April 2011
Visa
On entry USD50, single entry valid for 2 months. Uganda is part of the East African Community (EAC) which allows returning to Uganda on the same single entry visa within the validity period provided travel is undertaken only to other EAC countries (which is currently Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi)
ENTRY
Entry point (from Kenya): Malaba
Time taken: 1 hour
Costs
UGX 47840 needed for 1 month road tax (+ UGX 2000 bank fee for above)
Money change
At the bank on the first floor of the customs building. Rate is poor, so only change what is needed for road tax.
Process
After immigration at GPS: N 0.6381110, E 34.2642250, customs is in the round building at GPS: N 0.6382110, E 34.2639110. Hand carnet into office on ground floor, and then proceed with invoice for road tax to first floor bank to pay it, changing money if needed. Return to carnet man with bank receipt, and collect stamped carnet. Cursory check of docs by policeman at the boon.
EXIT
Exit point (from Uganda): Suam
Time taken: 1 hour
Process straightforward
Costs
None
Money
Banks accepting international VISA cards at ATMs common – Standard & Chartered, Stanbic etc
Fuel
With exchange rate at 2260UGX= 1 USD
Kampala: Diesel 3070UGX/litre ($1.36) , Petrol 3100UGX/litre ($1.37)
Camping
Jinja: Speke Camping (incorrectly marked on T4A v10.05) at GPS N 0.482570, E 33.157780 is spectacularly set by Bujagali Falls. Will move further up the hill when the dam is flooded starting Sep 2011.
Car workshops
None used
Communications
MTN: good coverage and cheap data. No registration required to purchase SIM. Internet activation took 2 days, eve though the internet settings never arrived by SMS as promised. However, bizarrely, leaving all of APN, username and password blank worked. Orange an alternative with data bundles slightly more expensive than MTN.
Useful GPS
Roads
From Sipi Falls to Suam border with Kenya: 55miles/ 3hours. From Sipi to Chema is tar. From Chema to Suam is reasonable dirt- easy when dry, muddy sections when wet. Winch to pull out other vehicles on narrow and muddy sections useful. The section between 18 miles to 12miles from Suam can be quite slippery in the wet, requiring brief use of 4wd.