1. Republic of Uganda
2. History of Uganda
3. Geography of Uganda
4. Government of Uganda
5. Economy of Uganda
6. Visas and Entry Requirements Uganda
7. Transport in Uganda
8. Religion in Uganda
9. Education in Uganda
10. Schools in Uganda
11. Universities and Colleges in Uganda
12. Sports in Uganda
13. Shopping Malls in Uganda
14. Museums in Uganda
15. Foreign Embassies in Uganda
Commonly known as “The Pearl of Africa”, Uganda is a naturally endowed country. It is among the East African countries forming up the Great East African community. It is a landlocked country, however blessed with various unique natural resources, tourist attractions and centers as well as activities. A visit to Uganda usually fills visitors with such great happiness from viewing her bio diversified ecosystem to mention. This tends to make it hard for travellers to choose on which natural attractions to engage in since all of Uganda’s natural resources and activities are unique and very rewarding.
Getting There
Uganda is via Kampala’s international airport which is actually in Entebbe. This is 35 km southwest of the capital. You will remember the airport for the ‘Entebbe Raid’ of 1976. Several movies dramatized this event. “The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin” had a Kenyan Idi Amin look-a-like.
Many taxis and minibuses ply between the airport and Kampala. Few travellers enter Uganda by air. This is because most flights to East Africa from Europe and North America use Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, as a gateway. Most people then travel from Nairobi by bus to Uganda. You can get flights to Entebbe from Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.
A departure tax applies if you leave Uganda by air. Malaba and Busia border posts are used by most visitors travelling by bus from Kenya. The route into Uganda from Tanzania is through the Kagera salient. This is on the western side of Lake Victoria between Bukoba and Masaka.
There are two main crossing points from the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the west from Kisoro to Rutshuru via Bunagana. And northwest from Kasese to Beni.
Overland entry into Rwanda is safe. And entry into South Sudan is not safe at present.
Direct daily buses run between Kampala and Nairobi. They take about 12 to 14 hours.
The train is an even better way to travel between the two capitals. Kenya Railways has frequent services. Most journeys are overnight.
A regular boat service on Lake Victoria travels between Kampala in Uganda and Mwanza in Tanzania.
Getting Around
Uganda Airlines has no scheduled internal flights.
Most locals get around by share minibuses (known as taxis or matatu). Fares are fixed. And vehicles leave only when full.
Daily buses connect the major towns. Minibuses travel from Kampala to all major centres. Kampala also has bicycle taxis and motor cycle taxis, locally known as boda boda. These originally shuttled people between border posts. The border-border became “boda boda”.
The country’s two main railway lines start at Tororo (in Uganda’s south-eastern corner on the Kenyan border) running west across the country. They make a stop in Kampala. The other line runs from Tororo. And crosses the country in a northwesterly direction.
The road system between most major centres in the southern part of Uganda is excellent. Travel requires a 4WD. You will find rental car companies mostly near the Entebbe airport and in Kampala and other major towns. Drive on the left if you brought your international driver’s licence.
WARNING: Road signs are non-existent. And fuel is costly.
Top Places to Visit
Uganda’s Murchison Falls: Murchison Falls National Park is a continuation of the virunga region and is best known for mountain gorilla trekking activity as it’s a home to a one gorilla family group. It is found in the south western area of Uganda and it is habituated by various wildlife species with the big five inclusive (the lions, buffalos, giraffes, rhinos) al which can be viewed from Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The big five earn their name from the fact that they are troublesome to track them down when on a trip. Murchison Falls is yet another place that can reward a visitor with beautiful scenic view over the waters of river Nile falling over hard rocks in a great sound forming a permanent mist and rain ball. At Murchison Falls, be ready to enjoy game drives and boat cruises sighting various wildlife species within the park.
Uganda’s Glaciers: Tourists can experience the breeze from Uganda’s glaciers on the snow – capped Mountain Rwenzori Block sometimes known as the Mountain of the Moon. Mountain Rwenzori is the highest mountain n in Uganda. Apart from viewing the snowcapped peak of mtRwenzori, several other tourism attractions can be enjoyed; the rare three-horned Johnston’s chameleon, a number of birds endemic to the Albertine region and so many mammals featuring forest elephants. And they can be best watched from along the Rwenzori hike to discover the snowcapped peaks.
