Uganda, an East African landlocked country known for its diverse landscape, mountain gorilla sanctuaries, and abundant wildlife, remains a popular tourist destination. However, it's essential to be aware of the potential safety risks before you travel. The short answer to the question, "Is Uganda safe?" is "not very".
The US Department of State advises travelers to reconsider travel to Uganda due to crime, terrorism, and laws targeting persons on the basis of sexual orientation. Exercise increased caution due to potential security risks and the unpredictable nature of public demonstrations. This includes demonstrations by political groups leading up to the January to February 2026 elections.
Travel advice from embassies about developing countries is often very cautious. In Uganda’s case, this can give a wrong impression. Some incidents are taken out of context, making the country seem more dangerous than it is. But from our own experience - both personal and professional - Uganda is a safe and welcoming place.
Terrorism and Security Concerns
There remains a threat of terrorist attacks in Uganda. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of Ugandans as well as foreign visitors. citizens should remain alert and avoid large public gatherings. Yes, there have been some terrorist attacks in the west of the country. These attacks were carried out by a rebel group from the border region with Congo.
As a tourist, be vigilante at all times. Opt to travel with a reputable tour operator which will ensure your safety at all times and avoid places that are prime targets for a terrorist attack. This includes crowded sports events, public bars and musical concerts.
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Areas flanking the western border of Uganda should be avoided because of the risk of rebel groups operating in the region. In addition, Uganda’s northern border with Southern Sudan is deemed a no-go area because there is limited police presence to control bandit activities which are a spillover from Southern Sudan.
Acts of terrorism have been carried out in Uganda, but these have been sporadic and not necessarily targeted at foreigners. However, after the terror attack at a hotel in Nairobi, the Uganda government has intensified security measures to protect its citizens and visitors. This includes increased police presence and security checks, in particular baggage checks and car searches in public places and hotels.
The Karamoja region in north-eastern Uganda should be avoided due to the threat of bandit activity, violent crime and armed clashes. Avoid travelling within 30 kilometres of Uganda’s border with South Sudan due to the threat of bandit activity, violent crime and armed clashes.
Crime and Personal Safety
Violent crime is a real danger in Uganda. It includes armed robbery, home invasion, and sexual assault. Both visitors and residents face these threats. Crime continues to present a serious risk for those visiting or residing in Uganda. The main cities of Kampala and Entebbe experience violent crimes of armed robbery, and home invasion.
Keep in mind that the average person in Uganda makes less money than you, so don’t flash valuables, and lock up your belongings. Park your 4x4 in secure areas and keep an eye on your bags in busy places. In general, crime rates are low compared to many Western cities, and violent crime against tourists is rare.
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Pick pocketing, purse snatching, and thefts from hotel rooms, parked vehicles, and vehicles stalled in traffic jams are common. Armed robberies of pedestrians and car jackings also occur, sometimes during daylight hours and in public places. Victims usually remain unharmed if they do not resist.
Be vigilante in Uganda. Take care when walking around the large towns and cities of Uganda. Pickpocketing, bag snatching and petty theft of phones and electronics is fairly common in crowded market areas. Avoid attracting unwanted attention to yourself in the large towns and cities in Uganda.
Theft out of hotel rooms will happen if temptation is put in someone’s way. Make use of the digital safes in hotel rooms and if possible, avoid leaving behind in the room expensive equipment and money.
Political Situation and Civil Unrest
Uganda is a country transformed, although it is still battling with a niggling power struggle which results in sporadic civil unrest, and the ongoing threat of terrorism. The government is democratically elected and having rid itself of its violent past, Uganda is enjoying a period of political stability and economic prosperity.
Protests can occur with little to no warning. They often rise around political issues and events, like elections. Primary elections will happen in summer 2025. National elections are set for January to February 2026. When protests, strikes, and demonstrations turn chaotic, security services respond with force.
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There is a medium-to-low risk of experiencing civil unrest, public protests, strikes, demonstrations and political violence while visiting Uganda as a foreign tourist. These occur at times of political uncertainty around elections, during wage negotiations or in protest to high commodity prices, power outages and hikes in interest rates.
Demonstrations in Kampala and other cities periodically occur in response to local political developments Police routinely use tear gas - and sometimes live ammunition resulting in deaths - to disperse protests in urban areas. citizens are urged to monitor media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.
Some colors, red and yellow in particular, are associated with certain political parties in Uganda so be cautious about wearing these colors.
Civil unrest in the form of protests and demonstrations tend to be peaceful and occur usually in the capital city of Kampala and other major towns and cities. Reputable tour operators in Uganda stay up-to-date with current affairs in the country and will re-direct routes to gorilla trekking destinations if there is any likelihood there’ll be unrest or conflict in an area.
Health Risks and Precautions
Uganda is a tropical country, so it’s important to protect yourself against diseases like malaria. Malaria pills are advised - your doctor or travel clinic can tell you which type suits your trip best. Due to the increased numbers of Ebola cases, all but essential travel to Mubende district is inadvisable.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice about the Ebola outbreak in Uganda. Ebola is not airborne and if you avoid direct contact with sick people and blood and other bodily fluids from anyone even if they don’t appear sick. Travelers should isolate immediately and seek medical care if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or for up to 21 days after travel.
Tourists will find cheap and plentiful alcoholic drinks. Beware of Ugandan Waragi, a potent homemade gin. Also, tobacco smoking in Uganda, especially in public, can bring harsh penalties.
We don’t recommend drinking tap water in Uganda. Stick to bottled or filtered water, which is widely available. In big cities like Kampala the water is treated and at that point is considered safe to drink by WHO standards. However, from the treatment plant out contaminated pipes and tanks can affect the quality. Only drink water from sealed bottles, carbonated drinks and hot drinks.
