CAPITAL  Kampala

TEL COUNTRY CODE  +256

CURRENCY    The unit of currency is the Ugandan shilling. See today’s rate.

CULTURE
The official language is English. Luganda and Kiswahili may be spoken as well as other ethnic langauges. Acholi is spoken in the north. Roughly 42% of the country is Catholic and 42% is Protestant. Muslims make up about 12% of the population

CLIMATE
Uganda has a tropical climate, with temperatures ranging from 21-25°C, apart from the mountainous areas, which are much cooler. The hottest months are December to February. There is heavy rain between March and May and between October and November.

 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

• 1 Jan                                New Year’s Day
• 26 Jan                              Liberation Uganda
• 8 Mar                                International Women’s Day
• Varies                                Good Friday
• Varies                               Easter Monday
• 1 May                                Labour Day
• 3 June                               Martyrs Day
• 9 June                               Heroes Day
• 9 Oct                                 Independence Day     
• 25 Dec                              Christmas Day
• 26 Dec                              Boxing Day
• Varies                                Eid Al Fitr
• Varies                                Eid Al Adha

 VISAS
Visas can be obtained in advance, online. See https://visas.immigration.go.ug

AIRPORT
Entebbe International Airport is situated close to the town of Entebbe, about 41km southwest of the central business district of Kampala. There are 24-hour banks, ATMs and a bureau de change in both the Departure and the Arrival Halls. The airport is currently being refurbished, causing delays when entering departures. You should factor that into your schedule. Also, be prepared to pull, or carry your luggage up steps to the departure area.

Kampala Entebbe Airport taxis (called special hire) are available outside the terminal. Negotiate a price before setting off, as most taxis are not metered. Depending on the time of day, the journey into Kampala can take anything from 40 minutes to two hours. Leave enough time to get back to the airport for your return flight.

TRAVEL TIPS
Boda bodas (motor bike taxis) and mini bus taxis are a cheap way of getting around. Safety is a major concern as the operators rarely follow the traffic rules and vehicles are not always well maintained. Caution is advised when opting for this mode of transport. However a new app: http://www.safeboda.com allows you to book a boda boda taxi that is registered, and which has met certain safety and training requirements including providing a crash helmet.

Smoking in all public places (except designated areas) is prohibited throughout Uganda.