Guide to Driving in Uganda as a Tourist – Road & Safety Tips
For adventurous travelers, Driving in Uganda as a Tourist offers you exceptional opportunities to explore the country’s natural beauty at your pace without having to face the limitations caused by use of public means of transport and guided Uganda road trips.
It allows you to make your itinerary, linger at your favorite scenes, and fully immerse yourself in adventures offering you the best experience.
Uganda is featured with a diverse of attractions ranging from national parks, mountains, lakes, and rivers to cultural sites are best explored by a road means of transport.
Major tourist key destinations such as the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park famous for its Mountain gorillas, Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park preferred for its diverse flora and fauna, and the Rwenzori Mountains, among others, are easily accessible by car as it is the convenient transport option to get you o these remote destinations.
However, driving in a foreign country can be quite challenging most especially for first time visitors requiring you to be well prepared for the an enjoyable and seamless travel experience.
Lets me take you through the vital information, tips, and advice you need for a safe, enjoyable, and memorable road trip experience while on your Uganda safaris being business or pleasure safaris.
Understanding Uganda’s Road Conditions
Uganda’s road networks significantly vary depending on the region. For example, you will find those roads on major highways leading to different sections of the country like the Kampala- Masaka- Mbarara highway, Kampala-Gulu, Kampala-Jinja, Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, among others, and most of the roads in major cities like Entebbe, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara, Kampala are well-maintained tarmac roads.

But as you get off them venturing deep into the remote rural areas, you will find rugged dusty, and rocky roads.
During rainy seasons which ranges from the month of March to May and September to November, some roads in the remote areas get flooded, muddy and slippery making navigation through them very challenging.
Despite these challenges, the main highways connecting major cities to iconic tourist destinations have been kept in good condition. Easy to navigate through as they are equipped with road sign posts and traffic blocks and checkup points at different junctions to ensure that travelers adhere to the driving rules and regulations which ensures their safety.
Safety Tips for Driving in Uganda;
In Uganda, an individual will be required to drive on the left-hand side which is quite challenging for those used to driving on the right hand requiring them to take some bit of practice to familiarize themselves before embarking on long-distance road trips in the country.
A traveler is required to adhere to the traffic rules and regulations which include being cautious about speed limits on highways depending on the area or region you are driving in which are often 50 km/hr. in urban areas, 80 km/hr. Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers on board.
Police checkpoints are common across Uganda roads most especially on high ways and in busy urban centers.
Therefore, before embarking on a road trip, you should ensure that you have all the necessary driving documents among which include a valid driving permit vehicle registration document, and proof of insurance for seamless travel insurance. We also advise you to be polite and cooperative during the checks to avoid misunderstandings.
Avoid late night drives if possible as most of the roads most especially those in the rural areas are poorly lit others with no lights at all making hazards such as potholes, animals, and pedestrians very difficult to see.
Choosing the Right Vehicle;
The type of vehicle you are to choose for your road trips in Uganda will greatly depend on your planned itinerary. For example, if your planned destinations are in major cities or can be accessed via highways and well-paved roads, then the sedan or compact car will be a good option.
But if you are planning to dig deep into remote areas for example to explore national parks or drive during the rainy seasons, then a 4×4 car is highly recommended.
Popular choices of 4×4 cars used in Uganda include Toyota RAV4, Toyota Land Cruiser V8, Toyota Prado TX/TZ, Land Cruiser Hardtop 70 Series, Safari Land Cruiser Extended 7-seater and Safari Vans. These are renowned for their excellent off-road capabilities without compromising comfort.
Different car rental agents in Uganda offer self-drive car rental options as well as guided road trips with experienced chauffeurs. Opting for a car rental option with a chauffeur can be a great option most especially when embarking on unfamiliar trails featured with a diverse of terrains.
Essential preparations Before your Uganda Safari;
Right preparation is one of the major keys to a successful road trip in Uganda. Before hitting the road, it’s important to first make a good research about it. Know your key stopping points for food, gasoline, and accommodations. Know the road conditions featured with your routes so that you can plan accordingly.
Pack all the essential items such as extra gasoline, a first aid kit, a tool kit, a jack most especially if planning to venture very deep into remote areas where there may hardly be a petrol station, mechanic and health facility.
Consider carrying enough food and water, and insect repellents if you planning to take a number of days exploring the jungles.
Ensure that you have acquired the essential vaccinations such as yellow fever for a seamless travel experience while visiting Uganda’s tourist iconic destinations. When planning to spend nights in the wild, take primitive measures against wild insects such as mosquitoes by sleeping under mosquito nets and taking antimalarial medications.
Top 5 Destinations to Explore by Car in Uganda:
Driving in Uganda as a tourists offers exceptional opportunities to conveniently explore some of the stunning destinations in the country at their own pace. Some of the must-visit destinations in Uganda include;
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; Famously known for its famous endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Uganda attracting tourists from different parts of the world to participate in gorilla trekking adventure.
Trails leading to the park and those within are featured with a diverse of challenging terrains ranging from rocky, steep slopes, rugged to flooded and slippery most especially during rain seasons requiring a reliable 4×4 wheel drive to navigate through them.
Murchison Falls National Park; Famously known for holding the most powerful falls in the world and for its incredible biodiversity, the park offers amazing guided game drives that come with stunning views of different wildlife species such as lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras among others offering the best experience.
Queen Elizabeth National Park; known for its diverse wildlife and beautiful landscapes including the Kazinga channel, the park is on the most visited national parks of Uganda.
Lake Bunyonyi; often referred to as the Switzerland of Africa, lake Bunyonyi is a stunning lake surrounded by terraced hills. It is featured with a diverse of different water wading bird species making it an ideal place for birding and relaxation.
Kampala and Jinja City; The capital city of Uganda, Kampala, offers stunning views of vibrant markets, historical sites, and cultural experiences while that of Jinja which is famously known for harbouring the source of the longest river in Africa.
The River Nile offers a variety of water adventurous activities which include swimming, white-water rafting, canoeing, fishing, among others and different land adventures making it a perfect road trip for tourists to embark on while exploring the natural beauty of Uganda.
Challenges that come with driving in Uganda as a Tourist and How to Overcome them;
Navigating Remote areas; Most remote areas of Uganda are featured with minimal signposts yet they have a diverse of terrains requiring one to take serious caution to ensure his safety as well as the safety of other fellow drivers, pedestrians, and animals using the road.
They also have a poor network which offers weak GPS signals requiring one to carry a reliable offline map or consider hiring a local guide who is well versed with different road networks in that region.
Weather Conditions; Uganda’s rainy seasons can make driving very challenging most especially on unpaved murram roads. We advise tourists who planning to travel during these seasons on these kinds of roads to opt for a 4×4 cars as is it is the reliable choice for tackling these kinds of roads no matter the weather condition.