Uganda General Safety

PLEASE NOTE THAT CHANGES ARE MADE ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, PLEASE CONTACT YOU NEAREST UGANDA EMBASSY FOR MORE ACCURATE VISA POSTING AND UPDATES

UYAPHI SAFARIS CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT POLICY, SHOULD CHANGES TO THE BELOW OCCUR!

CRIME: Crimes such as pick pocketing, purse snatching, and thefts from hotels and parked vehicles or vehicles stalled in traffic jams are common. These offences also occur on public transportation. Passengers using public transport should under no circumstances accept food or drink from a stranger, even a child, because such food may contain narcotics used to incapacitate a victim and facilitate a robbery. Incidents of armed vehicle carjacking and armed highway robbery occur throughout the country, including urban areas. Although these attacks are often violent, victims are generally injured only if they resist. U.S. Embassy employees are advised against using roads at night, especially in areas outside the limits of cities and large towns. Women traveling alone are particularly susceptible to crime. Home burglaries do occur and sometimes turn violent. It is not uncommon for armed groups to invade homes.

There has been a recent, marked increase in financial crime, including wire transfer fraud and fraud involving checks. We recommend using money orders for all fund transfers and protecting all bank account information.

Try not to travel alone, always keep to small groups, never hitch hike or get a lift from a stranger when you are on your own. Always read the local news and keep up to date on current happenings around the world and in Africa.

Websites like www.news24.com, www.iafrica.com,www.africanews.org and www.iol.co.za are updated with top stories almost hourly.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Planning to visit Uganda should be aware of threats to their safety from insurgent groups, particularly in the northern region near the border with Sudan, along the western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in the southwest near the border with Rwanda. Insurgent groups have at times specifically targeted tourists. They have engaged in murder, armed attacks, kidnapping, and the placement of land mines. Although isolated, incidents occur with little or no warning. In March 2004, two Americans were murdered in north-western Uganda in Yumbe District. The police have caught five suspects who face trial soon; however their motives remain unclear. Armed banditry is common in the Karamoja region in north-eastern Uganda.

Because of continuing activity by elements of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda, particularly the districts of Apac, Lira, Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Adjumani, the level of violence associated with these incursions and an order to target Americans issued in May 2004 by the leader of the LRA, the Embassy strongly recommends against travel to and residence in these districts. Americans resident in these areas should review whether the LRA threats are grounds for leaving the area.

The Government of Uganda has taken significant steps to improve security in national parks in recent years. The Ugandan army, charged with the safety and welfare of travelers, accompanies tourists on gorilla-tracking visits and has greatly increased its presence in the parks. However, there are security concerns associated with pre-dawn and night time driving if accommodations are located far away from the gorilla parks. In addition to the general risk of higher accident rates, pre-dawn and nighttime driving also increases the risk of banditry.

We recommend that visitors seek up-to-date security information from park authorities before entering Mgahinga National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, both in the south-western corner of Uganda, due to sporadic rebel activity across the Congo/Rwanda border. Rwandan rebel factions with anti-Western and anti-American ideologies are known to operate in areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo that border Uganda. One such rebel group is believed to be responsible for the March 1999 kidnapping and murder of two American and six other tourists in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in western Uganda, as well as the August 1998 abduction of three tourists in a Democratic Republic of Congo national park contiguous with Uganda's Mgahinga National Park.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.govwhere the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found.

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends, and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities in Uganda, including Kampala, are limited and not equipped to handle most emergencies, especially those requiring surgery. Outside Kampala, hospitals are scarce and offer only basic services. Equipment and medicines are often in short supply or unavailable. Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines.

Malaria is prevalent in Uganda. P. falciparum malaria, a serious and sometimes fatal strain found in Uganda, is resistant to the anti-malarial drug chloroquine. Because travelers to Uganda are at high risk for contracting malaria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that travelers should take one of the following antimalarial drugs: mefloquine (Lariam - tm), doxycycline, primaquine, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone - tm). The CDC has determined that a traveler who is on an appropriate antimalarial drug has a greatly reduced chance of contracting the disease. In addition, other personal protective measures, such as the use of insect repellent, help to reduce the risk of malaria. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to one year after returning home should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history and what antimalarials they have been taking.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in your own countyr. The information below concerning Uganda is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. Most inter-city transportation in Uganda is by small van or large bus. Many drivers of these vehicles have little or no training and are often reckless. Small vans and large buses are usually poorly maintained, travel at high speeds, and are the principal vehicles involved in the many single and multi-vehicle accidents along Ugandan roads. Large trucks on the highways are often precariously over-loaded, with inadequately secured cargo and poor braking systems. Alcohol frequently is a contributing factor in road accidents, particularly at night. Drivers are advised to take extra care when driving. Driving standards are low, vehicles are often poorly maintained, large potholes are ubiquitous, and adequate signage and shoulders are almost non-existent. Pedestrians often walk in the roads and may not be visible to motorists. Large branches or rocks in the road sometimes indicate an upcoming obstruction or other hazard. Highway travel at night is particularly dangerous, including the road between Entebbe Airport and Kampala. The Embassy recommends caution on this road and taking a reliable taxi service to and from the airport.

Traffic accidents draw crowds. Ugandan law requires that the drivers stop and exchange information and assist any injured persons. In some cases where serious injury has occurred, there is the possibility of mob anger. In these instances, Ugandans often do not get out of their cars, but drive to the nearest police station to report the accident.

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