Travelers to Uganda should also avoid swimming in any lakes, rivers, or still bodies of water. All bodies of water have been found to contain parasites, including schistosomiasis. Uganda has had outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and other bacterial diarrhea in the recent past, and the conditions for reoccurrences continue to exist in both urban and rural settings.
Medical facilities in Kampala are very limited and are generally inadequate outside the capital. Even the best hospitals in Kampala suffer from inadequate facilities, antiquated equipment, and shortages of supplies (particularly medicines). Visitors are advised to carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines, as well as a doctor's note describing the medication. There is a shortage of physicians, and emergency assistance is limited.
If you take chronic medication or prescription drugs, you need to carry your own supplies which will last you through to... citizens who have recently attempted entry without completing the electronic visa process in advance of their travel have been refused boarding by the airlines and/or entry into Uganda.
Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Embassy of Uganda to ensure the medication is legal in Uganda.
Air pollution is a significant problem in several major cities in Uganda. The air quality varies considerably and fluctuates with the seasons. It is typically at its worst in the dry season (December-February and June-July).
Malaria is prevalent in Uganda, especially in rural regions. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area, and up to one year after returning home, should seek prompt medical attention and explain to the healthcare provider their travel history and which antimalarials they have been taking.
Here's a summary of health risks and precautions:
| Health Risk | Precaution |
|---|---|
| Malaria | Take malaria pills; consult your doctor. |
| Ebola | Avoid contact with sick people and bodily fluids. |
| Waterborne Diseases | Drink bottled or filtered water; avoid swimming in fresh water. |
| Medical Facilities | Carry your own prescription drugs and preventive medicines. |
LGBTQ+ Travelers
Unfortunately, Uganda is not an LGBTQ+-friendly country in terms of laws and public attitudes. Same-sex relationships are criminalised, and open expression of LGBTQ+ identity can be unsafe. We advise LGBTQ+ travellers to be discreet, especially outside of major towns.
The 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) applies to both visitors and residents of Uganda. The May 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) includes penalties up to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations and capital punishment for crimes of “aggravated homosexuality” (such as serial offenders). Youth under the age of 18 could be prosecuted and imprisoned for multi-year sentences.
LGB persons, including youth, may be subject to forced conversion therapy. Hoteliers are not permitted to knowingly provide rooms to individuals who may commit acts deemed illegal in the AHA. Individuals or organizations viewed as publicly supporting the dignity and human rights of LGB persons could be prosecuted and imprisoned for multi-year sentence, including those that attend a same-sex marriage either inside or outside of Uganda’s borders.
Road Safety and Transportation
The roads in Uganda generally lack adequate maintenance, marking, and lighting. Expect broken-down vehicles, wandering pedestrians, and drunk drivers along with stray animals with overall poor roadway conditions. According to the World Health Organization, it has the 21st highest rate of road fatalities worldwide. Driving at night is particularly hazardous with vehicles with no lights on the road and broken-down vehicles left unattended. Drunken driving and speeding is also an issue.
Public transportation, especially inter-city, can be hazardous to passengers who travel in poorly maintained small vans or buses. Ugandan public transportation drivers are generally poorly trained and reckless. Also, watch out for overloaded large trucks with inadequately secured cargo and unreliable braking systems.There have been reports of highway robbery, including carjacking, by armed bandits outside urban areas. Some incidents have been accompanied by violence.
Most inter-city transportation in Uganda is by small van or large bus. Many drivers of these vehicles have little training, and some are reckless. Vans and buses are often poorly maintained, travel at high speeds, and are the most common vehicles involved in the many deadly single- and multi-vehicle accidents along Ugandan roads.
If you’re travelling in the care of a reputable tour operator you have less to be concerned about because the drivers make your safety a priority and strictly abide by the laws of the road. However, if you’re travelling solo using public transport; you need to be careful what mode of transport you choose and, if possible, avoid travelling anywhere at night in Uganda.
Nighttime travel should be avoided whenever possible. Highway travel at night is particularly dangerous, including on the roads between Entebbe Airport and Kampala. The Embassy recommends caution on these roads and use of a reliable taxi service to and from the airport. Embassy employees are prohibited from driving after dark on roads outside the limits of cities and large towns.
Consider all modes of road transport in Uganda as highly unsafe. The drivers are reckless, the roads are in a poor condition and most vehicles are not roadworthy. For this reason, you are safest in Uganda with a reputable tour operator in a luxury vehicle and a driver who’ll navigate the dangers.
Here are some safer transport options in Uganda:
- Aerolink: A reputable private aviation company offering flights to various destinations.
- Fly Uganda: The official domestic airline servicing destinations throughout Uganda.
- Pineapple Express: A safe, convenient, and relatively cheap shuttle bus service.
- Post Bus: A public form of transport that is more comfortable, reliable, and safer than regular buses.
- Jaguar Executive Coaches: A safe and reliable service run by a private bus company.
- Wemtec Car Hire: A reputable car rental company offering Land Rovers with qualified drivers.
- Safe Boda: Well-trained and professional motorcycle drivers booked through an app.
General Safety Tips for Uganda
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts.
- Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.
- Be respectful of local cultures in Uganda.
- Be law abiding.
- Don’t do drugs in Uganda.
- Be careful what you photograph in Uganda.
- Don’t drink and drive in Uganda.
- Do your research on common tourist scams.
- Book your holiday in Uganda with a reputable tour operator.
Uganda Is Still Safe for Tourists: Travel Guide
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