Public Transportation

Taxi or Matatus:

These are the easiest and lowest priced means in Uganda to move around. Stand on any street corner and put your hand out as you see one taxi van approaching wave up and down.

The only thing for a foreigner to be aware of is frequent over-charges.  Ask any staff person at the hotel or other kind accommodation where you are staying what the price should be to where you want to go and they will tell you.  Then when the conductor asks you for a higher price you tell him what it should be, fellow passengers will readily side with you.  If you are going downtown this is quite easy and you will be dropped off in the taxi park, from where you walk to your downtown destination.

If you are going elsewhere you have to make a transfer to another taxi, but that is simply done by asking the conductor of the taxi you are taking for direction to the taxi that will take you there. Taking a taxi may seem like madness, but there is actually a lot of order to it.

Thefts are frequent while riding a Taxi Mini-Van, not just with visitors but Ugandans.  Laptops, cash, bags all taken.  Counterfeit Currency is also given to passengers as change, especially at night. Please be extra careful.

Boda Boda Motor cycles:

A ride on a boda boda motorcycle in Kampala is just as thrilling as it is scary. You can get a boda boda almost anywhere in Kampala. They maneuver through Kampala traffic in a very scary way, but more often than not get you to your destination in time. Boda boda are way more expensive than taxis, but because they break almost every traffic law, they are fast and that is why many people think the cost is worth it. For many foreigners a boda boda ride is a new and exciting experience, especially if they have never been to Africa before. Remember to wear your helmet and do not be afraid to ask the boda boda rider to slow down if he’s going faster than you can handle. Boda bodas do have a high accident rate so safety is key.

Special hire taxi:

This is the most expensive means of transport around Kampala and other towns.  Depending on how many people are sharing, that will determine the cost charged.

Again most hotels have someone whom they can refer you to but also remember that often they get a commission for referrals and you may not get the best price.  Only yellow taxis in downtown Kampala have metered rates, everywhere else it is negotiated.

Hire a vehicle with driver: You can hire a vehicle for so much a day, plus fuel.  The rates in town will usually be a bit lower than out-of-town.

Buses:

A normal way to getting somewhere 350 kilometers away,i would recommend using a bus.

Buses are also the means of getting to Rwanda, Kenya, and South Sudan.  You can fly, but the price difference is huge.

Bus Cautions – Do not take food or drink from other passengers.  Keep your valuables with you. Be aware that buses travel at high-speed and contribute to the high rate of