South AfricaUganda: e-Visa

South AfricaUganda

Do South Africa passport holders need a visa for Uganda?

e-Visa

Yes. South Africa passport holders need a visa for Uganda, available online as an e-visa before travel.

An e-visa must be applied for and approved online before travel.

Source: immigration.go.ug (checked July 20, 2026).

Requiremente-Visa

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-19

Distance2,936 km, straight line (~3h 57m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Uganda40 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Uganda passport holders visiting South Africa: Visa required.

Visa-free alternatives near Uganda

South Africa passport holders can visit these nearby destinations without a visa in advance:

Other visa-free destinations for South Africa passport holders

See all South Africa destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do South Africa passport holders need a visa for Uganda?

Yes. South Africa passport holders need a visa for Uganda, available online as an e-visa before travel.

How far is Uganda from South Africa?

About 2,936 km in a straight line, roughly ~3h 57m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in Uganda?

Ugandan shilling (UGX).

What is the emergency number in Uganda?

112 / 911 / 999.

What time zone is Uganda in?

Kampala (UTC+3).

What is the nearest airport to Kampala?

Entebbe International Airport (EBB), about 33 km away.

How many countries can enter Uganda without a visa?

40 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Uganda visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

What nearby countries can South Africa passport holders visit without a visa instead of Uganda?

Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About South Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. The country consists of nine provinces, and is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. South Africa also encloses Lesotho. Covering an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres, the country has a population of over 63 million people, making it the sixth-most populated country in Africa, and 24th-most in the world.

CapitalPretoria

RegionSouthern Africa

Population64.7M

Area1,221,037 km²

CurrencySouth African rand (1 USD ≈ 16.43 ZAR)

LanguagesAfrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Calling code+27

Drives on theleft

TimezoneJohannesburg (UTC+2)

Nearest airportLanseria International Airport (HLA), 34 km

Emergency number112

UNESCO sites12

Income levelUpper middle income

GDP per capita$6,598 (2025)

Tourist arrivals3.9M (2020)

Climate in Pretoria

Warmest January, coolest June, driest May, sunniest January. Best time to visit: January, March, September.

Monthly climate normals for Pretoria, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.3°C	16.6°C	75mm	360h
February	27.4°C	16°C	89mm	331h
March	26°C	14.3°C	37mm	321h
April	22.2°C	12°C	111mm	267h
May	21.5°C	8.4°C	0mm	318h
June	18.1°C	4.7°C	4mm	294h
July	19.2°C	4.9°C	0mm	321h
August	21.9°C	7°C	3mm	323h
September	26°C	10.6°C	11mm	332h
October	27°C	14.3°C	78mm	316h
November	26.8°C	15.3°C	142mm	322h
December	26.6°C	16.5°C	107mm	332h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

South Africa is rich in culture, fauna, flora and history. Africa's southernmost country is a large country with widely varying landscapes, 12 official languages, and an equally diverse population and is often known as the "Rainbow Nation".

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cape Floristic Kingdom
Cradle of Humankind
Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites
Khomani Cultural Landscape
Makhonjwa Mountains
Maloti-Drakensberg Park
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
Richtersveld
Robben Island
The Emergence of Modern Humans: The Pleistocene occupation sites of South Africa

Upcoming public holidays

November 4, 2026Election Day

December 16, 2026Day of Reconciliation

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

Full source list on About.

About Uganda

Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The southern part includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda is in the African Great Lakes region, lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied equatorial climate. As of 2024, it had a population of 45.9 million, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital and largest city, Kampala.

CapitalKampala

RegionEastern Africa

Population51.4M

Area241,550 km²

CurrencyUgandan shilling (1 USD ≈ 4060.88 UGX)

LanguagesEnglish, Swahili

Calling code+256

Drives on theleft

TimezoneKampala (UTC+3)

Nearest airportEntebbe International Airport (EBB), 33 km

Emergency number112 / 911 / 999

UNESCO sites3

Income levelLow income

GDP per capita$1,206 (2025)

Tourist arrivals473K (2020)

Climate in Kampala

Warmest February, coolest July, driest February, sunniest December. Best time to visit: January, February, June, July, August, September, December.

Monthly climate normals for Kampala, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	26.6°C	17.8°C	103mm	323h
February	26.6°C	18.5°C	89mm	303h
March	25.5°C	18.9°C	203mm	291h
April	24.9°C	19°C	206mm	264h
May	24.5°C	17.7°C	167mm	312h
June	24.1°C	17°C	107mm	333h
July	24.2°C	17.1°C	120mm	323h
August	25.7°C	17.2°C	99mm	332h
September	26.1°C	17.3°C	120mm	322h
October	25.4°C	17.8°C	242mm	303h
November	24.7°C	17.3°C	235mm	270h
December	25.2°C	16.8°C	100mm	335h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Uganda was nicknamed the "Pearl of Africa" by Winston Churchill. It is home to one of the most diverse and concentrated ranges of African fauna including the highly endangered mountain gorilla and the endangered common chimpanzee.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Kasubi Tombs
Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Upcoming public holidays

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

December 26, 2026Boxing Day

January 1, 2027New Year's Day

Full source list on About.