Is It Safe to Travel to Uganda in 2026?
Uganda - Level 4: Do Not Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⛔ Do Not Travel
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to Uganda or parts of Uganda due to serious safety concerns. Key factors: crime, terrorism, civil_unrest.
Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania.
Is It Safe to Travel to Uganda in 2026?
Uganda is currently rated Level 4 — Do Not Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Violent crime, including armed robbery and sexual assault, poses a real danger in Uganda, particularly in larger cities and border areas. There is a risk of terrorist violence targeting public venues and tourist areas, necessitating vigilance among U.S. citizens. Protests can occur unexpectedly, often related to political issues, and can escalate into violence, prompting a strong response from security forces.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- terrorism
- civil_unrest
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Violent crime, including armed robbery and sexual assault, poses a real danger in Uganda, Protests can occur unexpectedly, often related to political issues, and can escalate into violence, Terrorist groups have targeted public venues and tourist areas, necessitating vigilance among U.S. citizens..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks of violent crime, including armed robbery and sexual assault, particularly in urban areas and border regions where police response is limited.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and must remain vigilant against potential terrorist threats targeting public venues and transportation hubs.
Families with children should be cautious due to the high risk of violent crime and limited healthcare access, particularly for pediatric care outside major cities.
Remote workers may find limited connectivity in rural areas and face security risks in urban centers, necessitating careful planning and awareness of local conditions.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Uganda.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution1 region
▶Uganda
General advisory for the entire country.
Uganda has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Uganda has an overall threat severity of 9.7 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 8.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 34/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Required
Currency
Ugandan Shilling (UGX)
Language
English / Swahili
Notable restrictions:
- Possession of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited.
- E-cigarettes are subject to local regulations.
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥1 year old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertEbola Bundibugyo Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda are experiencing outbreaks of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). CDC recommends practicing enhanced precautions for travel to Uganda or to provinces in the DRC other than those affected by the outbreak.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Uganda
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Uganda?
▶Is it safe to travel to Uganda right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?
▶What vaccines do I need for Uganda?
▶Is Uganda safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Uganda?
More Uganda Data
Not Free — 34/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.