Uganda Travel Security

In addition to political unrest, Uganda remains plagued by high crime, rebel insurgencies, a lack of modern medical facilities and other critical infrastructure, which is why its risk rating has been set at 7.

Uganda's national parks attract thousands of visitors, and the government has taken steps to protect travelers visiting wildlife preserves and other sites in order to keep tourists' money flowing into state coffers. The Ugandan army, charged with the safety and welfare of travelers, accompanies tourists on gorilla-tracking trips and has increased its presence in the parks.

Nevertheless, take great care. A tourist was shot dead in an incident in Mount Elgon National Park in February 2008, and there were clashes between troops and dissidents in two parks in March and April 2007. Use reputable, registered tour operators and only visit the parks that are locally confirmed to be safe.

High-risk Areas

Despite a tenuous cease-fire, the north of the country, generally defined as the area north of the Victoria Nile River and Lake Kyoga, remains unsafe, and some Western governments, including the U.S. and U.K., advise against all travel to the region. In particular, avoid the districts of Kitgum, Pader, Adjumani, Gulu, Apac, Lira, Nebbi, Arua, Moyo, Yumbe, Abim, Amolatar, Amuria, Bundibugyo, Dokolo, Kaabong, Kabale, Kanungu, Katakwi, Kilak, Kisoro, Koboko, Kotido, Maracha, Moroto, Makapiripirit and Oyam.

Tribal clashes are frequent and unpredictable in Karamoja. Since late 2006, there has been an increase in clashes between the army and armed cattle herders, with reports of many deaths.

Continued instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of northern Rwanda makes parks in those border areas vulnerable to incursion from rebel and vigilante groups--more than 100 people died in fighting in DR Congo close to the border with Uganda in October 2007. Seek the latest available information from local authorities, tour operators and your embassy before heading into the districts listed above.

The run-up to the legislative and presidential elections in February 2006 was marred by violence--several people were killed when tensions spilled over at an opposition-sponsored event. Human-rights groups accused the government of harassing the opposition and preventing them from conducting an effective campaign. Voters were choosing from five presidential candidates and contenders for parliament, but the campaign was overshadowed by the duel between President Yoweri Museveni and Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change, who went into the election facing dubious charges of treason and rape.

In the event, Museveni was re-elected for a third term, taking 59% of the vote, compared to Besigye's share of 37%. Although it was an improvement from past elections, the European Union agreed that the polls had been fraught with flaws, including bias against the FDC in state media and the National Resistance Army's use of government resources in the campaign. In the legislative vote, the NRM didn't do as well, and several government ministers lost their seats. The political atmosphere in the country is likely to remain highly charged.

Uganda is among the poorest countries in the world and remains heavily burdened by international debt, most of it owed to financial institutions. Museveni, however, has taken important steps toward economic rehabilitation and has introduced Western-backed reforms. The country's infrastructure--notably transportation and communications systems, which were destroyed by war and neglect--are being rebuilt, and inflation has been brought under control. Agriculture is the most important sector of Uganda's economy, accounting for more than 90% of the country's export earnings. Foreign economic assistance provides some 50% of government revenue.

Historical background

Uganda has had a turbulent history marked by civil war, economic failure and massive human-rights abuses. Independence in 1962 was followed by a succession of regimes characterized mainly by the violence of their arrival and departure. State-sponsored brutality during the rule of dictators Milton Obote and Idi Amin was responsible for the deaths of as many as 500,000 Ugandans. The brutal legacies of Obote and Amin live on in groups that seek to disrupt society through armed means, even though they find little support among the general population.

The last of the violent political takeovers occurred in 1986, when the National Resistance Army, an insurgent group led by Yoweri Museveni, seized control in another bloody campaign. Museveni has ruled since then through the National Resistance Movement, legislatively reorganized and renamed "the Movement" in 1995.

The constitution has provided for a 310-member unicameral parliament and an autonomous, independently elected president. The parliament, however, is weak and is controlled by Museveni and the NRM. A 2000 national referendum on the role of political parties formally extended the "Movement" form of government indefinitely and severely restricted political activities. Museveni and the NRM dominated the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2001.

