Entebbe Airport Shuttle: Uganda Airport Transportation

As Uganda entry hub, Entebbe has good domestic and international transport links. Several airlines offer flights to the Entebbe international airport, including Etihad Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways Delta, KLM, Swiss International Air Lines, and Turkish Airlines, Uganda Airline, Rwanda Air, Kenya airway among others.

The bus journey from the airport to the city centre takes around 30 minutes. You can take any bus in the direction of Kampala. Tickets should cost USH 5000-USH 10000. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or Uber to the city centre, but this will be more expensive. A taxi to the city centre costs around USh 250.000.

After dark, caution should be taken with taxis. Entebbe covers a huge spread of land and taxis can become much more expensive if you are staying in the outskirts of the city. If you book with us, we will take care of your transport.

• Rush hour

Yes, Uganda is safe to visit if you stick to some rules. Don’t wear any flashy jewelry or carry your valuables openly. Watch out for the insane traffic. Try to only use taxi drivers at night that your hotel or restaurant recommended or one that you already know. If you are going out late, it might be worth to pre-arrange a pick-up time with a known taxi. Don’t walk around, even just between bars, after nightfall. If you are in a bar or club, keep your drinks covered or not out of sight. If you are going out, it might be wise to dress a bit more covered than you would usually do to avoid unnecessary attention. These are all rules that should apply to your general travels in Uganda, not just Entebbe or Kampala. Crime is an issue in the city, but this should not deter you from visiting Uganda.

No, Kampala is fairly cheap to visit and stay in. There are various hotels and restaurants, tailored to different budgets, so there should be no problem to find something that suits your wallet best.

Kampala and Entebbe are usually visited because of its welcoming people and beautiful night life. Kampala and Entebbe are rich with culture and history. It is unbeatable for food options in the entire country and the nightlife is good. There is the possibility of accessing some beaches, but most importantly you will learn immensely about African urban life.

Kampala and Entebbe usually experience a warm weather throughout the year. Temperatures averages around 25 Degrees Celsius, worsened by the bustling city center and congestion. It is hot and humid all year round. Despite the heat you should wear covering clothes unless you are at the beach to respect the local culture.

Like in most of Uganda, you should not drink the tap water in Kampala and Entebbe. It is fine to use it for brushing your teeth, but otherwise bottled water is better.

The name Kampala come the Luganda word “Akasozi k’empala”. The legend has it that the impala antelopes used to be the dominate animals living on different hills of Kampala, particularly the old Kampala hill. as the purpose of simplicity, the name “Akasozi K’empala” (Hill of impalas) was slowly translated into Kampala to the present day.

in 19th century, Fredrick Lugard constructed his fort at old Kampala hill which gave the hill a mileage. the name ‘Hill of Impala’  was then extended to the all 7 hills that are were making up the political. as of today, Kampala has expanded  beyond the 7 hills butt those are still of significant importance to the city

Kampala’s history is intertwined with both the pre-colonial Buganda Kingdom and the subsequent British colonial presence. The city’s name, “Kampala,” is believed to have originated from the local Buganda language, meaning “hill of impala” due to the abundance of those antelopes on the hill where Fort Lugard was later built. In the 19th century, Kampala developed as a British colonial settlement and the headquarters of the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEACO), initially on Old Kampala Hill, which was then the hunting ground and capital of the Buganda Kingdom, according to Britannica. The city later became the capital of independent Uganda in 1962

You can not talk about Kampala without referring to the Buganda kingdom. the Buganda Kingdom had its capital at the nearby hill of Mengo. as of today Mengo is part of Kampala and is where the Kabaka’s palace is found

Today Kampala is the most populated district in Uganda with about 2 million people calling home. this comes as no surprise given that it is both the commercial and political capital of Uganda. the city is divided into 5 divisions which are also act as administrative units of the each with a division load mayor. These divisions include kampala central, Makindye, Nakawa, Kawempe and Rubaga divisions.

The metropolitan area of Kampala extends to Wakiso, Mpigi and Mukono to form what has become to be known as the greater Kampala. the dominant spoken language in the city is Luganda which is the language for the native Baganda People. However, the biggest population in the city can also speak English.

The growth of Kampala was hugely influenced by the settlement of British in the 19th century which made to standout from other parts of the country

the main mode of transport in Kampala are the taxis which offer town services and they have a seat capacity of 14 passengers, Beside these small taxis, people also uses buses and mini buses as means of public transport. for the long routes, different bus companies provide transportation service to the people.

boda boda (motor bicycles) and tuku tuku (tricycles) are also popularly used as a mean of transport for the short distance travelers and those who wouldn’t wish to sit in traffic congestion for long hours. Boda bodas are licensed to carry one passenger but it is not uncommon to find them carrying up to three people whereas tukutuku are supposed to carry 3 passenger but they can go up to 8 while in Uganda. these two mode of transport are also characterized with a lot of accident. therefore, you need to be very conscious if you choose to use any of these mode of transport.

for those looking out for the private travel plan, Uber services are being offered all over the city. alternatively you can hire a private car from a tour and travel company of your choice to enjoy the exclusive services while in Uganda.

While there may not be many “walkable” sidewalks throughout the city for a leisurely stroll, tourists find walking the botanical gardens near the Hotel Slipway or the Bahai area offer a lovely view and refreshing breeze and wonderful dining options, too.

