Updated
A “special hire” is Uganda’s name for a private taxi: a car and driver hired just for you, rather than a shared minibus. You can book one through your hotel, find one at a taxi stage, or use Uber or Bolt in Kampala and Entebbe, which give a fixed price.
On the street, always agree the fare before you get in, and ask your hotel what a fair price is first. Special hires are the easiest way to get around Kampala and Entebbe and to cover the last stretch to a lodge from towns such as Kabale or Kisoro.
Where to find one
In Kampala and Entebbe, ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt are the simplest option: the fare is shown in advance, the driver and car are identified, and you can pay by card or cash. Hotels and lodges can call a driver they know, which costs a little more but is reliable, especially for early airport runs.
Special hire cars also wait at stages outside shopping centres, bus parks and the airport. In towns near the parks, such as Kabale, Kisoro, Fort Portal and Kasese, ask your lodge to arrange a driver or find one at the taxi stage.
Agreeing a fair price
Street special hires do not use meters, so the price is negotiated. Ask your hotel or guide for the usual fare, or check the price in a ride-hailing app, then state your destination and agree the total before you set off. Make clear whether it is one way or a return, whether waiting time is included, and whether the price is per car or per person. Prices go up at night, in rain and in heavy traffic. Polite, friendly bargaining is normal; if a driver will not accept a reasonable fare, find another.
Airport transfers
Entebbe International Airport is about 40 km from Kampala and close to Entebbe town. Taxis wait outside arrivals, and many hotels offer pick-ups, which is the easiest choice after a long night flight. If your safari operator is collecting you, they will meet you in the arrivals hall. Allow plenty of time when heading to the airport from Kampala, as traffic can add hours at peak times; see our Kampala traffic guide.
Hiring a car for a day or longer
You can hire a special hire for a half or full day of sightseeing in Kampala, or for a longer trip upcountry, with the price agreed per day plus fuel or all-in. For a safari to the national parks, a proper 4×4 with an experienced driver-guide from a licensed tour operator is a better choice than a town taxi, as park roads are rough and the guide’s knowledge matters. See our guide to choosing a tour operator.
The last stretch to Bwindi
Budget travellers who arrive in Kabale, Kisoro or Butogota by bus usually take a special hire to their lodge. The roads are steep and partly unpaved, so make sure the car is in reasonable condition, and agree on the return trip at the same time if you need it. Many lodges offer transfers at a fixed price, which removes the need to negotiate. See our guide to the bus to Bwindi.
Staying safe
Use cars booked through apps, hotels or lodges when you can, especially at night. Sit in the back, wear a seatbelt, keep doors locked and phones out of sight in slow traffic, and ask the driver to slow down if needed. Avoid long road journeys after dark. Compared with motorcycle taxis, special hires are much safer; read our guide to boda-bodas if you are weighing the two.
Frequently asked questions
A private taxi: a car and driver hired just for your trip, with the fare agreed in advance.
Yes, in Kampala and Entebbe, with fixed fares shown in the app.
No. Agree the fare before getting in, or use an app with a fixed price.
For the last stretch from Kabale, Kisoro or Butogota, yes. For the whole trip, a safari operator’s 4×4 and driver-guide is better.
The special hire taxi negotiation in Uganda is most efficient when conducted before entering the vehicle — confirming the destination, the price, and the route before the driver starts the engine eliminates the mid-journey price revision that drivers sometimes attempt when the destination is reached and the passenger has no alternative.
