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Africa

Is Uganda safe?

Capital: KampalaEnglish, Swahili, ArabicUpdated October 2026
L4Do not travel

Is Uganda safe?

Generally welcoming and safe for tourists in Kampala and national parks with normal care. Road crashes, petty theft and politically tense periods (elections, protests) need attention.

Key facts

Risks, scams and laws

Main risks

  • Boda-boda and minibus crashes, the main danger to visitors
  • Phone and bag snatching from motorbikes in Kampala
  • Malaria year-round outside the highlands
  • Protests and police crackdowns around political events

Common scams

  • Fake safari operators and fake gorilla-permit sellers; buy permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority
  • Inflated 'tourist' prices from boda-boda and taxi drivers

Laws visitors break by accident

  • Homosexuality is criminalised under the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act, with severe penalties
  • Photographing soldiers, government buildings and the airport is prohibited
  • Camouflage clothing is banned for civilians

Safety by place in Uganda

PlaceSafety
Kampala2/5 · High risk
Entebbe2/5 · High risk
Jinja2/5 · High risk

Quick answers

Is Uganda safe for tourists?

Generally welcoming and safe for tourists in Kampala and national parks with normal care. Road crashes, petty theft and politically tense periods (elections, protests) need attention.

Is Uganda safe for solo female travelers?

Solo women travel the main circuit without trouble; expect catcalling, use Uber or Bolt at night and avoid boda-bodas after dark.

What is the emergency number in Uganda?

Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 112.

Safety by place

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.