Uganda’s temperature ranges amid 16o and 20o at night and 26o and 30o during the day and with the hottest months being January, February and December. Unlike some parts in the northern Uganda that get typical annual rainfall as low as 100mm, the rest of the country is green all the year with a yearly rainfall between 1,000mm to 2,000mm with the coolest season being March to May and mid-September to November. Read More

Uganda has medical facilities are close to western standards in Kampala her capital city. The upcountry towns feature basic medical services and can ably treat average sickness. Uganda like other destinations have got health recommendations which travelers can give attention before they set off for a tour to Uganda. Uganda requires Yellow fever certificate on entering the country. Besides that, the travelers can consider the vaccines which are not mandatory but essential to keep him / her safe on the visit; these include; the Hepatitis A, Malaria, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Hepatitis B, Meningitis (Meningococcal disease) and Rabies especially for those interested in plenty of outdoor activities and thus prone to animal bites. The dangerous diseases like Ebola and Marburg tent to breakup in remote areas on the country but Uganda has demonstrated highest degree of skill in containing such diseases. And respective guidelines are put forward once there is break out. Thus the grater part of the year, Uganda has no such alarming health issues that should prevent the travelers from visiting Uganda. The country features a range of travel insurance companies including the International Air Ambulance (IAA) which can settle your health insurance if you are interested.

Uganda’s national currency is called Shillings which is abbreviated as UGX and features a shilling sign of /=. However, other foreign countries can still be of use in the country especially the United States Dollars. In fact, you exchange part of your money to Uganda shillings and also remain with dollars so as to avoid inconveniences because at some stations, payment may be required in Uganda Shillings strictly other than dollars and vice versa. Uganda Shillings can be acquired at Entebbe International Airport on arrival, from commercial banks in Kampala and Entebbe or a range of foreign exchange bureaus in Kampala and Entebbe. In the up country areas, the foreign exchange services are limited to the big towns there and the exchange rate tends to be low compared to those in Kampala and Entebbe. Read More

Uganda is a heterogeneous nation and thus there is no majorly accepted local language country over. In Uganda people speak English and it’s the neutral mode of the communication in a country with over 65 tribal groups. Apart from English, Luganda is the dominantly used local language in Kampala, the Runyankole – Rukiga also take considerable percentage especially to the south west of Uganda, the Runyoro – Rutooro is among the Banyoro and Batooro, the Itesot in the east, Lumasaba, in Mbale region and the Luo languages of the north. Kiswahili is the second official language in Uganda and since Uganda is among the countries that form the East African integration, Kiswahili is increasingly taking ground as a language that can be incorporated in daily speeches. Specialized French, Chinese, Russian, Germany, Italian and Spanish interpreters are all available in Uganda. The travellers on tour in Uganda who are not good at English can pick any these for a customized interpretation on the Uganda tour.

Uganda’s International dialing code is +256 and this is followed by the respective number one intends to call. Uganda features a range of Telecommunication companies that offer telecommunication services including the South African Based MTN, Airtel, Uganda Telecom, Orange Telecom and the local K2 Telecom. Read More

Delicious local food that you can enjoy while on a Uganda tour

The Ugandan food varies from the ordinary to good. Uganda features a wide range of cuisine that one would wonder to encounter. Uganda features specialty restaurants that serve specialized food items including the Chinese food, the Indian cuisine, the Italian Cuisine, Irish, African contemporary, the Afro Caribbean, Belgian, Continental, Eritrean, Ethiopian, German, Fusion, Iranian, Indian North, Japanese, Mexican, Korean, Nigerian and Middle Eastern. Besides a diverse capacity handle a range of dietary interests of Uganda tour undertakers from different parts of the world, Uganda has its traditional cuisine which differ per tribe spread in different parts of the country. In central Uganda, the local delicacy is called Luwombo and the local restaurants feature it on their menu. This for both food and sauce and the food is boiled matooke plantains which are prepared in banana leaves. The sauce whether chicken or any other sauce also put in the banana leaves which are first sun dried or roasted a little to prevent them from tearing. In South Western Uganda, among the pastoralist Banyankole, there is Eshabwe which is a sauce that is made without fire. It’s made out of cow ghee. The cultivators have their fine Karo – millet bread which is very delicious. In the mid-west of Uganda, the Batooro prepare the unique Firinda sauce which is made by removing the bean outer layer. In the East of Uganda, the Itesot prepare the Atapa which is made out of cassava and is also impressive to consume. In the north of Uganda, there is a sour vegetable known as Marakwang which is exciting to taste on. They also have a lot of Sim-Sim. Uganda also features a wide range of fruits that are organically and freshly grown including the Mangoes, Oranges, Ovacadoes, the Jack fruit, Pineapples, the guavas and Passion Fruit and Water melon which are sold in different markets in Kampala especially Nakasero Market, the along the major routes that connect to Kampala and even in the up country areas.

Uganda’s population is anticipated to be about 27 million people with 87% living in rural areas. The Country’s population can generally be classified along linguistic lines or groups that reside in the country.

The biggest groups of the Bantu-speaking people are the Baganda totaling to about 82.1% of the population and most of them live in Kampala and other parts of the country like Masaka, Mubende, Luwero, Mukono, Mpigi, and several other parts.

Other most important Bantu-speaking groups are Batooro in western Uganda at the base of Rwenzori Mountains, Bakiga in the southwestern part of the country, and the Banyoro of the Bunyoro-Kitala Kingdom.
The Eastern part of the country has a mixture of people with different languages and culture but the most prevailing are Bantu speaking, Basoga speaking Lusoga language and the biggest ethnic group in the East and directly allied to Baganda. The place being at the coast of L.Victoria, its soils are very lush and agriculture is a main activity.

Uganda’s Natural History

Uganda is an exclusive safari destination from other African countries because of its large forested area with Afro-montane forest found mainly on Mount Elgon, Lowland rain forest and their openness gives you a stunning sight of the forest creatures like gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys, butterflies and birds.

If you go through the country’s National parks and game reserves, you are likely to encounter safari favorites like Lions, Gorillas, leopard, buffalo, elephant, giraffe and other several varieties of animals not found anywhere in Africa.

Uganda has over 10 protected National Parks and game reserves. These protect plain animals, forest environment, Savannah, and the related animals. Nevertheless the current one with tourist amenities include, Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Murchison falls national park, Semliki, Budongo, Kanyiyo and Pabidi forest reserves, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Mgahinga and several others.

Uganda is naturally gifted with water bodies Like Lake Victoria, Albert Kyoga, Edward and several crater lakes. The existence of such water bodies facilitate a moderately wet climate, with the countryside greener and fertile compared to the semi-desert northern side. Around these water bodies are diverse bird species not easily found anywhere in Africa especially the rare shoebill and the papyrus gonolek.

Uganda is covered with a flat terrain at altitudes of 1,000-1200m and by the result of rifting and warping, the East African landscape was formed giving way to the Western rift valley of Uganda and the most gorgeous mountains like Rwenzori Mountains neighboring Congo with Margherita peak 5,110m as the 3rd peak point in Africa. Other main mountains include, Virungas on Rwanda boundary with Muhavura as the utmost of Ugandan peaks at 4,127m, Mt Elgon 4,321m, Mt Moroto3, 084m, and numerous others. All these Mountains are homes to forest habitats and have high grasslands.