The western area of Uganda is a blessed region and is a commonly visited place in Uganda. This is the case as there are so many tourist attractions found here such as the various species of wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mountain Rwenzori, Murchison falls, lakes Gorge and Edward, Kazinga channel, Kyambura gorge among others. In Queen Elizabeth National Park visitors get a chance to the various wildlife species like ( elephants, leopards, lions, and buffalos), savanna herbivores like the impalas, Uganda kobs, giraffes, chimpanzees etc. will can all viewed while on a game drive through the park, boat cruise at the Kazinga channel and hot air balloon safaris which are all very exciting encounters. The Kazinga channel is known as the best home for the large hippopotamus in the whole of East Africa since a large number of these is concentrated with in the Kazinga waters.
South Western Region: The south western part of Uganda is yet another exciting haven for tourists. In the South Western part of Uganda, is the Bwindi Impenetrable Tropical Rain forest and Mgahinga National park – the Ugandan homes for the great mountain gorillas. These are habituated by half of the total number of the world’s surviving mountain gorillas that is a total of 13 gorilla family groups within the country where 12 family groups are within the thick forest of Bwindi and 1 gorilla family group in Mgahinga National Park. In Uganda, gorilla safaris can also be enjoyed anytime of the year though the dry seasons are most preferable as the canopy is not logged with so much water around this time and therefore simplified movements through the forest unlike in the rainy seasons. To be a part of this interesting tour activity, one must have a mountain gorilla trekking permit usually available at the Uganda Wildlife Authority at 600 USD and 350 USD in the low seasons. And always 8 tourists are allowed to a specific gorilla family group ad for duration of one hour; but it’s such a great experience encountering these creatures in their natural wilderness.
In addition to mountain gorilla trekking in the south west, one can still engage in other interesting tourist activities like the forest nature and canopy walks, golden monkey tracking, birding, wildlife safaris, community nature walks to the Batwa –with lots of stories on their experiences and way of life while in the vast of the forest as well as viewing the different thick green natural vegetation, which all are rewardsing experiences to travellers.
The Eastern Region of Uganda : This is another exciting side of the country.It entails the Kidepo Valley National Park which isone of the largest national parks in the country habituated by various wildlife species like zebras, lions, buffalos and a vast number of bird species. It is the home to the indigenous tribe of the Karamajongs– nomadic cattle keepers who have persisted life in their original cultural traditions and norms (raring animalsmoving from one place to another for food with their families, dressing half way like the former Zulu Kingship of South Africa) and they are a very fierce / hostile group of people.
The eastern part of Uganda, is also endowed with the beautiful mountain Elgon and mountain Elgon National Park with several wildlife species; buffalos, elephants, monkeys, zebras and lions. It is also a good birding site as it’s a home to various bird species. Mountain Elgon is said to be with the largest mountain base in the world.
The other tourist centers of the eastern region include the Sipi falls, Imabalu cultural traditions of the Bagishu people among others.
Central Area: From the central one can enjoy a city tour through Kampala Uganda’s capital city, a visit to the Buganda Kingdom palace, Buganda Kasubitombs – a burial place for the Baganda royal kings, the Bahai Temple, the Rubaga Cathedral, market areas like Owino, Kasubi and get all the experience on the way of life for a typical Ugandan. The central also offers birding sights at Lake Bunyonyi, visiting the beaches in Entebbe like Garuga, Lutembe, Kisubi, Sese gate way among others, a trip to Lake Victoria- the world’s largest fresh water body should not be missed as here you can engage in activities like fishing, boat rides and boat cruises on this great lake shared by Kenya and Tanzania. Not forgetting the Mabira forest, Seziwa fall s in Mukono-where eggs can be cooked ready, the source of River Nile in Jinja that offers activities like bungee jumping, white water rafting, boat rides and cruises all on the Nile waters, watching the Bujagali falls and Owen dam falls which are all very exciting encounters.
All in all, it’s an endless list of tourist attractions and activates to be enjoyed while on a visit in Uganda; to which side of the country you choose to stay, expect to have a wonderful and exciting experience of your life. Those doubting, you can start by arranging regional trips to Uganda and you will not believe what you will see!. These and so much much more will be awaiting your trip.