Landing in Entebbe: A UK Traveller’s Guide to Flights, SIM Cards, and Stress-Free Airport Transfers

For a first trip to Uganda, the excitement usually starts long before you see the country itself.

You have probably spent weeks looking at gorillas, safaris, national parks and places you want to explore. Then the plane lands at Entebbe International Airport, the doors open, and suddenly you are thinking about immigration, currency, mobile data and how exactly you are getting to your hotel.

It is a very different experience from arriving at Heathrow.

Entebbe is smaller and more relaxed, but there are still a few things worth knowing before you travel. A little preparation can make those first few hours in Uganda much easier.

Here is what UK travellers should know, from booking the flight to getting from the airport to Kampala.

Getting from the UK to Entebbe

The first thing to know is that you have several ways to get from the UK to Uganda.

And, contrary to some older travel information you may come across online, direct flights between London and Entebbe do operate. Uganda Airlines currently operates a non-stop London Gatwick–Entebbe route on selected days, with the flight taking roughly nine to ten hours depending on the schedule.

For travellers whose dates or departure airport do not line up with the direct service, one-stop options are widely available.

Airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and KLM offer routes from the UK to Entebbe with connections through hubs including Dubai, Doha and Amsterdam. The best option will depend on where in the UK you are travelling from, your dates and whether you prioritise price, total journey time or the convenience of the connection.

If you are travelling from outside London, check the full journey rather than looking only at the London–Entebbe leg. A slightly more expensive ticket with a convenient connection can sometimes save you a long and tiring journey across airports.

A simple tip for your first trip

If you have the choice, an overnight departure can make the journey easier. You can settle in, sleep for part of the flight and arrive in Uganda without losing an entire day to travel.

More importantly, give yourself enough time between connections. A cheap itinerary is not particularly useful if a tight connection leaves you stressed before the holiday has even started.

Before You Fly: Sort Out Your Uganda Visa

One of the most important things to organise before leaving the UK is your Uganda visa, if you are travelling on a passport that requires one.

Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control says visa applications for tourism and other relevant travel purposes must be made online. Travellers should receive their approval before travelling, rather than expecting to obtain a visa on arrival. Check here to see how to apply for a Visa to Uganda: Immigration Uganda

For a tourist visa application, you may need documents including your passport biodata page, a passport photograph, travel itinerary or tour plan, accommodation information and a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate, depending on the application requirements. Your passport should also have at least six months’ validity.

Use Uganda’s official immigration portal rather than an unofficial visa website. The immigration authorities have specifically warned travellers about fraudulent electronic visa portals.

Keep a copy of your visa approval and important travel documents somewhere accessible on your phone, and preferably carry printed copies as well.

Landing at Entebbe: What Happens Next?

After leaving the aircraft, you will follow the signs towards immigration and baggage reclaim.

This is where having your documents organised pays off.

Keep your passport, visa approval and other required travel documents within easy reach. You may also go through health-related checks depending on the requirements in place when you travel.

Once you have cleared immigration and collected your luggage, you will enter the arrivals area.

And this is where the trip starts to feel real. You have officially arrived in Uganda.

Changing Money in Entebbe

Uganda uses the Ugandan shilling (UGX), although foreign currency is also useful in some situations.

There are ATMs and foreign exchange services at Entebbe International Airport, but do not depend entirely on a single ATM or your UK bank card.

Before travelling, check with your bank whether your card will work abroad, what foreign transaction fees apply and whether you have a daily withdrawal limit.

It is also worth carrying some emergency cash separately from your wallet.

US dollars are widely useful for international travellers in Uganda, particularly when paying for tourism-related services, although you should check with your accommodation or tour operator about the payment method they accept.

If you bring foreign cash to exchange, use an established foreign exchange bureau or bank rather than accepting an informal offer from someone approaching you.

You do not need to arrive carrying your entire holiday budget in cash. Having enough accessible money for your first transport, food and small purchases is usually the more practical approach.

Getting a Local SIM Card

Your UK phone may work in Uganda through international roaming, but the cost can vary significantly depending on your network and package.

For a longer stay, a Ugandan SIM can be a much more practical option.

You will use mobile data for everything from WhatsApp and Google Maps to contacting your accommodation, checking travel information and keeping in touch with your driver or guide.

MTN Uganda has a dedicated Tourist SIM for international visitors. According to MTN, the Tourist SIM is available at its airport service centre and can be activated using your passport and visa.

MTN currently lists tourist bundles starting at UGX 30,000 for 10GB of data and 150 minutes, with larger 30-day packages also available. Prices and packages can change, so check the current offer when you arrive.

The tourist SIM remains valid for the duration of the tourist visa and is then deactivated when the visa expires.

Airtel is another major network in Uganda, and you can compare the available packages when you arrive rather than assuming you must use one particular provider.

One important thing

Do not walk away from the SIM desk until you know the SIM is registered and working.

