Merit Safaris

Uganda Tourism Board

28 November 2016
INCIDENTS OF FIGHTS BETWEEN ROYAL GUARDS AND UGANDA POLICE IN KASESE, WESTERN UGANDA

KASESE: On Saturday 26 November 2016, the Uganda Police Force reported fights between guards from a western Uganda royal community and the Uganda Police in Kasese 345km (over 5hrs), west of the city of Kampala.

Today, Monday 28 November, the security agencies have the situation under control and calm is returning to the area. The rest of the country is very peaceful and is a safe place and destination to travel to.

The cause of these clashes is currently being investigated by the Police and other security teams.

We have confirmed that the Uganda Police Force and other security agencies are in Kasese to ensure the peace and safety of people and property. The safety and well-being of our guests, travelers, tourism businesses and their property is our first priority and we shall keep you updated on the situation in the area. Travellers can still enjoy their stay in Uganda’s national parks, cities and islands.

As more information is available we will be providing updates through our website www.visituganda.com; our facebook account: facebook.com/tourismuganda; Twitter: .

Note for Media: Media briefs will be regularly updated as more information comes in.

Contact:
Vincent Mugaba
Public Relations Officer
Uganda Tourism Board
+256772403330
[email protected]

Welcome To The Pearl Of Africa: Official Tourism Guide From The Uganda Tourism Board. UTB

Rwandair has launched the airbus A330, , first of its kind in the region

i need a tour guide based either in kihiihi or Buhoma,get in touch,0781243420

Requirements for Entry into Uganda

Any person intending to enter into Uganda should do so only for lawful purposes and in accordance with national immigration laws, guidelines and formalities.
Foreign nationals intending to enter Uganda for purposes of employment should comply with requirements for expatriate employment in Uganda.

All visa prone nationalities must obtain Uganda visas to facilitate their entry into the country.
Uganda visas may be obtained at Uganda missions abroad or on arrival at the country’s ports of entry.

Visa fees
Single entry: U$ 100 per individual

Note:

1. visas do not permit gainful or voluntary employment in Uganda
2. Entry into or exit from Uganda should be made only through gazetted ports of entry/exit

3. Visa Exemptions
Nationalities that do not pay for Visa while entering Uganda i.e. nationals of countries that do not pay for Uganda visas
COMESA (Angola,Eritrea, Malawi, Madagascar, Seychelles,Swaziland, Zambia, Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Zimbabwe)
EAC (Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi)
OTHERS (Antigua, Barbados, Fiji, Grenada, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, The Grenadines, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Bahamas, Belize, Gambia, Jamaica,
Malta, Singapore, St. Vincent-Tonga.

Any other exemption as may be specified on arrival

4. Every intending visitor is required to carry a genuine passport/travel document with validity beyond one year.
5. All arriving visitors will be required to fill in arrival declaration cards on arrival and should comply with other immigration formalities including the provision of required biometric information. Arrival/ departure declaration cards are available at the arrival lounge.
6. Immigration authorities at the port of arrival reserve the right of admission.
7. A visitor’s pass for a specific duration will be granted by the Immigration authorities on arrival to permit the holder’s stay in the country for the period granted in the pass. .
8. Arriving visitors should not carry or convey substances or goods prohibited by customs. (Contact Uganda Revenue Authority for details on prohibited substances)
9 Visitors should not overstay their visitors pass otherwise they will be subjected to a fine of U$ 30 per day and other appropriate legal action including prosecution and deportation.
10. Engagement in employment on basis of visitors pass is strictly prohibited. Offenders will be prosecuted.
11. Where visitors seek to stay longer than the period granted in the visitor’s pass on arrival, extension of the period should be sought from the Immigration Headquarters in Kampala or respective regional offices before expiry of the initial visitor’s pass. Save for EAC nationals, extensions sought by other foreign nationals shall not exceed six months in aggregate

Requirements for extension of visitor’s pass
Fill extension of visitor’s pass form
Attach Covering letter from applicant or host if applicable
Attach immigration status of host (if applicable)
Attach Copy of confirmed return air- ticket
Attach Copy of passport/travel document
Provide Original passport for endorsement of facility
All foreign nationals entering and residing in Uganda must comply with immigration legislation and other national laws of the country during their stay in Uganda.

For More Information Visit The Directorate of Citizen and Immigration Control, Minstry of Internal Affairs

MASAI MARA MIGRATION PACKAGE
2 Nights/ 3 Days' Road Package
The Wildebeest Migration, is one of the "Seven New Wonders of the World" and also known as The World Cup of Wildlife. If there is a safari you should go on, this has it be it. The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti National Park together form what no other reserve in Africa can!