Since 2001, however, calls for genuine multiparty democracy in Uganda had been growing, and the government responded by setting up a commission to review the constitution. Museveni's supporters also made a controversial proposal to change the constitution to extend the current two-term limit on the office of president to allow unlimited terms. In its report in March 2004, the commission recommended that the proposals be put to the country in a referendum, even though the constitution didn't require it. Following parliamentary approval, the referendum was held in July 2005 and resulted in a huge majority vote in favor of a return to multiparty politics and the removal of presidential term limits.

International terrorism

With porous borders Uganda is vulnerable to the general threat from terrorism in the region--attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by westerners.

Domestic terrorism

In late 2006 and early 2007, several bomb incidents were reported, but no culprits were identified, and no groups claimed responsibility.

Be alert for any unattended bags, as well as suspicious objects, parcels or vehicles. Bombs may be hidden inside nearly any type of object, from a bicycle to a book, so any object that seems abandoned or out of place should be regarded as suspicious. Do not touch the package or object--instead, move quickly but calmly away and report the item's presence to authorities. Terrorists often target public places, such as markets, shopping malls, festivals, nightclubs and bars, and transport hubs, such as train stations, so be especially aware when you are in such locations. Watch out for people wearing bulky clothing, especially on warm days; people smelling of chemicals; and people whose fists remain tightly clenched for no apparent reason. Also, be cautious of unexpected deliveries. Do not accept mail or unanticipated parcels delivered to your hotel room. If you find an unexpected parcel in your room, leave immediately and report the object to the front desk.

Rebel insurgencies

Insurgent groups in Uganda have long posed a considerable hazard, particularly in the northern region near the border with Sudan and the western region near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. Although foreigners have died in the violence, most events attributed to indigenous terrorist groups appear not to have targeted visitors or foreign residents. There also have been periodic bomb attacks at various public places in Kampala.

In the north, a rebel group known as the Lord's Resistance Army has been active for 20 years and has been responsible for a large number of murders and abductions. Aid agencies estimate that more than 30,000 children have been kidnapped and more than 23,000 people killed in the violence. More than 700,000 people are living in camps for internally displaced people in northern Uganda.

In looting raids that occurred mostly at night, the rebels captured and converted young males into child soldiers, and girls used as sex slaves were made into commanders' wives. Although some children escaped or were rescued, most remained seriously traumatized by their time with the rebels. Consequently, many families in the northern regions of the country have lived in constant fear, forcing thousands of children to make a difficult journey from their villages to the safety of urban centers every night.

Following peace talks between the government and the LRA in Sudan, the parties signed a tenuous cease-fire agreement in August 2006. This caused a major reduction in LRA activity. After further talks broke down, a deadlock followed until more covert negotiations yielded a new cease-fire deal in April 2007. In November 2007, amid rumors of splits in the LRA leadership, talks between the rebels and government resumed.

In April 2008, however, talks broke down again shortly before a peace agreement was due to be signed. Mediators, including U.N. officials, said that rebel leader Joseph Kony had refused to come out of hiding to sign until key issues on war crimes were clarified. Kony and two of his commanders are wanted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague for alleged war crimes.

In June 2008, the authorities in Uganda, South Sudan and DR Congo agreed on a plan to launch a joint military operation to combat the LRA following reports that Kony had been forcibly recruiting fresh fighters and acquiring new arms in Central African Republic and Chad. Around 1,000 new recruits were said to have been added to around 600 existing combatants. His fighters, reported to be moving from hideouts in Central African Republic toward Uganda, were said to have attacked Sudanese forces, killing some two dozen troops and civilians.

In northeastern Uganda, another group focused on the Karamajong tribe has been a constant thorn in the side of the government in recent years. The Karamajong are known to be cattle rustlers with a history of lawlessness and belligerence directed at central authority and neighboring tribes inside and outside Uganda. In April 2008, more than a dozen people were killed in fighting between the army and Karamojong tribesmen. Scores died in 2007 when the army deployed helicopter gunships, leading the United Nations to accuse the military of using indiscriminate and excessive force and of killing women and children.