Make a test call or send a WhatsApp message. Check that your mobile data works. If you need mobile money, ask the agent about the registration process before leaving.

It is much easier to sort out a connectivity problem while you are standing at the service desk than when you are already in a moving vehicle somewhere between Entebbe and Kampala.

What About the Roadblocks?

You may encounter police or security checkpoints while travelling around Uganda.

For a first-time visitor, seeing a checkpoint can be unfamiliar, particularly if you have just arrived from the UK. It does not automatically mean there is a problem.

If your vehicle is stopped, remain calm and follow the instructions of the officers. Your driver or guide should handle the interaction where appropriate.

Keep your passport and essential travel documents accessible, rather than buried at the bottom of your luggage.

If you are travelling at night, you may also notice differences in how vehicles approach checkpoints and other controlled areas. Your driver will generally know what to do.

The simplest approach is the same one you would take with any official checkpoint while travelling: be polite, cooperate with lawful instructions and avoid unnecessary confrontation.

One Date UK Travellers Should Know: National Cleaning Day

There is a relatively new piece of information travellers should be aware of when planning journeys through Uganda.

Uganda introduced a National Cleaning Day on the last Saturday of every month, with the main exercise taking place from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

During this period, traffic and movement are restricted across the country while communities take part in organised cleaning activities.

This is not something to be confused with Rwanda’s Umuganda. Uganda’s National Cleaning Day is its own national programme.

For travellers, the important part is planning around it.

If your itinerary involves travelling to or from Entebbe International Airport on the last Saturday of the month, don’t assume the restriction means you cannot travel.

Travellers going to or from the airport are exempt, provided they can show valid travel documents or other evidence of travel. Still, check the latest police guidance before setting off and allow extra time for possible delays.

You do not want your final morning in Uganda to become a race against the clock because you did not know there was a national exercise taking place.

Entebbe Airport to Kampala: What Is the Journey Like?

Entebbe International Airport is outside Kampala, so if Kampala is your first destination, you still have a road journey ahead of you after landing.

The good news is that the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway has made the airport-to-city journey more straightforward.

The four-lane toll road connects Entebbe International Airport with Kampala and is designed to provide a faster alternative to the older road route.

There is, however, an important distinction between getting onto the expressway and reaching your final destination.

Once you leave the expressway and enter the wider Kampala metropolitan area, traffic conditions can change quickly. Kampala’s roads can be busy, particularly during peak periods, and the final part of the journey may take considerably longer than the expressway section itself.

You will also begin seeing the Kampala you have probably heard about: minibuses, boda-bodas, roadside businesses, pedestrians and the constant movement that makes the city feel very different from a quiet airport terminal.

For an independent traveller, figuring out transport at this point is possible. But after a long flight, it may not be what you want to be doing.

Should You Take an Airport Taxi?

You can arrange your own transport from Entebbe, but your priorities may be different depending on your arrival time and how familiar you are with Uganda.

If you arrive during the day, have mobile data, know exactly where you are going and are comfortable arranging your own transport, you have more flexibility.

If you arrive late at night, are travelling with a lot of luggage, or are heading straight into a safari itinerary, having your transfer arranged in advance can remove a lot of unnecessary stress.

The biggest benefit is not simply having a car. It is knowing who is picking you up, where they will meet you and where you are going before you leave the arrivals area.

That matters even more if Uganda is your first visit to East Africa.

What a Pre-Arranged Transfer Looks Like

With a properly arranged airport transfer, you should know what to expect before your plane lands.

Your driver or guide can be waiting at the agreed meeting point, helping you with your luggage and taking you directly to your accommodation.

If you are continuing straight into a safari, the transfer can also form part of the wider itinerary rather than becoming a separate problem you have to solve after landing.

The Kampala–Entebbe Expressway is tolled. For light vehicles, the current toll is UGX 5,000 per passage, payable in cash in Ugandan shillings or through the expressway’s electronic payment system.

For a visitor, this is one less small logistical detail to think about when the transfer has already been arranged for you.

Your Uganda Holiday Should Start When You Arrive

Your first few hours in Uganda do not have to be complicated.

Apply for your visa before travelling. Keep your documents accessible. Have a plan for your first bit of local currency. Get connected. Know how you are getting from Entebbe to your accommodation.

The rest becomes much easier once those basics are handled.

And if you are booking a safari or longer Uganda trip, there is another option: let your local tour operator handle the arrival logistics as part of the journey.

At Everything Uganda, we know that the first impression of a country begins long before you reach your first national park.

From airport pickup and transfers to the wider itinerary, our team can help you plan the practical details around your Uganda adventure, so you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time experiencing the country.

Whether you are coming for gorilla trekking, wildlife, culture, landscapes, food or simply to see what Uganda is really like, we can help you put the journey together from the moment you land at Entebbe.

Ready to start planning your Uganda trip? Explore our Uganda travel experiences or get in touch with Everything Uganda to start building your itinerary.