When I first booked my trip to Uganda, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Most people talk about safaris, gorilla trekking, or the incredible landscapes, but what really stood out to me were the everyday experiences. The little things you only notice once you come out of the “tourist bubble”. So, I’ve put together some of my honest Uganda travel tips based on what surprised me most while visiting.
Traffic Police Everywhere
One of the first things I noticed (literally on the way from the airport) was the traffic police. They stop cars all the time to check licenses and registration. It’s a normal part of driving here, so factor in a bit of extra time when you’re planning journeys. I only noticed this in the capital city, and to be honest, the driving there is crazy so it’s good that they have implemented this.
Security Reminded Me of Egypt
Uganda takes safety seriously. Before entering supermarkets, shopping malls, and even hotels, you’ll go through a metal detector. At first it feels intense, but you quickly get used to it. It’s just part of daily life. I experienced this in Egypt earlier this year, so it was easy to adapt. It actually makes you feel a lot safer knowing that everyone who enters is searched and goes through a metal detector.
The People Are Incredibly Friendly
Ugandans are warm, approachable, and always ready to help. Strangers won’t hesitate to assist if you’re lost or in need of advice. When I checked out of one of the hotels, it had a lot of stairs and I had a massive suitcase that I didnt want to carry. So the receptionist found a guy working next door to help me take my luggage to the car. I just paid him around £4 and could tell that he really appreciated it. I have had strangers on the street help me before with directions as well. Just keep in mind that shopping trips can take longer than expected because vendors love to chat, and the conversation often continues even after you’ve paid. Also, although Ugandans are friendly, I would be a bit careful in the capital city with who you trust (as with all major cities worldwide).
A Truly Diverse Country
Something that surprised me was Uganda’s diversity. Road signs and shops are in English, but people speak multiple languages. You’ll meet locals from different backgrounds—Black, Arab, Indian, Chinese—and even the pharmacy shelves reflected that mix, with medicine coming from Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, India, and Pakistan. Although Uganda is a majority Christian country, you will also find mosques and Hindu temples. Many Sudanese refugees work in the airport at passport control. I know this because they have a refugee card displayed in the passport control booth window with their name and country of origin. I found this really interesting, but also had conflicting feelings on whether it was necessary to have the fact that they are a refugee displayed publicly where they are working.
Restaurants Work Differently
Menus in Uganda aren’t always accurate. Many restaurants cook a limited number of dishes freshly each day, so if they run out, that’s it until tomorrow. This is a general thing in Africa because I experienced the same in Morocco. Some African and Arab dishes take ages to make, and they don’t reheat pre-cooked food like in many western countries. The wait can feel long, but on the bright side, everything is cooked fresh. One of my top Uganda travel tips is to order earlier in the day if you have your heart set on a specific or popular dish.
Prices Depend on Who You Are
Like many countries, Uganda has “local prices” and “tourist prices.” In Jinja, we got overcharged when my uncle (who speaks the local language) wasn’t with us. The next day, he joined us and was able to negotiate fairer deals. I managed to haggle smaller purchases myself too, so don’t be afraid to try. Unfortunately I dont look Ugandan even though I am, so it was quite funny to see the shock on their face when I said things in the language. When I did a walk alone one morning, I heard at least 5 different people speaking about me in the local language, just calling me a tourist, and they were trying to work out where I was from. I turned around to one of them and said “tourist who?” It was so funny to see the shock/confusion on his face! I don’t know much of the local language, but it’s also not necessary as most people can speak English fluently.
Dust, Dust, and More Dust
Some roads are extremely dusty, which means light-coloured clothes or shoes aren’t always the best choice. I brought a white summer dress, but never got around to wearing it because I just knew it would end up looking orange. I did, however, take some white trainers, which obviously ended up orange by the time the trip was over, but that’s okay because they were cheap and only £10. Generally, I never wear expensive things when travelling. A practical Uganda travel tip: stick to darker clothes if you’ll be walking around local roads.
Street Food Is Everywhere
Uganda has a fantastic street food culture. Vendors set up roadside stalls or even walk between cars in traffic to sell snacks and fruit. The most common things you’ll find? Mini bananas, and kebab sticks with roasted meat—pork, chicken, or lamb. I also saw people selling sugar cane in carts. If you’re visiting Uganda, definitely try some street food, but be wary of where you get it from (like in any other country). Don’t buy anything that doesn’t look freshly cooked, or if the stall doesn’t look clean.
