1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
RequiredUganda recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your home licence at all times as police checkpoints are frequent.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Uganda
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Uganda: 7 legal requirements + 9 other things worth knowing.
7
Required
4
Recommended
5
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Uganda
7 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence
Uganda recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit; carry it with your home licence at all times as police checkpoints are frequent.
Passport with 6 months validity and visa
Visitors need an East Africa Tourist Visa or Uganda e-visa (around USD 50) obtained online before arrival; carry passport in the vehicle.
Third-party motor insurance mandatory
A COMESA Yellow Card or locally-purchased third-party policy is compulsory; UK/EU green cards are not valid. Buy at the border for roughly USD 30-50.
Drive on the LEFT
Uganda drives on the left like the UK; most rental vehicles are right-hand drive.
Speed limits 100/80/50 km/h
Highways 100 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h, and 30 km/h near schools and trading centres. Speed cameras are increasingly used on the Kampala-Entebbe and Kampala-Jinja roads.
BAC limit 0.08 g/100ml
Blood-alcohol limit is 0.08 g/100ml (same as England), enforced via roadside breathalyser checkpoints. Penalties include fines and licence suspension.
Warning triangle and reflective jacket
Two red warning triangles and a hi-vis vest must be carried; rental cars usually include them but verify at pickup.
Documents
Passport with 6 months validity and visa
RequiredVisitors need an East Africa Tourist Visa or Uganda e-visa (around USD 50) obtained online before arrival; carry passport in the vehicle.
Third-party motor insurance mandatory
RequiredA COMESA Yellow Card or locally-purchased third-party policy is compulsory; UK/EU green cards are not valid. Buy at the border for roughly USD 30-50.
V5C and authorisation letter for own vehicle
RecommendedIf bringing your own car overland, carry the V5C/registration plus a Carnet de Passage; rental in Uganda is the norm for visitors.
Yellow fever certificate required at border
RecommendedProof of yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry and may be checked at land borders alongside vehicle paperwork.
Driving rules
Drive on the LEFT
RequiredUganda drives on the left like the UK; most rental vehicles are right-hand drive.
Speed limits 100/80/50 km/h
RequiredHighways 100 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h, and 30 km/h near schools and trading centres. Speed cameras are increasingly used on the Kampala-Entebbe and Kampala-Jinja roads.
BAC limit 0.08 g/100ml
RequiredBlood-alcohol limit is 0.08 g/100ml (same as England), enforced via roadside breathalyser checkpoints. Penalties include fines and licence suspension.
Avoid driving at night
RecommendedFCDO advises against driving outside urban areas after dark due to unlit roads, stray livestock, potholes, boda-bodas without lights, and higher crime risk.
Emergency number 999 or 112
Good to knowPolice 999, traffic police 112; response times outside Kampala are slow. Keep your tour operator or rental company's number to hand.
Tolls
Kampala-Entebbe Expressway toll
Good to knowThe only tolled road; cars pay around UGX 5,000 (EUR 1.20) one-way, payable in cash or via prepaid tag at the booth. No national vignette system.
Required equipment
Warning triangle and reflective jacket
RequiredTwo red warning triangles and a hi-vis vest must be carried; rental cars usually include them but verify at pickup.
4x4 with spare tyre essential off main routes
RecommendedMost national parks (Murchison Falls, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth) require 4x4; carry a full-size spare, jack, and jerry can of fuel.
Environment
Rainy seasons damage rural roads
Good to knowLong rains (March-May) and short rains (October-November) make murram (dirt) roads slippery and sometimes impassable; check conditions before heading to gorilla-trekking areas.
Money
Currency UGX; fuel approx EUR 1.30/L
Good to knowPetrol around UGX 5,400/litre (~EUR 1.30); diesel slightly less. Fuel stations accept cash (UGX or USD) and increasingly Visa, but carry shillings as backup.
Cash declaration over USD 10,000
Good to knowAmounts exceeding USD 10,000 (or equivalent) must be declared at the border. Tipping fuel-pump attendants UGX 1,000-2,000 is customary as service is full-serve.
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Drive on the LEFT
RequiredUganda drives on the left like the UK; most rental vehicles are right-hand drive.
Speed limits 100/80/50 km/h
RequiredHighways 100 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h, and 30 km/h near schools and trading centres. Speed cameras are increasingly used on the Kampala-Entebbe and Kampala-Jinja roads.
BAC limit 0.08 g/100ml
RequiredBlood-alcohol limit is 0.08 g/100ml (same as England), enforced via roadside breathalyser checkpoints. Penalties include fines and licence suspension.