Rules for overlanding in Uganda

An International Driving Permit is required.

Third-party liability cover is compulsory.

A Carnet de Passage is recommended for vehicles imported temporarily.

Traffic keeps to the left.

Roads are poorly lit, badly maintained and weakly signposted, and are often rough outside the towns. Driving is undisciplined and the share of fatal crashes is high, so accidents are frequent.

On the last Saturday of every month, from 07:00 to 10:00, a National Cleaning Day closes all businesses and bans non-essential movement of people and vehicles. Only emergency services and security forces are exempt, and the police enforce it. The government declared the measure on 23 July 2026.

Motorcycle taxis carry a high risk of accidents, made worse by how little helmets are used.

There have been fatal accidents on Lake Victoria. Before boarding, check the state of the boat and whether it is overloaded.

Possession is strictly forbidden and carries sentences of 2 to 10 years.

Photographing military installations and police premises is prohibited.

Under the Anti-Homosexuality Bill signed in May 2023, same-sex relations are punishable by prison terms up to life. Promoting LGBT rights carries up to 20 years, and there are heavy penalties for facilitating same-sex relations or failing to report them.

There are no particular customs or currency formalities. Cards are only widely used in the main businesses of the larger cities and in upmarket resorts, so carry cash in US dollars or euros to change locally. Visa and MasterCard are preferred and American Express is almost never accepted.

The official COMESA Digital Yellow Card site describes the Yellow Card as a regional third-party insurance system and lists Uganda among the countries where the COMESA Yellow Card is recognized. (COMESA Digital Yellow Card — The Regional Third Party Insurance System)

Uganda's Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2022 state that nobody may import or export a drone or its components without notifying the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and seeking its written authorisation. A person importing a drone must declare it to the customs office on arrival at a port of entry and then submit it to the Joint Security Office for inspection and clearance. (Uganda Civil Aviation Authority — The Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2022 (S.I. No. 96), regulation 16)

Among the park rules printed in its Conservation Tariff (July 2024 to June 2026), the Uganda Wildlife Authority lists: do not camp or make campfires except at designated sites. (Uganda Wildlife Authority — Conservation Tariff July 2024 – June 2026, Park Rules and Regulations)

Among the park rules printed in its Conservation Tariff (July 2024 to June 2026), the Uganda Wildlife Authority lists: do not drive off the tracks; do not exceed the speed limit of 40 km per hour; park gates open between 7am and 7pm. The same document says night game drives are restricted to tourists sleeping within the park and that the use of UWA guides is mandatory for night game drives. (Uganda Wildlife Authority — Conservation Tariff July 2024 – June 2026, Park Rules and Regulations)

Uganda's Communications Commission (UCC), in its Framework for Satellite Communication (September 2022), states that personal GMPCS subscriber equipment or satellite phones brought in by visitors for a short stay must be declared at least 48 hours before entry and registered by the licensed service providers. The equipment must meet the applicable national radio equipment standards or be type-approved by an administration that is a signatory to the GMPCS-MoU and carry the GMPCS-MoU mark. (Uganda Communications Commission — Framework for Satellite Communication (September 2022), section 5.1.1)