Is It Safe To Visit Uganda During Elections?

There are several travel advisories that have been written guiding people about safety in Uganda. But this still begs that question, what is the worst that people tend to expect to happen that makes them ask about safety. Safety is not merely survival, it is what people tend to fear happening while on their trip to Uganda. In this article we look out for the things people fear and whether their fear is legitimate or justified.

Protests and Demonstrations

When people ask about safety, they often wish to know whether there is a possibility of them getting caught up in the middle of a protest or a demonstration. The possibility is minimum. There are more riots during campaigns than there are during and after elections. The possibility of getting caught up in a demonstration is minimal however you cannot rule it out more so if you are choosing to spend most of your time in Kampala down town.

Most of the riots and demonstrations happen in Kampala down town. It is rare to find demonstration in Entebbe.

Disruptions in Movement

The possibility of disrupting the movement is also minimal. Considering the previous elections, there are always road blocks like on several other days. Your movement will not be disrupted more so on the highways. If there any riots, they often affect the feeder roads and the only touristic areas that could be affected by riots is Jinja and Kampala. The other places do not have the population to match the security forces in case they wish to put up a demonstration.

Physical Danger 

The possibility of physical danger is not minimal. Security forces could likely clash with protesters. Tear gas is a common force during these incidents. Therefore where you participate directly or indirectly in the riots, you might end up being a victim of tear gas if you are in Kampala business area.

Demonstrations is Uganda rarely turn violent because they government rarely allows people to demonstrate. The possibility of people taking it to the streets is very minimal. They government usually deploys the army and police on almost all streets to ensure no riots take place.

The possibility of petty crimes during this season is also very minimal because the security in the whole country is heightened. Therefore unless you drive in a place where there had tear gas a few hours ago, you should not expect any physical danger during your Uganda visit.

Communication Issues

Communication lines always remain open even during elections but one thing we cannot be sure of is having internet during the eve of the announcement of the results. This is the only thing to be worried about during your Uganda visit. They might turn off the internet to contain all the communication that might escalate the matters. Hiring a car with a satellite phone will come in handy during this season.

In regard to travel using map apps; it is recommended to get an offline app like mapsme during this season. It is also recommended to get a local sim card that can allow you to make calls

Supply Shortages

Cancellation of Programs?

The government has a special police for tourism. There is no likelihood that tourism can close during this season. The condition will likely continue to be normal. If you have a confirmed trip, you can continue with your trip. In case you are skeptical, you can consider pushing your trip outside the 14th to 20th of January 2026