Uganda has been described as one of the best safari destinations in Africa. It is also considered one of the safest countries to visit on the continent. The question is, how safe is it for you to spend your vacation? Yes, Uganda is safe and here is why.

Political State

Uganda has been steadily a stable country for the last 30 years. The Northern regions were ravaged by a domestic rebel group (Lord’s Resistance Army) headed by the infamous Joseph Kony but this was quickly combatted by the Ugandan Military and chased out to the nearby countries of South Sudan and North Eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006.

Since then the region has hugely transformed from a ravaged land to a community of close-knit people with a strong shared history. Reliefs have been provided by organizations like UNICEF, WHO, NRC, GOAL, and WFP among others. These have uplifted the way of living and the peace and stability giving the region to be restored to its former glory. There are also civilian police in the area for patrols to ensure the peace is kept.

There are several places to visit now in Northern Uganda made possible by this effort. Murchison Falls National Park in the western part of the country is where you find the most beautiful waterfall, Kidepo Valley National Park which is dubbed the 3rd best national park in Africa is in the Northeastern part of Uganda.

Health

The Ministry of Health works vigilantly to ensure the safety of all Ugandans and visitors. There is always prompt communication in cases of outbreaks and measures to ensure no or limited spread of any viruses.

There are regulations set in place to ensure your safety for example the Yellow Fever checkup on entrance into the country, this is because you will be exposed to animals that are carriers of Yellow fever and prone to infection and possibly spreading to other people at home.

Other diseases like malaria have been controlled. All hotels and lodges have mosquito nets and have been sensitized about measures to take to avoid transmission. Before entering parks and sites, you will be sensitized about the dos and don’ts in the wild all necessary to keep you safe.

In case of any emergencies, Medical facilities especially upcountry may not be readily equipped to handle your case. In such a situation, evacuation by air ambulance may be necessary. It is safer to contact your insurance provider to confirm whether this can be covered in case there are certain medical concerns before travelling in. Any outbreak is usually promptly cautioned and shared by the Ugandan government and the Ministry of Health.

Generally, you are advised to only eat foods from trusted sources like the restaurant you will be staying at and only drink bottled water. Do not eat random food sold by any vendors, especially roadside food unless you are with a trusted local.

Road Safety

The roads in the country are not very well maintained. According to the Ministry of Health data, road injuries are the 10th leading cause of death as of 2017. This is because of bad roads especially upcountry, unmarked roads and lighting.

Recently, the traffic laws have slightly improved concerning reinforcement, especially within the city and highways upcountry. There are traffic check blocks and officers to ensure that drivers are following regulations like speed limit, driving license and maximum number of people in the car. This has slightly
improved safety on the road.

Emergency response on the roads by major hospitals is not the best record time. Heavy accidents on roads normally lead to death because of the delay and people trying to take things into their own hands.

Crime threats

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has set in place procedures to ensure safety in parks. In 2019, the president passed 488 rangers to reinforce the available rangers to provide safety in national Parks.

These parks have security personnel and are complemented by the Uganda People’s Defense Force and the Police. This tight manpower is meant to ensure that all the visitors are safe and not prone to any crimes while visiting.

The security in Kampala City has been upgraded by staging CCTV cameras across the town on major junctions and main roads. Crimes like assault, theft, break-ins and robberies are still an issue which is why you are highly advised to not move at night especially alone, dealing with recommended tour guides to avoid being reaped off and keeping your details very safe.

Emergency Assistance

The number to call is 999/112 for the Uganda Police Force in case you want to report a crime
or request assistance if caught in a tough medical situation that requires immediate
medical evacuation. However, reporting to the nearest Police station is the quickest way to be
helped in cases of theft, robbery, mugging or loss of property.
Also, remember to keep in touch with your country’s embassy and probably have their
number saved to help as a catalyst to the process if you have lost for example your passport and
other relevant documents.