UGX 650, 000 PPS
Minimum: 8 Pax

UGX 1, 200,000 PPS
Private Transport | Minimun: 2 Pax

Package Includes:
• 2 Nights/ 3 Days' Road Package
• Accommodation on full board – Ol Moran Tented Camp
• Transport from Nairobi - Mara - Nairobi
• Daily Game Drives
• Driver / Guide
Excludes:
• Park Fees for the period
• Any Other Items not mentioned above

OBAMA VISITS KENYA

Visa Updates and General Information
We have noted various changes on visa issues in a couple of countries that we manage safaris and holidays into and we wish to update you as follows ;

UGANDA .
Has increase the visa fee from USD$50 to USD$100 . Please not that this is already effected and you will need to adjust your travel budget to cater for this change .

KENYA
Proposes a new online system which will be effective from September 2015 , please note that you will need atleast one week to get your visa confirmation , this must be done online and payment done by card . This could cause challenges to last minute travellers as the visa need a whole week to be confirmed ok or denied .

TANZANIA .
Is currently enforcing the bed levy of USD$1.50 per person per night and hence all bookings must include this fees .

BURUNDI
Is going through a tabulent election period and all travel arrangements into Bunjumbura must be arranged with caution .

RWANDA .
For the month of August and September all Gorilla trekking bookings will only be confirmed upon securing gorilla permits , this are limited and hence might affect your booking . Always check with our team on permit availability in advance before confirming your trekking plans .

Increased Uganda Tourist Visa Fees

With great regret we have to inform you that the Ugandan government has decided to increase the tourist visa fees from US $50 to US $100 per person, effective 1st July 2015.

The sudden increase may surprise you as much as it shocked us, as it came without any warning or consulting the tourism sector first.

For those who will be travelling to Uganda (soon) kindly be prepared to pay the doubled visa costs. The tourist visa can still be obtained directly upon arrival and paid for in cash.

We will keep you updated in case of any new information!

Uganda's cultural experience

Judge rules that chimpanzees have human rights IN a decision that seems to recognize chimpanzees as legal persons for the first time, a New York judge granted a pair of lab animals the right to have their day in court

is Safe, Calm and remains a Hospitable Country to visit

International and some local media have carried stories to the effect that there are specific terror threats targeting Uganda and particularly Kampala Capital City.

In an emergency warning issued late Wednesday, the US mission in Kampala said it had "received information of possible terrorist threats to locations where Westerners, including US citizens, congregate in Kampala, and that an attack may take place soon" adding that some planned events had been cancelled at Kampala hotels. The US Embassy however, gave no further details.

Ugandan defence spokesman Paddy Ankunda said the warning was "absolutely" linked to the Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist's, who have carried out major attacks in Kampala in the past.

As you are all aware, Uganda is a key contributor to the African Union's AMISOM force battling the Al-Shabaab inside Somalia. However, the threat was "low level", added Ankunda.

Uganda alongside countries in the region, and others world over including the United States of America face the daily threat of terrorism from such groups as the Al Shabab and the Allied Democratic Forces, and have put in place effective counter terrorism measures, especially in Kampala – Uganda’s Capital and at other vital installations such as Entebbe International Airport so as to ensure that those groups do not succeed in their evil plans.

The Uganda Police, together with sister security agencies, continuously, and on a daily basis, focus on the threat of terrorism and evaluates whatever information relating to any possible attacks on the country.

As Uganda Tourism Board, we wish to reassure the public, especially the travelers to Uganda and in particular those visiting Kampala Capital City and Entebbe that there is no cause for alarm. Uganda, the Pearl of Africa is secure and out of any harm’s way. Our armed forces, police and intelligence are on full alert in all public places and tourist attractions to ensure that tourists continue enjoying our pristine destination.

However, even with this reassurance, Uganda Tourism Board asks for vigilance, and advises that you report any suspicious items lying in any premises, any suspicious individuals and activities to the nearest police station, security officer, or Local Council official.

Uganda is not under any Attack Whatsoever



A few days ago, the safe and secured Embassies of the United States of America and the High Commission of the United Kingdom in Uganda issued travel advisories discouraging travel to Uganda on the grounds that Uganda is under some security threat.

After consultations with our competent security institutions, we wish to categorically refute this negative travel advisory. Uganda continues to enjoy peace and tranquility from border to border. Kampala, the capital, is one of the safest cities in the whole wide world. Tourists visiting Uganda are safe, secure and enjoying their welcome stay in the Pearl of Africa, a destination voted the best country to visit in the world in 2012. Our Police which includes the Tourism Police is available to protect tourists and our globally cherished tourism spots. Our national game parks, game reserves, heritage and historical sites and all other attractions are safe to visit. Uganda continues to be the premier pristine tourist destination in Africa.

Uganda Tourism Board therefore advises negative foreign travel and security advisors to desist from wrongly portraying Uganda as under any security and health threats.

For more information please contact

Uganda Tourism Board

Plot 42, Windsor Crescent, Kololo

Tel: +256 414 342 196/7 or Fax: +256 414 342 188

E: [email protected]