two additional parks, rather than trying to drive every headline reserve into one short trip.
Popular For
Things To See
- Kampala
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Kibale National Park
- Jinja
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Uganda works best when the route is built around one primate goal and a limited number of additional parks.
- Driving is common, but travel days can be longer and more tiring than first drafts assume.
- Permits, lodge location, and road pace shape the trip more than city logistics do.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Uganda.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Uganda Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Uganda.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Kampala
- Population
- 45,905,417
- Area
- 241,550 km²
- Region
- Eastern Africa
Languages
- English
- Swahili
Currency
Ugandan shilling (Sh)
UGX
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
32.9
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 29.1
- Restaurants
- 25.1
- Rent
- 10.5
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Kampala (0.32°N, 32.55°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
13/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 32/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.582
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.019
- 10-year change
- +0.050
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.908
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.524
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.569
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3)
- 🏛️
Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi
Inscribed 2001
- 🌿
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Inscribed 1994
- 🌿
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Inscribed 1994
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 16.1%
- Forest cover
- 11.0%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 32
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 33
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
29/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
80/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There was no change to the advisory level or indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Advisory Summary Crime Violent crime is a real danger in Uganda. This includes armed robbery, home invasion, and sexual assault. Crime can happen anytime. It is more common in larger cities, the Karamoja region, and along Uganda’s western and northern borders. Both visitors and residents face these threats. Police struggle to respond to serious crime in most places due to limited resources. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Uganda. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorist groups have targeted: Religious venues Schools Government buildings Police stations Transportation hubs Areas visited by tourists, including national parks These attacks have resulted in the deaths of Ugandans as well as foreign visitors. U.S. citizens should remain alert and avoid large public gatherings. Unrest Protests can happen with little to no warning. They often develop around political issues and events, like elections. National elections are set for January 15, 2026. Review the Department of State’s Human Rights Report for your destination prior to traveling. When protests, strikes, and demonstrations turn chaotic, security services respond with force. They have used batons, rubber bullets, tear gas, and gunfire to break up the crowds. Laws targeting persons based on sexual orientation The 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) criminalizes consensual same-sex relations in Uganda. The law applies to both visitors and residents. The AHA increases the danger for persons who may be targeted based on their real or perceived sexual orientation, and those accused of “promoting homosexuality.” Penalties include life imprisonment or the death penalty. Those seen as supporting gay and lesbian people have experienced harassment and violence by vigilantes. If you decide to travel to Uganda: Review our information on Travel to High-Risk Areas. Review our information on Crime Abroad and Victims of Crime. Review our information on Terrorism and Travel to High-Risk Areas. Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Stay aware of your surroundings. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry, or smartphones. Use caution when walking or driving at night. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Stay alert in tourist spots. Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs. Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible. Develop a communication plan with family, your employer, or host organization. List how and when you'll confirm you're safe (text or call). Specify how often you’ll do this. Monitor local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Review our information for Gay and Lesbian Travelers. Check with your doctor about required vaccines and shots for high-risk exposure before you go to Uganda. Review the Health section in the Travel Guidance for Uganda. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Uganda. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Uganda. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data