Another rebel group, the Allied Democratic Forces, has been largely eliminated, with the exception of some holdouts in the far western part of the country that were last reported to be active in 2006 in the Muzizi River area.

Border and regional issues

Uganda's foreign relations since independence have been marked by difficulties with most of its neighbors. Tensions with Kenya and fighting with Tanzania in the 1970s were followed by involvement in the civil war in DR Congo. During this latter conflict, Uganda and Rwanda, supposedly allies, only narrowly avoided all-out hostilities with each other because of infighting between the two countries' armies.

However, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania recently set aside their differences and inaugurated an East African Community, an arrangement leading to a common East African passport and flag, as well as economic and monetary integration. Despite the agreement, clashes have continued at the border with Kenya near Pokot, where Ugandan soldiers have been attacking Pokot herdsmen. Kenyan forces have been deployed to assist the armed Pokot, but civilians are abandoning the area as the clashes continue.

Uganda and DR Congo have a common border through Lake Albert that has long been a bone of contention. The exact position of the border has been under increased dispute, with both countries laying claim to an island called Rukwanzi, where oil exploration is under way. The border dispute was put under the spotlight in early August 2007 after two people, including a British geologist, were killed during a clash between men in Congolese army uniforms and security guards working on an oil exploration barge. The Congolese said the barge was in their waters; the Canadian oil company said it was anchored in Ugandan waters. Uganda's foreign minister later flew to DR Congo's capital, Kinshasa, to discuss the issue and defuse the tension. The Lake Albert area remains tense.

Likewise, tensions have been heating up along the West Nile border, where Congolese authorities in May 2008 moved a police post very near a Ugandan border post.

Clashes between Ugandan troops and dissidents from DR Congo were reported in November 2007. Anyone planning to visit the southwest corner of the country, including the national parks, should exercise caution and seek local advice before embarking on the journey.

Relations with neighboring Sudan have been strained, as well. In the past, each has accused the other of supporting in-country rebel groups, although Sudan has allowed Ugandan forces the right of "hot pursuit" into Sudan, with some success. The border region remains highly dangerous.

Racial and ethnic tensions

Intertribal armed clashes, fanned by cattle rustling, persist between the Bokora, Jie, Pokot and Matheniko ethnic groups, as well as those started by the Karamajong. Security forces often are called in to restore order and to retrieve stolen cattle.

Civil unrest

Although demonstrations and protests are not common, visitors should avoid crowds and political meetings. In April 2008 police and opposition party supporters were involved in a fracas in Kampala--the police were later accused of brutality.

Institutional corruption

Uganda has institutions for investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption, but anticorruption groups warn that impunity remains widespread, as there's little will to invoke the available legislation. On Transparency International's 2007 corruption perception index, Uganda was placed at 111 out of 179 nations.

Human-rights abuses

In its May 2008 report Amnesty International said reports of torture by state security agents persist and violence against women and girls remains widespread. AI also confirmed that attacks on freedom of expression and press freedom continue.

Security forces have used excessive force, at times resulting in death, and have committed or failed to prevent some extrajudicial killings of civilians and suspected rebels. Following the murder of an Irish priest, two soldiers were hurriedly executed in public. Although the consensus was that the men were guilty, the government apparently acted hastily to avoid public anger concerning other unpopular measures.

Members of the security forces sometimes have arbitrarily arrested and held civilians incommunicado, including opposition politicians and their supporters. The independence of the judiciary remains threatened.

Land mines and unexploded ordnance

Land mines and unexploded ordnance can be found in Uganda. An explosive device accidentally unearthed in a scrap heap killed four and wounded six in July 2007.

