Uganda Sightseeing Places

By | July 5, 2020

Visa requirements

Passport: is generally required for trips to Uganda, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry.

Visa: is generally required. Visas can be applied for at the Ugandan embassy responsible before starting the trip. However, entry visas, valid for 30 days, are also issued for a fee of $ 30.00 upon arrival at Entebbe Airport and various border crossing points.

Transit: Transit travelers who fly on within 24 hours, do not leave the transit room and have valid documents for the onward journey do not need a transit visa.

Application: In person or by post to the responsible consular mission.

Residence permit: inquiries to the responsible consular mission.

Documents: Tourist Visa: passport that is still valid for at least 6 months – a visa application – a passport photo – fee (check or bank transfer) – flight booking confirmation (return or onward flight tickets). Business Visa: In addition, a letter from the German company about the purpose and duration of the trip and confirmation of the assumption of costs.

A franked and addressed envelope (registered mail) and proof of payment for the visa fees should be enclosed with the application.

Here you can download the visa application form for Uganda.

Cost of issuing a Visa: single entry: 38.00 euros, multiple entry for 90 days validity: 90.00 euros, transit Visa: 23.00 euros

Processing time: about a week. Express exhibition on the same day (50.00 Euro express surcharge).

Sufficient funds: Foreigners must have sufficient funds.

Entry with children:
Germany: The German children’s ID card is only recognized if the photo has been attached with a raster; or your own passport (children’s passport or electronic passport).
Austrians: own passport for children.
Swiss: own passport for children.

The same visa requirements apply to children as to their parents.

Uganda Sightseeing Places

Money

National currency: 1 Uganda shilling divided into 100 cents.

Currency abbreviation: USh, UGS – ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG

Banknotes are worth 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 USh. Coins were issued in the amounts of 500, 200, 100, 50 and 10 USh, but are no longer in use due to the depreciation of the Uganda shilling.

Currency exchange: The exchange of euros into local currency is possible at the international airport Entebbe, in banks or exchange offices (offer somewhat better rates than banks) in all larger cities. We recommend taking US dollars with you. Larger bills (US $ 50, US $ 100) are exchanged at better rates than small bills. In addition, there is practically no exchange of US dollars spent before 2000.

Exchange rate Uganda shilling:

Currency converter at OANDA

Credit Cards: Credit cards are accepted by some hotels and airlines in Kampala. (Visa and partly also MasterCard and Eurocard).

At Barclays Bank in Kampala, cash can be withdrawn with a credit card from an ATM.

Travelers checks: Travelers checks are not accepted, not outside of Kampala. They should be issued in US dollars.

Foreign exchange regulations: No restrictions.

Bank opening times: Mon – Fri 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sa 9 a.m. – 12 noon.

Health and Diseases

The Federal Foreign Office’s health service recommends vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and hepatitis A, and for long-term stays (over 4 weeks) also hepatitis B, rabies, meningococcal meningitis and typhoid.

Uganda is one of the yellow fever infection areas. A valid vaccination is generally necessary for travelers who are older than one year when entering another infection area (e.g. all neighboring countries), but proof is often not required. When entering Germany, vaccination is not officially mandatory (as of September 2006), but it is still recommended for all travelers.

Malaria: The transmission takes place through the bite of blood-sucking nocturnal Anopheles mosquitoes. If left untreated, especially the dangerous malaria tropica, is often fatal in non-immune Europeans. The disease can break out weeks to months after your stay. If fever occurs during this time, an indication to the doctor in charge of staying in a malaria area is necessary.

Nationwide and all year round there is a high risk of transmission, intensified during the months of maximum rainfall (April to May, November). Plasmodium falciparum (causative agent of the more dangerous malaria tropica) is detected in> 85% of the cases. Chloroquine resistance has been reported.

Various prescription medications (e.g. malarone, doxycycline, Lariam) are available on the market for malaria prophylaxis. The selection and personal adaptation as well as side effects or intolerance to other medications should be discussed with a tropical medicine / travel medicine before taking them.

Due to the mosquito-borne risk of infection, all travelers are therefore recommended

  • wear body-covering clothing (long pants, long shirts),
  • Repeatedly apply insect repellent to all free parts of the body, especially in the evening and at night
  • to sleep under a mosquito net

HIV / AIDS: Through heterosexual and homosexual contacts and when using drugs (dirty syringes or cannulas) there is a risk of a life-threatening AIDS infection. The same applies to blood transfusions. Condom use is always recommended, but especially for casual acquaintances.

Diarrheal diseases: Appropriate food and drinking water hygiene can prevent most diarrhea diseases.

Medical care: Medical care in the country cannot be compared to Europe and can be technically, apparatusally and / or hygienically problematic. Adequate health insurance coverage and travel return insurance are strongly recommended.

