Safest cities in Uganda
14 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in UgandaTerrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Uganda.
Political situation
- Presidential and Parliamentary elections last took place in Uganda on 15 January 2026. The Presidential Inauguration Ceremony took place on 12 May 2026.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsYou can reduce the risk of being followed and pickpocketed or mugged by:
- Vehicle crimeCriminals may steal from cars and taxis stopped in traffic. Keep car doors locked and windows shut when driving in towns. Do not leave luggage or valuables in parked vehicles. Do not resist if armed criminals stop you.
- Food and drink spikingTravellers have been drugged and robbed on public transport and in bars. Do not accept food and drink from strangers.
- Methanol poisoningThere has been an increase in cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in popular travel destinations around the world.
- ScamsScammers may target foreign visitors and residents. Be wary of strangers who:
Laws and cultural differences
- National cleaning dayThe final Saturday of each month, between 7 and 10 am, is a mandatory and nationwide cleaning day.
- Personal IDOfficials may stop you and ask for ID. Always carry a copy of the photo page of your passport.
- Wearing military-style clothingIt is illegal for anyone, including children, to dress in military-style clothing. This includes clothing with marks, badges or symbols and accessories associated with the Ugandan military, camouflage clothing and red berets. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment when convicted.
- Helping children on Kampala’s streetsIt is illegal and punishable by a fine and a possible prison sentence to offer money, food or clothing to children living on the streets in Kampala.
- Smoking and e-cigarette bansIt is illegal to smoke in:
- Illegal drug penaltiesPenalties for illegal drug possession and illegal drug trafficking are severe. The maximum sentence is 20 years for possession and life imprisonment for trafficking.
- Using cameras in secure areasIt is forbidden to take photos of military, official or diplomatic sites. This includes Owen Falls Dam at the source of the Nile near Jinja.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is illegal in Uganda.
- Wildlife, animal products and souvenirsIt’s illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade its parts without a licence. If you’re caught buying or trafficking such goods you might be prosecuted and get a prison sentence or a fine.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Uganda, see information on driving abroad.
- Public transportThere have been serious accidents involving Ugandan long-distance bus services. These include:
- Boat travelFerry accidents on Lake Albert and Lake Victoria have killed large numbers of passengers in recent years. Overloading of passengers and goods is often the cause.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingLocalised flooding and landslides are common, particularly during the rainy seasons from March to May and October to November.
- EarthquakesUganda is in an earthquake zone. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Uganda, updated 2026-09-02 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 8.82 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 42.72019
- Human development
- HDI 0.5822023
- Income
- $3,410/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 29.4 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 48/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 44/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 25/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 6.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.59GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 31.2 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 18%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.2 doctors /1k0.5 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 264 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Drought
- 7.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 3.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 3.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Uganda, with the death penalty applying in law (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Uganda compares
| Measure | Uganda | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 8.8 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +6.4 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 42.7 | 35.2 | +7.5 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.582 | 0.763 | −0.181 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 29.4 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +14.0 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 44/100 | 52/100 | −8/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 25/100 | 39/100 | −14/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 31.2 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +11.5 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.7/10 | 3.8/10 | +2.9/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Uganda | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 8.8 /100k | 4.4 /100k | +4.4 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 42.7 | 38.3 | +4.5 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.582 | 0.560 | +0.022 — better for Uganda |
| Road deaths | 29.4 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +1.5 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 44/100 | 42/100 | +2/100 — better for Uganda |
| Corruption perceptions | 25/100 | 31/100 | −6/100 — better for Africa median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 31.2 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | +3.9 µg/m³ — better for Africa median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.7/10 | 5.2/10 | +1.5/10 — better for Africa median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 14 cities, safest first
- Mbale City56.7 · #4725 worldwide
- Bukalasi56.7 · #4726 worldwide
- Gulu56.7 · #4727 worldwide
- Buligenyi56.7 · #4728 worldwide
- Lira56.7 · #4729 worldwide
- Busia56.7 · #4730 worldwide
- Masaka54.8 · #4872 worldwide
- Iganga53.7 · #4970 worldwide
- Jinja51.8 · #5086 worldwide
- Mbarara51.4 · #5113 worldwide
- Kampala50.4 · #5164 worldwide
- Arua41.0 · #5768 worldwide
- Kasese35.3 · #5966 worldwide
- Bwera34.7 · #5979 worldwide