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USEFUL INFORMATION
Arrival/Departure; By air at Entebbe International Airport, 30 minutes' drive south of Kampala. Overland to/from Kenya via Busia, Malaba or Suam border posts; to/from Tanzania via Mutukula border post; to/from Rwanda through Katuna or Cyanika border post; to/from the Democratic Republic of Congo via Bunagana border post.
Entry/ Exit requirements; A valid passport is required (with an expiry date extending 6 month beyond the date you intend to leave) and a return or onward ticket. Visas are necessary for most visitors (with the exception of few exempted countries). Visa can be obtained from any Ugandan embassy or high commission; they can also be bought on arrival at Entebbe airport or at the border posts.
A vaccination certificate against yellow fever is required, and a vaccination certificate against cholera is recommended. Up-to- date information on entry can be found on the Uganda Ministry of foreign affair's at www. mofa.go.ug
Time; Greenwich Mean Time + 3hours.
Health; For short trips, ensure that tetanus, polio Diphtheria, typhoid and hepatitis A vaccinations are up to date. Vaccination is required against yellow fever. Vaccination against cholera is recommended as are anti malaria medication and precautions. For longer trips of more than a month, consult a specialist travel clinic.
Medical facilities; There are private clinics which provide 24- hours emergency and ambulance services; check with your hotel as to which one is currently to be recommended.
Travelling around; There are no scheduled domestic flights. Car hire is possible and a best option to rented vehicle which include a driver. Bus services cover all main domestic and international routes and all operate modern coaches with fixed departure times. Matatus or minibus-taxis (white with blue and white band round the middle) also cover most of the major routes; they have no schedule departure times, but leave when full. Share taxis operate on less- used routes, but fares can be high and overcharging common place. Special hire cars can be organised for private use, for a negotiated fare.
Currency and Banking; The unit of currency is Uganda shilling and available in denominations of 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 shillings. US $ are more easily exchanged than other currencies. Forex bureaus (bureau de change) tend to offer the best rates and most are open weekdays and Saturday mornings. Banks are usually open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays and Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Otherwise out of hours foreign exchange facilities can be found in some hotels and at Entebbe airport. Travellers' cheques will only be accepted at a few international banks; proof of purchase and your passport will be required. Major credit cards are accepted at most large hotels and good restaurants; though they are unlikely to be accepted elsewhere. Local currency can be drawn from ATMs.
Tourist information.
Information on accommodation, travel and places to visit is available at the Uganda Tourist board, Impala House, Plot 13/15 Kimathi Avenue, Kampala website: www.visituganda.com
Climate; Temperatures remain similar all year; average maximum daily temperature is about 27 degrees centigrade. The rainy season is March to May and September to December.
Clothing.
Lightweight clothing made of natural fabrics is the most suitable; occasionally a light sweater might be required.
Language
The official language is English; Luganda and Kiswahili are widely spoken; many other languages and dialects are also used locally.
Public Holidays.
I January, New year's Day 26 January, Liberation Day, 8 March, International women's Day, 1 May Labour Day, 3 June, Martyrs Day, 9 June Heroes Day, 9 October, Independence Day, 25 December, Christmas Day, 26 December boxing Day, In addition to these fixed dated, Christian Good Friday and Easter Monday and Muslim Idd- el- Fitr and Idd Adhuha are also public holidays.
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