Updated
Kampala’s traffic is heaviest on weekdays from about 7 to 10 am and 4:30 to 8 pm, and a 20-minute trip can take two hours at those times. To avoid it on a safari, stay in Entebbe rather than Kampala before an early start, leave before 6:30 am if you must cross the city, and use the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway for airport transfers. Drivers heading west to Bwindi from Entebbe often skip Kampala completely by taking the back road through Kasanje to Mpigi on the Masaka road.
Why Kampala gets so congested
Kampala spreads over a series of hills, and its main roads funnel through valleys and junctions that cannot cope with the number of cars, minibus taxis and motorcycle taxis (boda-bodas) using them. Minibuses stop wherever passengers wave, boda-bodas weave between lanes, and a single breakdown or accident can block a junction for an hour. Rain makes everything slower. The result is traffic that local drivers accept as normal but that can wreck a tight travel plan.
When to travel
The best times to cross Kampala are early in the morning before 6:30–7 am, late morning to early afternoon, and after about 8 pm. Sunday is usually the quietest day; Friday evenings and the days before public holidays are among the worst, as people leave the city. Around Christmas, Easter and Martyrs Day on 3 June, expect extra congestion. See our guide to Uganda’s public holidays.
Getting to and from Entebbe airport
Entebbe International Airport is about 40 km from central Kampala. The Kampala–Entebbe Expressway, a toll road, makes the trip about 45 minutes to an hour outside rush hour, though getting to the expressway from parts of the city can take much longer at peak times. For an evening flight, leave Kampala at least three to four hours before departure. Most international flights arrive at night or very early in the morning, so staying the first night in Entebbe and heading west the next morning is simpler than going into Kampala. See our guide to getting from Entebbe to Bwindi.
Heading west to the gorillas
The road to Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth leaves Kampala along the Masaka road through Nateete and Busega, one of the busiest corridors in the morning. From Entebbe, many drivers avoid the city altogether by taking the road through Kasanje to join the Masaka road at Mpigi. From Kampala, leaving by 6 am usually clears the worst of the traffic and gets you to Bwindi before dark, about 8–10 hours later. See our guide to drive times from Kampala to Bwindi.
Heading north to Murchison Falls means leaving via the Gulu road through Bwaise and Kawempe, and east to Jinja via the Jinja road; both are congested in rush hours. The Northern Bypass helps for some cross-city trips.
Getting around the city
If you have a day in Kampala, plan visits in one area rather than crossing the city repeatedly. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt work in Kampala and are easier than negotiating with taxi drivers. Boda-bodas are the fastest way through traffic but have a poor safety record; if you use one, choose an app-based service that provides a helmet, and avoid them at night. Our guides to using boda-bodas safely and special hire taxis have more detail.
Tips for safari travellers
Ask your operator to plan around traffic: Entebbe for the first and last nights, early departures, and buffers before flights. Keep water and snacks in the vehicle, keep windows up and phones out of sight in slow traffic, and be patient: hooting and arguing rarely help. If time is short, a domestic flight from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro avoids the city and the long road altogether; see our guide to domestic flights.
Frequently asked questions
Roughly 7–10 am and 4:30–8 pm on weekdays, with Friday evenings especially busy.
About 45 minutes to an hour on the expressway outside rush hour; allow much longer at peak times.
Entebbe, if you are flying in or starting early, as it avoids Kampala’s traffic.
Yes, both operate in Kampala and are a convenient way to get around.