Boda Bodas: The Fastest Way Around
With Kampala’s traffic jams, boda boda motorbike taxis are often the quickest option. Some even come with umbrellas for rainy days. Just remember to negotiate prices before hopping on. A 5-10-minute ride cost me about 3,000 shillings (less than £1). But I will be honest in saying that these are not always the safest option even though they are quick. I hopped on one of these with my cousin, and the driver was driving on the wrong side of the road (towards oncoming traffic!). On this occasion, we had picked up a random motorbike taxi from the street. But the safest way to experience the motorbike taxis is by using the SafeBoda app, which you can download on your phone. The drivers on there are regulated, and you pay directly on the app, so there is no need to negotiate.
Uber and Faras Taxis
For longer rides, Uber and Faras are convenient. However, drivers sometimes cancel if you’re in a traffic-heavy area. And here’s an important Uganda travel tip: never pay extra for petrol. If a driver insists, politely get out and cancel the trip. Taxi scams are quite common everywhere in the world, which is why I always try to use public transport in most countries. I’ve gotten into arguments with taxi drivers in many countries over scamming attempts, but sometimes it’s the easiest way to get around, especially outside of Europe. Luckily in Uganda, I only had 1 attempt at scamming; the majority of drivers were decent and professional.
Wash Before You Eat
Something I found interesting is that restaurants usually have a sink area in the dining section for hand washing. It’s very practical and means that you don’t have to walk to the toilet to do it. It’s convenient for when you’re eating things like samosas and chapati which don’t require cutlery.
Everything Is Sweet
Ugandans really love sugar! Bread is sweet, tea comes pre-sweetened, ketchup tastes sweeter, and even tilapia (a very popular fish) has a sweet undertone. 😂 If you’re not into sweet flavours, this might take some adjusting. I didn’t feel the need to have any desserts for the 2 week trip, because I was getting sugar from other sources. The food is generally very healthy as most things are steamed and not cooked in oil, but if you diabetic…please be careful.
The Airport is Serious About Security
Entebbe Airport runs on layers of security checks. Cars are searched before entering, everyone must get out to go through metal detectors, and fingerprints are scanned before departure. My bag was even checked after the scanner, and they wrote down my name and passport number. Be sure to plan extra time when leaving Uganda. I think I went through at least 4 checks between entering the airport and boarding the plane.
No Air Conditioning
The only thing that irritated me about Uganda is the fact that there really isn’t much air conditioning anywhere. It’s a hot country for most of the year, but they don’t have fans or air conditioning in many places. Not in houses, shops, or even the airport. I went during August when it’s actually a cooler season, 15-25 degrees Celsius max, so I was lucky. But the country is humid, so even when it’s only 20 degrees, the air feels warm. Sometimes I’ve been in buildings that had ceiling fans, but they don’t turn them on. I was ecstatic when the hotel room I stayed at during my last 2 days had strong air conditioning.
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Super practical tips! I’d love to visit Uganda one day…
I hope you visit 🙂
I knew about the dust, but not the connection to Indian food. Samosas and chapatis sounds so familiar! And that sink to wash hands is smart.
Yes, some East African food is similar to South Asian food 🙂
This is such a fascinating look at the “everyday” side of traveling in Uganda, which is so different from the typical safari-focused posts. I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, but it’s high on my list. Your tip about how restaurants work—cooking fresh and often running out of dishes—is especially helpful. It’s exactly the kind of practical, honest advice that’s so valuable when planning a trip. Thanks for sharing!
It’s funny because I never got to do the most touristy thing that people do there (safari). Hopefully next time! Glad that you found this post helpful.
I would love to visit Uganda, so I found your travel tips very useful especially around security. Thanks for sharing.
I am glad you found them useful 🙂 and hope you get to visit someday
Good to know that the people are friendly and helpful!! Lots of great tips in here. I also never wear anything expensive when I travel, so not worth it lol.
Exactly, you are more likely to be a target for robbery/theft if you flash designer brands when travelling.
Absolutely agree.
The security sounds to be high, and that is great. I think that gives a feeling of security. The almost not existing air conditioning and high humidity sounds less great.
Yes…I was lucky to be there during a season when it wasn’t too hot.
I’ve never visited Uganda, and I hadn’t heard these things about it, so it was super interesting reading your article, especially about how restaurants work and the diversity of the country.
glad you found it interesting to read 🙂
Uganda sounds like a lovely country to visit and delicious too. The people sound very friendly. How do they feel about mixed race couples?
I don’t think race is an issue for most, as it’s already a diverse country. There are some mixed-race couples in my family and the “non-Black” people have always told me they enjoy going to Uganda and feel welcome. Homophobia on the other hand, is a very big issue in Uganda!
It is very helpful to get insights beyond simply the tourist activities (safaris, etc.). Wearing dark color clothes is a simple one but can make such a difference with the dust.
Yes, I think its important to touch on everything 🙂