Our Western Uganda Transportation Guide below will tell you all you need to know about travelling in and around Western Uganda. Use our Western Uganda Destination Guide or check out our Western Uganda tour options for good ways of exploring this region. You should also take a look at our Uganda Transportation Guide for more information on getting to and around the country.

Western Uganda Transportation Guide

Getting to Western Uganda

By Air

Entebbe International Airport, the main gateway to Uganda, is located 35 km from the capital, Kampala. Many international carriers including British Airways, South African Airways, Gulf Air, KLM and Emirates Airlines operate direct flights to Entebbe from destinations around the world. A lot of travellers prefer to fly to Nairobi, which handles more international services, and catch a connecting flight or bus to Uganda.

Bus and coach services are operated at regular intervals to the capital city. Taxis are also available at the airport.

By Bus

Bus services to Kampala are available from all major cities in the region including Nairobi, Kigali, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. The Nairobi service is a daily one and the one between Kampala and Kigali, Rwanda is twice weekly.

By Road

The road links between Uganda and the bordering countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Congo are very good. However, like most places in Sub-Saharan Africa, the roads are not always in the best of conditions. Visitors from the East pass through the Busia and Malaba border posts, from the south through Mukula and from Rwanda the crossing point is Katuna. From Congo the best way is through the Bunanga border post. It is a long and arduous journey by road from Sudan towards the north to Uganda.

Getting Around Western Uganda

Inside Uganda, the road network is quite good; however, a lot of them are unpaved, made of earth and potholed. Driving can thereby be a slow and cumbersome process.

By Public Buses

The public bus service in Uganda is quite good and connects all major towns. They are very cheap but may not keep to strict schedules and usually wait till the bus is full before departing. The bus station in Kampala is located between the old and new taxi parks. Most buses to outlying areas leave Kampala early in the morning.

Travellers going to and from Kampala can also opt for the Post Buses, which are run by the Postal Service. These buses leave from the front of the main post office at 8 am Monday to Saturday. The services are safe and reliable and tickets can be purchased at the post office. There are services to Kabale, Fort Portal, Kasese, Soroti, and Hoima.

By Matatus

One of the most popular modes of travel in Uganda is the Matatus which are minibus-type taxis. They are cheap, frequent and go almost everywhere, but are usually very crowded and make lots of stops. You can hail them anywhere on the road. It is best to ask fellow passengers about fares as conductors have a tendency to overcharge tourists.

By Pickup Truck

Pickup trucks will get you anywhere, even to places where other vehicles find it too hard to go. Obviously, comfort levels will be very low and you may have to share space with produce, people and even animals. But it is a great experience and a good way to get to know the locals.

By Ferry

At Lake Victoria there is regular ferry service to the Ssese Islands. Many parts of the lake shore are inaccessible on foot but can be reached by boat. Local fishing boats are usually on hand to take tourists to places of interest along the shores, though these are small and can be crowded and are not always safe.

By Charter Flights

Private charter flights usually operate from the Kajansi airstrip, which is about 10 km from Entebbe. Flying is a good option if you are not keen on long and slow road trips along potholed highways. The view from the plane of the lush green and mountainous countryside below can be spectacular. Charter flights can be arranged to places of tourist interest including Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Parks.