Christmas in Uganda is above all a church and family holiday. In the days before 25 December, huge numbers of people leave Kampala and other towns for their home villages, churches are packed for services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and families gather for a big meal, often with chicken, goat or beef, matooke, rice and pilau. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays. For visitors, it is a lovely time to experience Ugandan hospitality, but also the busiest season for gorilla permits, lodges and road travel, so book early.
How Ugandans celebrate
Uganda is a largely Christian country, and for many families Christmas is the one time each year when relatives working in Kampala or abroad return home. People buy new clothes, decorate homes and churches simply, and save for weeks for the Christmas meal. A chicken or goat may be bought live at the market and prepared at home. Church services, often long and full of singing, are the heart of the day, followed by visits to relatives and neighbours.
In towns, bars and hotels hold parties, and New Year’s Eve is celebrated with fireworks and all-night church services known as overnight prayers.
Commercial gift-giving is more modest than in Europe or North America, and decorations are lighter, although malls in Kampala now put up Christmas displays. Muslims and people of other faiths often join the holiday spirit and share in the visiting and food.
Christmas food
The Christmas table varies by region. Around Kampala, matooke steamed in banana leaves is central, served with groundnut sauce and meat stews. Pilau, a spiced rice dish introduced by traders from the coast, is a favourite for celebrations, along with chapati and roasted meat. In the south-west, near Bwindi, millet bread and Irish potatoes are common. Soft drinks, beer and local brews flow, and families save the best food for this one day. Lodges near the parks usually serve a special Christmas dinner, and some include local dishes.
Travelling over Christmas
From about 20 December, buses and roads out of Kampala are crowded as people head home, fares rise and the city itself becomes quieter. The reverse happens in early January. If you are driving to Bwindi in this period, start early and allow extra time. Banks and offices close on 25 and 26 December and on New Year’s Day, so get cash beforehand. See our guide to Uganda’s public holidays and our Kampala traffic guide.
Gorilla trekking at Christmas
Gorilla treks run every day, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Late December is part of the December to February drier season, and it is one of the most popular times to visit, with international visitors on holiday and many Ugandan and East African residents travelling too. Permits for popular sectors and the best lodges can sell out months ahead, and lodges often charge peak-season rates. Book the permit first, at US$800, and plan the rest around it. See our guide to the best time for gorilla trekking.
Joining in respectfully
If you are invited to a church service or a family celebration, go: Ugandans are generous hosts. Dress smartly and modestly, expect a long service and a warm welcome, and bring a small gift, such as sugar, soap, soft drinks or something for the children, if visiting a home. Ask before taking photos. A few words of greeting go a long way; see our guide to how to greet someone in Uganda. Many lodges near Bwindi also arrange visits to local church services or community celebrations over the holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25 and 26 December) are public holidays.
Typically chicken, goat or beef with matooke, rice or pilau, chapati and groundnut sauce, varying by region.
Yes. Treks run every day, but permits sell out early for the holiday period.
Yes. Roads and buses out of Kampala are crowded in the days before Christmas, and the reverse in early January.
