Uganda Overview

GENERAL

Official name of the state

Republic of Uganda.

Capital

Kampala.

Geography

As a country located in Africa according to ezinereligion, Uganda is bordered by Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, Lake Victoria to the southeast, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. The capital, Kampala, lies on the shores of Lake Victoria, the main drain of which is the White Nile, which flows through much of the country. Tropical forests, the terraced hills of Kigezi and the tea plantations on the slopes of the snow-capped Ruwenzori Mountains characterize the landscape. The barren Karamoja plain lies on the Sudanese border, the lush green region of Buganda has the highest population density.

Government

Presidential republic (in the Commonwealth) since 1967. New constitution from 1995, constitutional amendment 2006. Parliament with 332 members, of which 228 are elected and 104 are appointed by various interest groups. Independent since 1962 (former British protectorate).

Head of state

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, since 1986 (confirmed in office in 1996).

Head of government

Ruhakana Rugunda, since September 2014.

Electricity

240 V, 50 Hz. Adapter recommended.

Time zone

Eastern Africa Time: CET +4

Uganda Overview

MONEY

Currency

1 Uganda shilling. Currency abbreviation: USh, UGS (ISO code). There are banknotes in denominations of 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000 USh, coins in denominations of 1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50 USh.
The US dollar is the preferred method of payment, but the euro and British pound are also accepted.

Credit cards

Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted by hotels and airlines in Kampala. In the banks in Kampala, at Entebbe International Airport and in some larger cities, cash can be withdrawn from ATMs with credit cards. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.

ATMs

ec / Maestro card / Sparcard

With the German EC card (Maestro) you can withdraw cash at the ATMs of the Stanbic and Barclays Bank, which are located in many city centers. The maximum daily amount that can be withdrawn varies greatly from bank to bank and is between 250,000 UGX and 700,000 UGX. However, withdrawing money is not always possible.

Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.

Bank opening times

Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Sat partly 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Foreign exchange regulations

Unrestricted import and export of foreign currencies and the local currency.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currencies, such as euros and dollars, can be exchanged at the Central Bank, commercial banks or exchange offices at Entebbe Airport, in Kampala and in some larger cities. The recommended exchange currency is the US dollar, which can be exchanged without any problems as long as the notes are new (from 2006).

LANGUAGE

Overview

The official languages are English and Swahili; Ganda / Luganda is also widespread. Numerous Bantu languages such as Buganda, Banyoro, and West and East Nilotic languages are also spoken.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Annotation

The dates given for Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift from year to year.

During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes the festival day Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset, which leads to interruptions or deviations in the normal course of business (including reduced opening times of shops and authorities) and therefore there may be restrictions for travelers.

Many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day and the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes is only possible to a limited extent or Some even strictly forbidden, even for non-Muslim vacationers. In hotel complexes, it must be expected that meals and drinks may only be taken in the hotel restaurant or in the room during Ramadan.

Travelers should expect increased sensitivity in religious matters as well as in questions of respecting Islamic traditions.

Some interruptions can also occur during Eid al-Fitr. This festival, like Eid al-Adha, does not have a specific duration and can last 2-10 days depending on the region.

DUTY-FREE SHOPPING

Overview

The following articles can be imported into Uganda duty-free (people aged 17 and over), provided they are not entering from Kenya or Tanzania:

200 cigarettes or 225 g tobacco or a selection of tobacco products up to a total weight of 225 g;
1 liter of spirits or wine;
Perfume and eau de toilette for personal use.

ECONOMY

Business etiquette

English is spoken in business circles. Appointments should be made in advance.

Business hours:
Mo-Fr 08.00-12.45 and 14.00-17.00.

Economy

Commercial Department of the Permanent Mission of Uganda
Rue Antoine Carteret 6, CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: (022) 339 88 10.

Uganda Investment Authority
PO Box 7418, Kampala
Tel: (041) 30 10 00.
Internet: www.ugandainvest.com

Business contacts

Commercial Department of the Permanent Mission of Uganda
Rue Antoine Carteret 6, CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: (022) 339 88 10.

Uganda Investment Authority
PO Box 7418, Kampala
Tel: (041) 30 10 00.
Internet: www.ugandainvest.com

COMMUNICATION

Phone

Direct dial-up service to and from larger cities.

Cellphone

GSM 900. Network operators are CelTel Cellular Uganda (Internet: www.ug.celtel.com/en/index.html or www.msi-cellular.com), MTN Uganda (Internet: www.mtn.co.ug) and mango, a subsidiary of Uganda Telecom Ltd (Internet: www.utl.co.ug). The reception / transmission area covers the entire southwest and southeast and all major cities. There are roaming contracts with mobile phone companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among others.

Internet

The main providers are InfoCom (Internet: www.imul.com) and MTN Uganda. Internet cafes can be found in Kampala.

Post Office

Airmail shipments to Europe take three days to several weeks. Post office opening times: Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.-4.30 p.m.

Radio

Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.

SHOP

Overview

Jewelry, wood carvings, wickerwork, tea, coffee and ceramics. Shop opening times: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

CULTURE

Religion

66% Christians, 16% Muslims and 18% followers of natural religions.

Social rules of conduct

You shake hands in greeting. Casual clothing is usually appropriate. The photographing military installations is prohibited. Smoking in public places is prohibited. Tipping: Waiters and taxi drivers receive a 10% tip.

CLIMATE

Best travel time

Due to the altitude (over 1200 m), the temperatures in some parts of the country are relatively low despite the proximity to the equator. Heavy rains between March and May and October and November.

COUNTRY DATA

Area code +256 Area (sqkm) 241038 Population 37101745 Population density (per sqkm) 154 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 999