UGANDAN IMMIGRATION

Entering a new country is exciting and worry-free if you come prepared with the following:

• Tourist Visa
  
  You may purchase your visa at the airport upon arrival, or in advance through the Ugandan Embassy. Here are details for each process:
  
  
  
  • Purchasing visa upon arrival at Entebbe airport (recommended by Aidchild):
    
    1. Once you have disembarked the aircraft, and entered the terminal, bypass the immigration line, and go directly to visa office. (This is through a small door located just beyond and to the left of the immigration officers.)
    2. Present your passport along with $30.00 (US). Your passport will be stamped with a three-month visa.
    3. Proceed directly to baggage collection. (Do not get back into the immigration line.)
       
       
  • Purchasing Visa in Advance
    Processing usually takes 2-3 business days, but plan on longer. Send passport, travel dates, $50.00 (US), and a self-addressed-stamped-envelope to the appropriate address below:
    
    
    1. AMERICAN CITIZENS
       The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda
       5909 16th Street NW
       Washington, DC 20011
       Tel: 202.726.0416 Fax: 202.726.1727
       
       
    2. BRITISH SUBJECTS
       The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda
       Uganda House
       Trafalgar Square
       London WC2 5DX
       Tel: 071.839.5783 Fax: 071.839.8925
       
       
    3. CANADIAN CITIZENS
       The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda
       231 Coburg Street
       Ottawa
       Tel: 789.7797 Fax: 232.6689
       
• Passport
  
  • International Vaccination Record
    This is a yellow card obtained from the medical professional providing you with the vaccine. It serves as proof that you have actually received the vaccination. You may be asked to present this at immigration.
    
    
• OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
  • Flights usually arrive during the night. Since it is quite dangerous to travel after dark, you will need to plan to stay at a hotel in Kampala (about 40 minutes from Entebbe) before traveling on to the orphanage the next day. Set aside about $70.00 (US) for this.
  • Change only a small amount of money at the airport for initial expenses, such as the Kampala hotel. The following day, change the rest of the money at a Kampala forex bureau, where you will get a better exchange rate.
  • A member of the Aidchild staff will be happy to pick you up at the airport, and to stay with you in Kampala the first night. Fuel and expenses generally cost about $75.00 (US).
  • The drive from Kampala to the Aidchild site in Masaka is about two hours to the southwest.