WEATHER IN UGANDA: CLIMATE IN UGANDA

What is the weather and climate like in Uganda?

Weather in Uganda or Climate in Uganda. While planning their Uganda safaris, people ask several questions about the Uganda climate and weather. For example, is Uganda Tropical?  Is there winter in Uganda? Does Uganda get snow? Does it get cold in Uganda?  Does it rain a lot in Uganda? What is the hottest month in Uganda?

• Situated along Lake Victoria, Uganda is also crossed by several rivers and many other lakes. Uganda is also straddling the equator and this creates a very unique warm tropical climate which adds just another great reason among many for you to visit.
• It is a place where you can enjoy summer like weather mixed with rain year round. Due to its warm tropical climate, Uganda barely ever gets cold except for the south western part of Uganda and the highland areas of Kapchorwa in Eastern Uganda.
• Also, visitors who tour Uganda always say that the country has one of the most pleasant weather in the world.
• Therefore as you plan to tour Uganda, you should not worry about extreme cold and hot seasons because the country features a warm, sunny climate most of the year.
• Uganda’s average temperature range 25–29°C/77–84°F during the day and 12 to 16°C/54-61°F at night, although much of this can vary between different parts of the country.
• The hottest months in Uganda are January and February when the average daytime temperature range is 24-33°C /52-91°F with peaks of up to 40°C/104°F in the far north.
• Higher altitude area such Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda, get considerably colder with a daytime temperature of around 23°C/73°F, with a significant drop at night to around 11°C/52°F.
• Murchison Falls National Park in northwestern Uganda and Kidepo Valley National Park in extreme northeastern Uganda are warmer with daytime temperatures of around 32°C/90°F.
• There is no winter in Uganda and the country very rarely sees any snow. However, the country’s Rwenzori Mountains which are some of the highest on the continent reaching heights of up to 5,109m and has permanent snow on the peak.

Rainy season in Uganda

• The wet season in Uganda typically starts from March to May and September to November, although it can rain at any time.
• Most regions of Uganda, apart from the dry area in the north, have an annual rainfall of between 1,000mm and 1,500mm.
• During the rainy season, the daytime temperatures average around 28°C/82°F and morning temperatures around 16°C/61°F. It will be colder in at high altitudes in the south and warmer in the north.
• Uganda receives more rain from March to May and between September and November, making road travel difficult in parts of the country.

• April is usually the wettest month in Uganda, more especially in the south.

The dry season in Uganda

• Uganda’s dry season is usually from June to August and December to February.
• Average temperatures tend to be around 27°C/81°F in the afternoon and 16°C/61°F in the morning.
• It will be colder at altitudes above 1300m/4265ft, including Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
• The driest months in the south are June, July and August, although it can still rain. Unlike the south, these months are part of the Wet season in the north.
• Uganda’s far north, including Kidepo Valley National Park, is semi-arid and may experience droughts some years.
• December to February is a clear dry season in the north.

7. Lowest point and highest points in Uganda

The lowest point in Uganda is at 612 meters, found in Lake Albertine basin in western Uganda.

The highest point in Uganda is at 5109 meters. It is called Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley of the snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains or “Mountains of the Moon”.