In destinations with areas that have been contaminated with land mines or unexploded ordnance, never pick up any unidentified metal or plastic object. Report any finds to local authorities. Exercise caution around construction areas, as mines or ordnance could be uncovered during excavation. Travelers should be accompanied or briefed by guides familiar with mined areas. To the extent possible, remain on well-traveled roads, tracks and paths. Under no circumstances should you enter an area marked as mined.

Uganda's crime rate is high. The most common crimes in Kampala and throughout the country are armed robbery, carjacking, purse snatching, pickpocketing, theft from vehicles and theft from hotel rooms. Incidents can include violence or not, in part depending upon whether the victim resists. Knockout drugs sometimes are used in Kampala and elsewhere. Do not accept offers of food or drink from any stranger, even a child.

As a general rule, visitors in Kampala should exercise caution and be alert when visiting public facilities such as bars, restaurants, hotels and markets, as well as when using local and intercity public van service (matutus) and larger buses. Credit cards and cell phones are popular targets for thieves.

Because most criminals are armed and work in groups, do not resist. A singular exception to this rule relates to dealing with pickpockets in crowded marketplaces. A timely cry of "thief" may result in a crowd chasing down the criminal and returning your property.

Keep vehicle doors locked and windows rolled up. A common criminal tactic is to check the door handle of a vehicle stuck in traffic. If the door opens, the criminal may get in the car or reach in and grab anything that is accessible.

In general, foreigners are perceived as being affluent and are regarded as ripe targets for crime. Females traveling alone are particularly susceptible.

Criminal gangs benefit from the activities of the LRA, in that by copying LRA tactics, gangs may commit crimes such as armed ambushes and carjackings, which are then attributed to the LRA.

Petty crime

On occasion, travelers using the single road to Entebbe International Airport have been targeted by criminals. It's safest to use reputable taxi transport to and from the airport.

Violent crime

Crimes can result in violence, and they nearly always include violence if the victim attempts to resist the assailant.

White-collar crime

A number of Internet-based check-fraud scams have been reported in Uganda. If you intend to do business in Uganda, first take advice from the commercial section at your embassy and safeguard all financial and sensitive paperwork during your stay.

Using credit or ATM cards exposes you to a risk of losing large amounts of money. Cashing a personal check is likely to result in theft of accounting data from the check to create forged checks.

It's safer to use an ATM that's inside a store, bank, hotel or airport than a kiosk out on the street. Try to visit ATMs during daylight hours only. If you must go at night, try not to go alone. Be aware of your surroundings as you approach and leave the machine--if the situation looks suspicious or doesn't feel safe, go to another ATM or come back later. Memorize your PIN, and don't write it down anywhere, especially on your ATM card. Be sure no one can see you enter your PIN, and be aware of the practice of using camera phones to capture PINs. Put your money away before leaving the machine, and take any receipts with you. Never allow someone you don't know to "assist" you with the machine.

In areas where credit-card fraud is a problem, keep an eye on your card during any transactions you make and get the card back as soon as you can. Void any incorrect receipts and destroy any carbons. Save your receipts, so you can compare them you're your statement when it comes in. Make sure you have a record of account numbers and the phone number and address of the company issuing the card so that you can report any questionable charges as soon as possible. Notify the company immediately if your address changes. Don't leave receipts lying around, and never sign a blank receipt.

Police effectiveness

Law-enforcement resources are limited, with officers who are poorly paid and lacking in training and equipment. Investigations leading to the capture of criminals are extremely rare, and officers are likely to request a "donation" before doing anything. The police force as a whole suffers from widespread corruption, alcoholism and HIV/AIDS.

Bribes
Be patient and civil and avoid provoking a confrontation with any official you encounter. Try to deal only with the person who seems to be in charge. If you're accused of some misdeed, ask if you can pay the "fine" on the spot. Overtly offering a bribe could make your situation worse. Instead, offer to make a "donation" to the official's organization for fuel, expenses or other needs.

Additional information

The goverment issued warnings in June 2008 about the spread of counterfeit currency known as bicupuli. Taxi drivers have been arrested for spreading the fake currency after making change with the bogus notes.