Poisonous animals:In all tropical countries there are a number of sometimes dangerous venomous snakes, the bite of which can cause serious physical damage including death, but snake bites are unusual and rarely occur unprovoked! Man is not on the poison snake’s menu. Many snakes are nocturnal, so if possible don’t walk around outdoors at night. Do not reach into holes or cracks in the ground, under stones or brushwood, twigs and similar confusing material. If snakes are found, a proper distance should be kept. Under no circumstances should they be touched, caught or provoked. There are also some very poisonous species of spiders and scorpions, as well as other animals with potentially strong poisonous effects (e.g. certain conspicuously colored caterpillars, centipedes, ants, etc.). These animals should also not be touched or irritated, otherwise the following also applies here: be careful where you reach, where you step and where you sit or lie. Before using duvets and sheets, clothing, footwear, headgear, remove any toxic “sub-tenants” by carefully shaking them out.

Bilharzia germs can come across the country before in some ponds and rivers, swimming and paddling in fresh water should be avoided. Well-maintained swimming pools with chlorinated water are harmless. Filariasis

caused by insects also occurs nationwide. Travelers reduce the risk of transmission if they use effective insect protection. Leishmaniasis transmitted by butterfly mosquitoes occurs mainly in the Karamoja region in the northeast. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. Currently,measles cases occurred frequently. Before traveling to Uganda, the vaccination protection of the traveler against measles should be checked.

Epidemic outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis occur nationwide. To protect yourself, get vaccinated and avoid large crowds.

The sleeping sickness occurs mainly between the northern Lake Victoria to the north of Lake Kyoga and in the border area north of Lake Edward in the Lira District. Careful mosquito protection measures are recommended.

Tick ​​bite fever occurs nationwide. Protective measures include skin-covering clothing and insect repellents. If in doubt, consult a doctor.

Health care: It is recommended that you bring a first- aid kit with you; you should check with the embassy before you enter if there is a charge for the import. Appropriate medical care is only available in the larger cities. It is strongly recommended that you take out travel health insurance with emergency repatriation.

Nationwide there is an increased risk of infection for various infectious diseases (e.g. hepatitis A, typhoid, Bacterial dysentery, amoebic dysentery, lambliasis, worm diseases), which are transmitted through contaminated food or beverages. Therefore, careful food and drinking water hygiene measures should always be carried out. In general, water should either be boiled or otherwise sterilized prior to use for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice cubes. Milk is not pasteurized outside of urban areas and should also be boiled. Avoid dairy products from uncooked milk. Meat and fish dishes should only be cooked well and served hot. Avoid eating pork, raw salads and mayonnaise. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

In addition to my general disclaimer, please note the following important note:

A guarantee for the correctness and completeness of the medical information as well as a liability for possible damage cannot be assumed. You stay responsible for your healthy.

Summary of the different modes of transport in the country

Airplane: Eagle Uganda and United Airlines fly mainly from Entebbe Airport to the northern cities of Uganda. Charter flights are also possible.

A ship travels the route between Kasenyi near Entebbe and the Ssesse Islands in Lake Victoria. A ferry operates the route between the Ssesse Islands and Bukakata.

Cars: The condition of the main roads is quite good. The side routes are easy to drive in the dry season, often impassable in the rainy season. Kampala is the absolute center of transport in Uganda, there is constant traffic chaos.

Buses connect almost all regions with each other, but are often crowded. The ubiquitous minibuses (matutas) also travel to most regions of Uganda. Both matatus and buses are not the safest means of transportation, drivers don’t care about traffic rules, ruthless driving is the norm. Taxis can be recognized by the black and white stripes and are much more expensive than matutas. Rental Cars: are relatively expensive, often it is cheaper to rent a taxi or minibus with driver for a certain time. Documents: International driving license is recommended. Traffic rules: left-hand traffic

Uganda Landmarks

Places to See

Entebbe near Kampala has a very interesting botanical garden and a bathing beach on the lake (caution is advised here – risk of schistosomiasis). Excursions to the Ruwenzori Mountains and the Edward and George crater lakes are possible
from Kasese. Fort Portal is a good starting point for tours to the Bundibugyo hot springs and the Tororo wildlife sanctuary. Gorilla watching at Mount Muhavura and Mount Mgahinga is unforgettable. Kisoro

is the starting point of the trekking tours in the area of ​​the largest great ape in the world. There are several lakes near Kisoro.

Kampala: In the capital, it is worth visiting the Uganda Museum, mosques and the palaces of the historical Kingdom of Buganda. Countless shops, markets and chaotic traffic characterize the city center. Another attraction in the capital of Uganda are the Kabaka Tombs on Kasubi Hill, the tombs of the Buganda kings. This tomb was built in 1884 from organic materials such as straw, reeds and wood and is an architectural masterpiece.

The Kibuli Mosque, the Rubaga Catholic Cathedral, the Anglican Namirebe Cathedral and the huge Sikh Temple are also worth a detour in Kampala.

Mbale lies in a fertile plain full of tropical vegetation. The place at Mount Elgon is known to hikers and mountaineers as a starting point for mountain tours.

National parks: The most famous are Kabalega, Queen-Elizabeth and Kidepo. There are good accommodations in these national parks. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is often referred to as one of the greatest African national parks because of the magnificent landscape and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The Ruwenzori National Park also has a diverse landscape of rain and cloud forests, savannas and swamp regions. The highest mountain peak in Uganda (5,119 m) also rises here.