Uganda safety: unfounded fears or real risks?

This guide was written by Edoardo, travel guide and owner of Albrieux Africa Tours
 
Many travellers fear that Uganda is a dangerous country. The truth? There are no higher dangers than in other developed tourist countries that border on us (Kenya or Tanzania); in the last 15 years there have NOT been any unpleasant situations involving tourists, and certainly the interaction with the local population in a “non-prepackaged” way will be the first thing that will remain in your heart when you return.

Unfortunately we are less “sponsored” than our eastern neighbours and Uganda is often associated in Italy with dark periods that occurred in the 80s or 90s (almost 30/40 years ago!!!).
Fortunately, however, in recent years this trend has slightly changed and Uganda is spoken of more and above all in a better way; this is mainly thanks to the fantastic conservation process that Uganda Wildlife Authority (national Ugandan parks body) is doing with the Mountain Gorillas and other primate species: year after year the families are increasing in number allowing travellers to have one of the best experiences of their life.

If you want to be aware of all the dangers you may run into during your trip, I suggest you read my advice: my name is Edoardo and I have seen the country grow slowly, until it has become a popular and niche destination for many travellers.

 

1. How to prevent health risks

Before leaving for a trip to Uganda, I recommend that you consult your doctor, consider taking out health insurance and find out about the useful numbers to contact in case of need during your stay in the country.

Mandatory vaccinations

In Uganda there is still an obligation to be vaccinated against yellow fever, an essential requirement for obtaining an entry visa.

In the event that some allergies to drugs or if your health conditions should be such as to prevent the vaccine, a medical certificate attesting to your problems translated into English will be enough to show to the local authorities to obtain the visa.

I advise you to book the vaccination in advance as it must be carried out at least 10 days before entering the country. You can get the vaccine in a local ASL at a cost of around €30. Its duration is for life and does not require further recalls.

Recommended vaccinations

It happens that in some periods of the year there are other forms of infectious diseases.
Before departure, consult your personal doctor and evaluate whether on the basis of your state of health it is necessary to undergo other optional vaccinations such as the anti-cholera vaccination, the anti-malarial prophylaxis, the anti-meningococcal vaccination, hepatitis A and B.

Healthcare facilities in Uganda

In Kampala, medical assistance is satisfactory; in the rest of the country, on the other hand, the healthcare offer is very limited. The reference healthcare facilities are the Kampala International Hospital and The Surgery

In the event of serious illness or an accident, it may be preferable to transfer the patient by air to Nairobi, Johannesburg or to Europe. Emergency transfers are possible through local medical centres, such as ‘The Surgery’ in Kampala or ‘Flying Doctors’ in Nairobi.

In Uganda, the health system is private: hospitals require a financial guarantee before starting treatment (credit card or advance payment). For this reason, to obtain reimbursement of any expenses incurred, I advise you to take out insurance healthcare by contacting your trusted insurance advisor.

Food Precautions

If you travel with my tour operator, good quality food and hygienic standards dictated by western tourism will be served in all the structures where you will stay overnight. So do not hesitate to also eat raw fruit and vegetables; obviously don’t go overboard with experimenting with local dishes,
especially before long transfers.

Outside of the facilities, in case you would like to buy extra food, do it carefully and above all do not ingest raw or undercooked food. In the case of fruit bought in the markets, I suggest you eat it after peeling it.
I also recommend drinking bottled water and soft drinks without adding ice and boiling and filtering tap water because it is not drinkable.

 

2. Other dangers and precautions to follow

Theft and petty crime

Petty crime (theft and pickpocketing) may be present in the city. I advise you to be cautious, especially in public places such as markets, bus stations, churches, during events and other places visited by foreign people such as shopping malls or hotels, especially in Kampala.

Clothing recommended

In general, I advise you to bring light and comfortable clothes with you.
During trekking with gorillas you will need to wear heavier clothing such as a fleece and a windbreaker in technical material such as Gore Tex or similar.
Finally, don’t forget torch, anti-mosquito spray and a backpack to use during trekking.

Logistics and public transport

Don’t rely on public transport: the state of maintenance is poor, and they can also be unreliable and uncomfortable.

Outside the main axes, the roads are often in poor condition and poorly lit.
For this reason I always advise you to rely on local Tour Operators such as Albrieux Africa Tours: we know the risks perfectly and we have 4×4 land cruisers and minivans capable of dealing with any unexpected event.

Technology and telecommunications

GSM telephone lines work almost everywhere, but the costs for calls made or received with an Italian card are quite high.
For short communications we suggest using programs such as Whatsapp (in almost all the structures where you will stay you will find free wifi connection).
We also recommend the purchase of a local sim to always be connected with the manager of your trip.

 

3. Rules to respect

Customs and traditions

During your trip, behave like a guest and follow these simple tips:

• Uganda’s population is very poor but welcoming. The greeting is for them a form of great respect that takes place through a handshake
• before photographing people it is good practice to ask for permission
• before concluding a purchase it is a good habit to negotiate on the price
• tips are welcome, but not mandatory. We recommend the use of local currency
• if you are invited to dinner in a private house you will eat sitting on the floor: do not stretch your legs under the table and not getting up, are considered disrespectful behaviour;
• before starting to eat, it is customary for all the diners to gather in a brief prayer

Laws and penalties in Uganda

In Uganda there are different rules from ours; in addition, the conditions of detention are particularly harsh. Here are some recommendations:

• it is forbidden to wear military-style clothing
• it is forbidden to photograph people without their consent, military installations and public buildings
• infractions of the drug law are severely punished even starting with small quantities of any type of drug

In case of problems with the local Police Authorities (detention or arrest) it is advisable to inform the Embassy of your Country in Kampala for the necessary assistance.

 
 

 
 

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