KampalaCapital
Uganda · Country profile
Kampala is the bustling, high-energy capital of Uganda, a city of the seven hills that spreads from the shores of the great lake of Victoria and climbs its green summits in a tangle of buildings, traffic and markets. It is the political, the commercial and the cultural engine of the country, the seat of the kingdom of the Buganda as well as of the republic, and its mix of the royal tombs, the mosques, the cathedrals and the gleaming towers of the modern economy gives it a distinctive, rapid-fire atmosphere. The lake views of the city, the nightlife of the streets and the friendliness of its people offset the noise and the congestion, while the extraordinary wildlife of the country waits just beyond its roads. Loud, colourful and utterly alive, Kampala is the confident heart of the Pearl of Africa.
About Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda. The city's documented population is around 1,680,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Ugandan Shilling (UGX) and English and Swahili are spoken; the dialling code is +256.
The Seven Hills Capital and the Lake of the Equator
Kampala is a lively, sprawling capital of the hills where the royal sites, the markets and the viewpoints of the seven summits fill the visitor’s days with energy. The essential circuit covers the Kasubi tombs, the cathedral of the Rubaga and the Namirembe, the national mosque and the comment of the city with its panoramic terraces, with the great market of the Owino for the full sensory immersion. The evenings belong to the music scene, the craft bars and the lake-view sundowners of the city, and the chimpanzee forests, the mountains and the savannas of the country start from its roads and its airport. It is a demanding, traffic-heavy but youthful and genuinely friendly capital, and its cultural confidence is infectious.
The Equatorial Rains, the Boda Boda and the Traffic of the Centre
The city enjoys the equatorial climate with the warm days and the pleasant nights of the year and the two rainy seasons, the spring and the autumn, when the roads of the region turn soft and the green of the city peaks. The Ugandan shilling is the currency, the English and the Swahili the working languages with the local tongues of the streets, and the boda-boda motorcycles and the taxi apps of the city cover the hills of the traffic of the capital. The tombs, the mosque, the markets and the lake circuits anchor the stay, and the gorilla permits and the safari bookings of the country start from the city’s agencies. The layered clothing for the evenings and the secure care of the streets complete the practical list of the visit.
The Kasubi Tombs, the Owino Market and the Sundowners of the Bay
The Kasubi tombs, the royal mausoleums of the kings of the Buganda kingdom and a World Heritage of the planet, crown the most sacred hill of the capital, while the mosques and the cathedrals of the other summits complete the sacred skyline of the city. The market of the Owino and the craft market of the capital, with the fabrics, the baskets, the jewellery and the coffee of the country, run the vivid daily trade of the metropolis. The lakes of the city, from the cabanas of the lakeview to the cruising of the sundowners of the bay, ease the pace of the evening, and the wildlife of the country, the gorillas and the chimpanzees and the savanna of the equator, begins the moment the road of the capital leaves the hills.
Report an error or suggest an update
- Country
- Uganda
- Population
- 1,680,000
- Capital
- Kampala
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Ugandan Shilling (UGX)
- Languages
- English, Swahili
- Calling code
- +256
- Country code
- UG
Entry requirements for Uganda
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Uganda for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kampala the capital of Uganda?
Yes — Kampala is the capital of Uganda.
What currency do I need in Kampala?
The local currency is the Ugandan Shilling (UGX). Languages spoken in Uganda include English and Swahili.
What is the dialling code for Uganda?
The international dialling code for Uganda is +256.
Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Australia (e-visa), Canada (e-visa), France (e-visa), Germany (e-visa) and India (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Kampala? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.