Kampala travel guide
Uganda
A sprawling, energetic capital spread across green hills near the shore of Lake Victoria. Kampala is loud and friendly, with lively nightlife, royal Buganda history and easy access to the Nile.
Essentials
- Language
- English and Swahili are official; Luganda is widely spoken in the city
- Currency
- Ugandan shilling (UGX)
- Plugs
- Type G, 240 V
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112
- Tipping
- Not expected, but leaving around 5-10% for good service in restaurants is appreciated.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $30-45, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $80-130, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Kampala
- Kololo: a leafy hill of embassies, guesthouses and calmer restaurants close to the centre.
- Kabalagala and Kansanga: the late-night strip of bars, live music and street food.
- Old Kampala: the historic hill crowned by the national mosque, with views across the city.
Getting around Kampala
Boda-bodas (motorbike taxis) are fast through the traffic, and app-based services let you book one with a helmet and a set price. Shared minibus taxis are cheap but crowded, and ride-hailing cars are the calmer option after dark.
Best time to visit Kampala
June to August and December to February, the drier months between the two rainy seasons.
Top things to do in Kampala
- Walk the Royal Mile between the Bulange, the Buganda parliament, and the Lubiri palace
- Lose an hour in the crowded lanes of Owino (St Balikuddembe) Market
- Watch a traditional music and dance performance at the Ndere Centre
- See the Uganda Museum's collection of instruments and ethnography
- Visit the Bahá'í House of Worship on Kikaaya Hill, with quiet gardens and city views
What to eat in Kampala
- Rolex: an omelette with tomato and onion rolled inside a chapati
- Matooke: green cooking bananas steamed and mashed, served with a sauce
- Luwombo: chicken, beef or groundnut stew slow-steamed in banana leaves
- Muchomo: grilled meat skewers sold at roadside stalls in the evening
Day trips from Kampala
- Jinja: rafting and kayaking where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria, two to three hours by road depending on traffic
- Entebbe: lakeside botanical gardens and boats to the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary, about an hour away
- Mabamba Swamp: a wetland famous for shoebill storks, around an hour and a half from the city
Local etiquette
Greetings matter, so ask how someone is before asking for directions or a price. Ask before photographing people, and dress modestly away from the nightlife areas.
Staying connected
MTN and Airtel prepaid SIMs are widely sold and need your passport to register, and Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés but can be slow.
Staying safe
Road traffic is the biggest everyday risk, so insist on a helmet on boda-bodas and avoid long rides on them at night. Phone snatching and bag theft happen in busy areas, so keep valuables out of sight.
A local tip
Climb the minaret of the Uganda National Mosque in Old Kampala for the best view of the city's hills.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Kampala on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Kampala for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Kampala, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Kampala
- What currency is used in Kampala?
- Kampala uses the Ugandan shilling (UGX).
- What is the emergency number in Kampala?
- In Kampala, call 999 or 112.
- When is the best time to visit Kampala?
- June to August and December to February, the drier months between the two rainy seasons.
- How much does a day in Kampala cost?
- Roughly $30-45 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $80-130 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Kampala?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Kampala without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.