Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Uganda, you are subject to its laws.  Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. Persons violating Ugandan laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. In Uganda, you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport, or a copy of it, together with your Ugandan visa. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Uganda are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Photography in tourist locations is permitted; however, taking pictures of military/police installations or personnel is prohibited. Military and police officers have detained tourists for taking photographs of Entebbe Airport and the area around Owen Falls Dam, near Jinja, although the prohibition on taking photographs is not publicly displayed on signs. The police also strictly enforce laws against driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which could lead to jail.

There are also some things that might be legal in Uganda, but still illegal in the United States.  You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws.  Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not.  To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Please note that U.S. currency notes in $20 and $50 denominations may be exchanged at a lower rate than $100 currency notes. In addition, travelers often find that they cannot exchange or use U.S. currency printed earlier than the year 2006. Travelers who find they cannot pay for accommodation or expenses often must request that friends or family wire money to them in Uganda. There are offices that facilitate Western Union, MoneyGram, and other types of money transfers in Kampala and other cities throughout the country. ATMs are available in Uganda, particularly in downtown Kampala, but many only function for customers who have an account with a specific Ugandan bank.

Ugandan Customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning the importation of pets. A Ugandan import permit is required, along with an up-to-date rabies vaccination certificate and a veterinary certificate of health issued by a USDA-approved veterinarian no more than thirty days before arrival. Travelers are advised to contact the Ugandan Embassy in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. Please see our information on Customs Information.

The U.S. Embassy frequently receives requests from U.S. citizens to verify the bona fides of nongovernmental (NGO) and charity organizations operating in Uganda. The Embassy is unable to provide information regarding the bona fides of these organizations, and U.S. citizens traveling to Uganda to work for an organization or considering donating money to an organization are encouraged to request that the charity provide references of past volunteers whom they may contact. U.S. citizens have also reported intimidation and harassment by directors of organizations when the U.S. citizens question the organization's activities or use of donated funds. There have been reports from concerned U.S. citizens regarding the suspected diversion of charity funds for personal gain and other questionable practices.

The U.S. Embassy also receives frequent inquiries from U.S. citizens wishing to register a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in Uganda. Information about registering an NGO can be obtained from the Ugandan NGO Board, which has offices within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The NGO Board can be reached via telephone at 256 414 341 556. One of the requirements for registering an NGO is that a foreign national employee or volunteer must provide a Certificate of Good Conduct/Criminal Background Check. The U.S. Embassy cannot provide a Certificate of Good Conduct or Criminal Background Check, so U.S. citizens intending to travel to Uganda as an employee of an NGO or who plan to register an NGO should obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct from their local police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) before departing the United States. More information on how to obtain a Criminal Background Check can be found on the FBI website.

If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Uganda. This remains the case notwithstanding Uganda’s Constitutional Court’s August 1, 2014 nullification of the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, which had been signed into law earlier in 2014. Social acceptance of homosexuality remains very low, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals – or suspected LGBT individuals – could face harassment, imprisonment, blackmail, and violence.  Individuals or organizations viewed as supporting LGBT rights also face harassment.  The Embassy advises all LGBT U.S. citizens who are resident in or visiting Uganda to exercise caution.

For further information on LGBT travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page. 

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Uganda, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from U.S. facilities. Although the law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, and the provision of other state services, the government does not enforce the law consistently. The Uganda Human Rights Commission continues to receive complaints of discrimination in access to transportation, communication, and public buildings from persons with disabilities.

No statutory requirement exists mandating that buildings be accessible to persons with disabilities. Accessibility to public transportation, foot paths and road crossings, free or reduced fares, taxis, communication, lodging, medical facilities, restaurants, cafes, bars, and other tourist spots is similarly non-existent.