The Nile River has its source in Uganda, and swimming in the river can be hazardous because of strong currents.

Boat accidents are common in Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, most of them related to storms or engine failure.

Flooding

Uganda was struck by serious flooding in September 2007 that closed roads, caused shortages of potable water and raised concerns about waterborne diseases.

Health-care provision in Uganda is very basic.

Medical facilities

Medical facilities are extremely limited and not equipped to handle most emergencies, especially those requiring surgery. Outside Kampala, hospitals are scarce and offer only basic service. Most hospitals lack equipment, medicines and adequately trained personnel. For serious cases, medical evacuation will be required.

The local blood supply is erratic and not regarded as safe. In June 2008 several deaths in hospitals were blamed on the acute shortage of blood.

Emergency care

No reliable ambulance service is available.

Diseases

The sometimes fatal strain of P. falciparum malaria, which is resistant to the antimalarial drug chloroquine, is a serious danger in Uganda, where statistical studies have indicated that 300 people die of the disease each day. Seek medical advice about preventives before departing on your trip. Note that, in its efforts to curb the disease, the government has authorized use of DDT, an insecticide banned in many countries because of environmental concerns.

In July 2008 the WHO warned people not to enter caves with bats after a Dutch tourist contracted the deadly Marburg virus. The woman, aged 40, died after being taken to hospital following her return to the Netherlands where the health authorities said she probably contracted the disease while visiting a Ugandan cave inhabited by fruit bats. Marburg is a contagious disease that causes sudden bleeding and high fever. There is no treatment or vaccine.

By early January 2008 more than three dozen people had died and more than one 150 were hospitalized in Bundibugyo district before an outbreak of a mystery illness was identified as ebola.The infection was said to have been brought to the area by infected monkeys. Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood or other body fluids of infected people or objects that have been contaminated with infected body fluids so avoid any such contacts with people and wild animals--do not eat bush meat, including that of primates.

Authorities issued a health alert in May 2008, warning that wild polio virus could cross the border with DR Congo, where WHO officials confirmed the presence of the virus in the North Kivu region.

HIV/AIDS is widespread in Uganda, as are the HIV-related conditions of hepatitis and tuberculosis. However, the government has won praise for its vigorous campaign against the disease. This has helped to reduce the prevalence of the virus, which reached 30% in the 1990s, to single-digit figures.

In August 2008, the government announced an emergency plan to fight a hepatitis E epidemic in northern Uganda after the death toll from the preventable disease had risen to nearly 100 people--some six thousand infections were reported.

Cholera is endemic in Uganda, and dozens of deaths are reported annually. A new rare strain of the disease has added to the problem ravaging the eastern districts Pallisa, Tororo, Butaleja, Mbale and Manafwa. Drink and use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhea during a visit to Uganda you should seek immediate medical attention.

Sleeping sickness is prevalent.

Outbreaks of meningitis are common in parts of northern Uganda. In the past year cases have been reported in Kotido, Yumbe, Koboko and Arua districts--dozens of people have died from the disease.

Bubonic plague is endemic in the northwest. In September 2007, an outbreak in Arua claimed several lives--health officials said the disease was spread by rats and fleas mainly in the rainy season. Infection in humans occurs when a person is bitten by a flea that has been infected after biting an infected rodent. Arua is particularly vulnerable because the market attracts traders from DR Congo bringing fleas with them.

Mosquitoes carry many serious illnesses, including dengue fever, malaria and West Nile virus. To prevent bites and avoid infection, reduce the amount of exposed skin by wearing long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes when you're outdoors. Use insect repellent containing deet on exposed skin. Avoid outdoor activities from dusk to dawn, the time when mosquitoes are most active.

Waterborne diseases can cause a variety of serious health problems, including cholera, norovirus and amebiasis. In areas where chlorinated water is not available or where hygiene and sanitation are generally poor, you should consider both liquid water and ice unsafe. Stick to the following, which generally are considered safe: Beverages made with boiled water, such as tea and coffee; canned or bottled carbonated beverages; beer; and wine. It's usually safer to drink beverages directly from the bottle or can, but be sure to wipe off any water on the outside of the container. In areas where water may be contaminated, avoid brushing your teeth with tap water.

