Visas
For
any travellers wishing to enter Uganda has to possess a valid visa card in
order to be allowed to enter the country. The Ugandan visas are issued at the
Uganda High Commissions and Embassies abroad and also at all Entry/Exist
points. So all nations that require to have visas are consequently visa prone
in Uganda, Uganda also issues the east African borderless visa which allows
movement in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda unlike the Uganda visa that can only be
used for travel in Uganda. Single entry for 3 months US$100, multiple entry
visa for 6months US$150- Multiple visa entry 1 year US$ 200 inland Transit visa
(good for 1 weak US$15-student visa US$20
Check list
All travelers to Uganda are required to strictly confirm with the following
requirements
• You must be in possession of a valid
passport issued and recognized by your government
• You must have an international
immunization certificate against yellow fever. Visa information for Rwanda
nationals from Uganda, Germany and USA do not require visas to travel to Rwanda.
How to get to Uganda
There
are very many means that can enable you arrive in Uganda, since Uganda is a
land locked country access can be via the land boarder or via the country’s
international airport at Entebbe. By road one can use a car or a bus from neighbouring
countries. entry into Uganda from Kenya is via the Busia and Mbarara, border
crossing, while from Rwanda is mainly the Gatuna border crossing and there
numerous buses or public means that connect to Kampala, from Nairobi in Kenya,
Juba in south Sudan, Dar es salaam in Tanzania, Kigali in Rwanda, Bujumbura in
Burundi and Goma in the Congo. They’re very many International airlines that
fly directly to Entebbe international airport and it served by regional and
international airlines that link the world to Uganda these include, Kenya
airline, Ethiopian airline, Rwanda Air, Dutch Airline, British Airways, Turkish
Airlines, Brussels Airline and Egypt Air
Climate
Uganda has a pleasant warm and tropical
climate with insignificant seasonal variations, making it good to visit all
year round. Its average temperature is around 25.5oC or 7I o F, dropping to a
minimum of 12oC or 54 o F at night time with altitude also affecting this. The
rainfall ranges between 1,000 and 2,000 millimetres and the average humidity is
70%-100% each year. Uganda has two seasons, the dry season and wet seasons. The
dry season is good for gorilla tracking the most premier activity done in
Uganda December and February and from June to September- November are the best
months to track gorillas, The dry seasons are also good for wildlife viewing
since thirsty draw most of the games to the drinking point making viewing them
in number superb. The roads are passable making it easier to meet various
destinations. Wet season that’s from March –May and October to November,
however are also good because this is when the country’s scenery is ever green
and good also for tracking chimpanzee. Birding is fantastic all year round but
is at its peak between November and April when migrant species are present.
Terrain
About
34% of the country is covered in wetlands with an intense of Lakes, River and Swamps.
Uganda is blessed with fertile soils good for cultivating. It has Lake Victoria
which is the 2nd largest fresh water Lake in the world; Lake Albert and also
the source of the Nile are really superb.
People and culture
Uganda
has a very strong and rich culture tradition, it is gifted with very many
groups of people and this is evidenced by the existence of over 50 different
languages belonging to five different linguistic groups some of these languages
bear some similarities while others are completely different and unique in
their way of life, people have an equally diverse cultural variety of music,
art and handicraft. The central of the country is dominated largely the Bantu
group majorly the Baganda mainly known for their strong kingship in Uganda. The
head of the state is locally known as the ‘’Kabaka’’, the Baganda counts to
about fifth of the population and they speak Luganda. Other Bantu speaking
groups include the Banyakole who speaks Lunyankole as their official language,
the Bakiga speaks Lukiga, Batoro speaks Lutoro these live mainly in the western
region of Uganda and the Basoga speaks Lusoga this Bantu speaking group manly
found in the eastern side of Uganda. To the East and North lives the groups of
Nilotic origin include the Iteso, Karamajong, Acholi and Langi and they are
largely organized along chiefdoms. Each tribe has its own traditional dance
such as the Imbalu for Bagishu dance during circumcision ceremonies, Kitaguriro
for the Banyakole, the Alur people from the west Nile have the Agwal dance, the
Banyoro have their Runyege and Acholi have the Bwila and Otale dance.
Language
English and Swahili are the country’s
official languages; Swahili is a useful communication link with the country’s
Eastern neighbours of Kenya and Tanzania, where it’s widely spoken especially
when transacting business.
Population
Estimates
of 2012 put Uganda’s population at 35,873,258
Uganda Public holidays
Uganda
has special days which are honoured by everyone and they are celebrated each
year these include;
January
1st New Year’s Day
January
26 NRM Day
March
8th Women’s Day
May
1st Labour Day
June
3rd Martyrs Day
June
9th Heroes Day
October
9th Independence Day
December
25 Charismas Day
December
26 Boxing Day
Good
Friday, Ester Sunday and Monday are variable and are celebrated each year and
are consider public holiday.
