Read this before planning
Uganda's legislation on same-sex relationships is among the most severe in the world, and it applies to residents and visitors alike. It reaches conduct, association and advocacy. If this concerns you or your partner in any way, read the dedicated page before making any arrangement — the practical consequences are not theoretical.
The regime that applies
An e-visa is required for most nationalities and must be obtained online before departure — it is no longer issued on arrival for most passports. Use the official immigration portal. The East Africa tourist visa, covering Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, is often better value for a regional trip.
Passport validity of six months beyond arrival is required, along with proof of accommodation and a return ticket.
Yellow fever and malaria
The yellow fever certificate is compulsory and checked on arrival. Malaria is intense and year-round across almost the whole country, including Kampala: prophylaxis is not optional. Typhoid, hepatitis A and routine boosters are advised. Healthcare is limited outside the capital.
Gorilla permits
Trekking to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga requires a permit bought in advance from the wildlife authority, and the daily number is strictly limited. In high season they sell out months ahead. The permit is a substantial cost in itself, before guiding and accommodation. Book this first and build the trip around it.
Three rules that hold for every destination
- Use the official portal. Sites that "facilitate", "expedite" or "check" a visa charge for a service the state does not require, and collect your identity documents on the way. The official site is always cheaper and usually faster.
- A visa is not a right of entry. It is permission to present yourself at the border; the officer there decides. Carry the return ticket, the address of your stay and evidence of funds.
- Read your own foreign ministry's travel advice before booking, not after. It conditions your insurance and your consulate's ability to help.
The passport comes first
The commonest reason for being refused boarding is not the visa but the passport: insufficient validity beyond the return date, no free pages, a damaged document. Check it the day you decide to travel, not the week you leave — a renewal takes weeks.