Additional information

In July 2008 scientists warned that interaction between primates and humans exposed both to great risks from diseases such as ebola, scabies and giardia. The concerns came in the wake of new study findings on potential human-primates parasitic transmission unveiled earlier by a U.S. researcher.

A veterinary expert at the University of Illinois, said that the degraded forests in Uganda and the DRC have higher incidences of parasites transmission. His work analyzed the abundance, variety and density of potentially harmful parasites in gorillas, chimps and monkeys living in Kibale and Bwindi in Uganda, and sites in the DRC. In logging areas in the DRC, the researcher reported the presence of a parasitic roundworm that results in a hyper infection in HIV patients that carries a 98% mortality rate.

Travel in Uganda can be hazardous.

Road conditions

Road and traffic conditions in Uganda are poor. Driving standards are low, vehicles are often poorly maintained, large potholes are ubiquitous, and adequate signage and shoulders are almost nonexistent. Large trucks often are overloaded with inadequately secured cargo. Highway travel at night is particularly dangerous, because roads are poorly lit.

Pedestrians often walk in the roads and may not be visible after dark. Large branches or rocks in the road sometimes indicate an obstruction or other hazard ahead. Alcohol frequently is a contributing factor in road accidents, particularly at night. Driving at night also may put you at greater risk of banditry.

In May 2007, local media reported that the road from Mombasa to Malaba, Uganda, is so badly potholed that travel along it is nearly impossible.

Traffic accidents draw crowds. Ugandan law requires that the driver or drivers stop, exchange information and assist, but when serious injury has occurred, there is a possibility of mob anger. In these instances, Ugandans often do not get out of their cars but instead drive to the nearest police station to report the accident.

Public transportation

Most intercity transportation in Uganda is by small van or large bus. Many drivers of these vehicles have little or no training, and they're often reckless. The vehicles usually are poorly maintained, travel at high speeds and often are involved in catastrophic accidents. Highway robberies of bus passengers have also been regularly reported.

In towns, avoid using local scooter taxis called boda bodas and the ubiquitous matatus. Though very cheap, these vehicles are also generally in poor condition and badly driven and often don't have adequate insurance coverage.

Air travel

Travelers considering flying to Entebbe should note that in August 2006, air traffic controllers told members of parliament that, because the government had not funded spares and replacement parts, the obsolete radar system at Entebbe airport was no longer functional. Controllers have to rely on satellite receivers to monitor aircraft, which only give some data with a 15-minute time lag.

Travelers on the road to Entebbe airport are prime targets for gangs of criminals, who are believed to use "spotters" armed with cell phones at the airport to locate likely targets. Although aviation security officials, police and airlines coordinate their efforts to patrol the airport road at peak hours, you should be aware of the threat and take appropriate precautions.

Facilities for travelers are limited outside the capital city of Kampala. In April 2008, authorities reported that theft and vandalism of electrical equipment poses a risk of a regional blackout in central and western Uganda. Such a blackout could compromise the security of banking information in the area, as well.

No matter how safe you perceive a destination to be, it's important to use good judgment.

• Pay attention to local media.
• Avoid open displays of wealth, jewelry or other valuables. Safeguard travel documents such as passports and airline tickets.
• Avoid confrontations with locals.
• Avoid demonstrations and protests, especially if they appear political in nature.
• Don't permit people you don't know to enter your accommodations. Keep your door locked. Don't leave valuables in your room unless they can be locked in a safe.
• Avoid illegal drugs, and don't drink alcohol if its use is prohibited. Even if drinking is legal, don't overindulge.
• Be cautious of unsolicited offers of assistance from strangers.

In recent years, political terrorism has become a global phenomenon - an attack could occur with little warning anywhere in the world, even in destinations long regarded as safe. Travelers should keep themselves informed of developments that could affect their safety, no matter what their destination.