Travelling to Uganda

Uganda was called the “Pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill. That title is unsurprising if one looks at the sheer beauty of the country.

In Uganda, there is the world’s longest river called the river Nile, snowy mountains, and wildlife reserves. The country has a diverse culture, comprised of more than 50 local tribes, each with their own traditions and history. There’s also a lively nightlife, particularly in Kampala with tons of parties, bars, and dance floors around.

Antimalarials

You will need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria. Your doctor can help you decide which medicine is right for you, and also talk to you about other steps you can take to prevent malaria.

Yellow fever vaccination

Yellow fever vaccination is required for arriving travelers from all countries if traveler is ≥1 year of age.

Tetanus vaccine

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

Hepatitis A vaccine

This vaccine is recommended because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water , regardless of where you are eating or staying.

Typhoid

You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water . This vaccine is recommended for most travellers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.

Meningitis

This vaccine is recommended if you plan to visit parts of  East African Counties  located in the meningitis belt during the dry season (December–June), when the disease is most common.

Stay Healthy and Safe

Eat and drink safely

Ugandan cuisine draws on English, Arab and Asian especially Indian influences and uses local produce including plantains, sweet potatoes, corn, beans and cassava. Traditional foods include ugali (solidified maize meal porridge) served with a stew of groundnuts (peanuts), beans, chicken or meat such as beef, goat or mutton. Game can be found on menus in some restaurants and at safari lodges. Fish including the tigerfish, mukini, mputa and tilapia are popular.

Eat

  • Food of your choice either raw or cooked
  • Fruits and vegetables, you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself
  • Pasteurized dairy products

Don't Eat

  • Food which is not well prepared
  • Eat food without washing hands
  • Unwashed or unpeeled fruits or vegetables

Drink

  • Bottled water that is sealed
  • Water that has been disinfected
  • Ice made with bottled or disinfected water
  • Carbonated drinks
  • Hot coffee or tea
  • Pasteurized milk

Don’t Drink

  • Water which has not been boiled or disinfected
  • Unpasteurized milk

Take Medicine

Talk with your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen. Protect yourself;

  • Use latex condoms correctly.
  • Do not inject drugs.
  • Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
  • Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
  • If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while travelling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise;

  • Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
  • Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
  • Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
  • Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Uganda embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
  • Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available on their website (www.jointcommissioninternational.org).

Malaria is a risk in Uganda. Fill your malaria prescription before you leave and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave.

Uganda is a landlocked country situated in East Africa, with neighbours Kenya and Tanzania to the east and south, respectively. It also shares a border with Rwanda to the south, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west and South Sudan to the north. It covers an area of 241,038 square kilometres.

Joined EAC: July 2000 (Founding Member)

Uganda hosts 3 institutions of the Community: the East African Development Bank (EADB) charged with promoting sustainable socio-economic development in East Africa by providing development finance, support and advisory services, the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) which aims at making air transport services safe, efficient and profitable through the adoption of common policies for the development of civil air transport in the region and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) that coordinates inter-university cooperation in East Africa.