You may also find pedestrian-friendly areas in downtown, where you could wander a little with the busy business men and women as they go about their day. However, in other areas of Kampala, you may find that motorcycles or vendors have overtaken the sidewalks and that walking isn’t a pleasurable venture.

All along the streets of Kampala, you’re sure to see street vendors selling shoes, clothing, sweets, and of course, refreshments: everything from iced sodas and water to freshly squeezed fruit juices or sugar cane juice. And, you will likely want a drink! Kampala is located just few degrees south of the equator and remains hot year-round. Drinks sold along the streets should all be reasonably priced, around 1000- 2000 Uganda Shillings. If you want to know more about local currency and how to exchange money, check out our guide.

There are many good restaurants and cafes all throughout Kampala, so you won’t have to look hard to find something delicious to eat. Kampala is known for fresh seafood, fish and local cuisines such as rice or Matooke

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Kampala enjoys warm temperatures throughout the year, with significant rainfall only coming during the March to June period, during which the lowest temperatures recorded are about 28 degrees Celsius. There almost certainly is has never been an recorded incidents of harsh weather in the recent 3 or so decades. No hurricanes, or high speed winds and even the rainfall is never really that heavy.

In the few moths that it does rain, much of the city is normally plagued with floods, with most of the street becoming impassable without wading through or at least jumping over murky waters. The region also has a lot of insects such as mosquito’s and flies, which thrive due to the lack of the cold of the winter to kill them off, making things such as mosquito nets, insect repellent and good hygiene an important thing if you are going to visit the area. Most hotels provide nets, but you can get the rest at any supermarket or pharmacy in the area.

Much of the region’s tourism is centred on the urban – Baganda cultural lifestyle, but influences of the many cultures that live in the area make sure that you don’t really get to experience this alone. There are parts of the city that have other cultures as well such as historical monuments. That being said there really is not much to do for tourism in the region at all, unless of course you are keen on beach side hotels for which there are plenty – at a higher price of course.

At an average temperature of about 24 degrees Celsius, the waters of Victoria in the area are rather warmer than what you would find in countries further away from the equator and with far less creatures that may want to harm or eat you. This means that you most likely won’t have to dread that chill up your spine every time you get into the water, be it at a swimming pool or the lakes. With regards to the lake, much of the beaches is protected by a barrier reef (dead), keeping much of the harsher waves and creatures away. All this makes Kampala a good spot for water sports and swimming.

Places such as kasenyi, Munyonyo or Imperial beach would allow you to enjoy more of the beach at a lower cost and as an added bonus, these are less influenced by other cultures. In other words, Kampala is perfect for business and urban tourists, who are keen to enjoy fine dining or the region’s nightlife with a dash of Kiganda culture – on the go, but that isn’t to say that there isn’t anything to do for the other kinds of tourists.
So if you were thinking of coming to Kampala as part of your holiday, then make sure that you bring a lot of beach material – and get a local to show you around (or read more of our pages). Don’t be like one of the many that complain online about how bad or expensive their hotel, food, traffic jams or taxi service was. Just use Kampala as a hub while in transit to your final destination.

Kampala is located on the central region of Uganda and few kilometers away from Entebbe international airport, with only the Entebbe standing between it and international community. it is surrounded by Mukono, wakiso and Mpigi. For more information on its location, please see the map below.

Kampala can be easily reached by air from any part of the world, as there are direct flights from almost every major hub in air travel, with most of the big names in the industry offering direct flights or at least connections from other parts of the world. It also can be reached by boat, although there aren’t a lot of passenger ships to the area from other countries, but he country can still be accessed by different ships on lake Victoria including the MV Kalanga that serve the region.

From inland Africa, you could get to Kampala via flight or road and although the lengthy road journeys may take their toll on you, it would provide a nice opportunity to see other parts of the country. The road transfer will offer you a chance to appreciate the breathtaking landscape of Uganda and her neighbors.

There are an estimated 7 million residents in Kampala; the more precise number depends on whether you take suburbs into account, or not. Kampala closes the top ten of the African cities according to population. As for the population growth rate, Kampala is among the 15 fastest growing cities in the world with a city sited in number 13.

English and Luganda are spoken widely in the city, but you might also hear some other languages, as well.

Christianity and Islam are both well-represented in this city, with the two religious groups coinciding peacefully together. Throughout Uganda, both Christian and Musilm traditions and holidays are celebrated and recognized by the government and you will likely see many residents dressing in traditional Muslim attire.

In general, people in Kampala are friendly, and walking around the city is safe. Although, like in every city of the world, some careless tourists occasionally get into trouble here.

Remember the basic rules of a prudent tourist: do not unnecessarily show large sums of money or other expensive things. Only ride in designated taxis (they are well-marked and every driver has an official ID, which you can ask to see before entering the vehicle). Inquire with hotel staff if you need assistance; exchange money at official banks and or bureaus and don’t walk alone at night without your tour guide.

If you tour the city, you will find that there are impoverished areas of Kampala; places with houses badly needing repair or entire communities with poorly constructed fences, buildings made from scrap materials , chickens running loose, and other signs of poverty. One of the unique features of Kampala is that you can walk through prestigious neighborhoods, with beautifully tended gardens, and the impoverished, struggling neighborhoods with tiny vegetable plots, within the same day. Both of these make up Kampala: both the poor communities and the wealthy ones.