What are the Road Rules in Uganda?
Must-know traffic rules in Uganda, Self-Drive Trips within Uganda are mesmerizing experiences, mainly because of the breathtaking scenery. From the vibrant Town/Cities, lush countryside, bustling roadside markets, and tropical rain forests, to the sweeping outbacks and savannah plains, there is always something extraordinary and exciting to relish around every corner of the country. Surprisingly, hiring a car in Uganda is always a bucket list experience for both domestic and foreign visitors interested in exploring the country via self-drive tours.
Whether you are a first-time or repeated driver in Uganda, it is always important to read and understand the traffic rules in Uganda before you even hire the car and hit the road for your self-drive safari. We, therefore, make it easy for you to understand these rules without having to search through Uganda Police websites, hence easing the planning process of your Uganda self-drive safari. It is important to first read and understand the traffic rules in advance before beginning to drive in Uganda. There, the following are the must-know traffic rules in Uganda;
Keep left when driving in Uganda
For Uganda, driving on the left-hand side of the road and if you are used to driving on the right-hand side of the road, it is important to note this. Must-know traffic rules in Uganda, This will save you from getting involved in accidents or even paying fines for breaking this rule. In case there is no other traffic to keep you in check, it might be easy to become a victim of your old rule of driving on the right-hand side.
Protective helmets
Motorists and their passengers always advised to wear protective helmets, as a way of reducing fatalities in case of accidents and reducing the risk of fatal brain injuries during falls or collisions.
Speed limit
During your self-drive in Uganda, it is always advisable to follow the speed limit, but sometimes don’t stay within speed sign limits. For extreme weather conditions like strong winds, rain, fog, or even traffic jam, you might need to reduce the speed to blend into the prevailing conditions without causing trouble to yourself and other road users.
However, under normal circumstances, the speed limit on Uganda’s highways is 100 kilometers per hour, 80 kilometers per hour in remote areas, and 50 kilometers per hour around urban centers.
Overtaking
When driving in Uganda, overtaking strictly on the right, but done carefully to avoid colliding with incoming vehicles. It is always advisable to check the road clearly prior to overtaking and afterward move back to the recommended side of the road (left-hand side). However, never overtake on double white lines, corners, or blind spots. Also, be alert and aware of wind turbulence as well as wheel spray that reduces visibility, especially when trying to overtake heavy vehicles in rainy weather.
Another important rule to follow when overtaking is giving enough space behind your safari vehicle while pulling back in after overtaking another vehicle (especially heavy trucks). Also, remember that heavy trucks don’t stop as fast as small cars (especially when carrying heavy loads) and therefore give enough space to avoid causing accidents.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
One thing you should always put in your mind before driving is that alcohol or drugs and driving don’t mix and when in Uganda, it is very illegal to hit the road when your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is over 0.08 and therefore, it should be less than 0.08. Must-know traffic rules in Uganda, Driving with a BAC of over 0.08 poses a high risk of accidents and endangers the lives of other road users.
Driver’s License
Make sure that you have your valid driver’s license before driving in Uganda and should be in English. However, if you possess an International driving permit, it is also important to have the original driver’s license which is valid/up-to-date, without restrictions of the motor vehicle, and translated into English (if it is in another language, not English).
Wearing seat belt
There’s no brainer that everyone in the Car should wear a seat belt when in motion and this is one of the important traffic rules in Uganda often ignored or broken. This applies to all passengers above 7 years old but for those below, you can opt for the booster seat. If you are traveling with children between 6 months and 4 years, the rear-facing or forward-facing car seats used, and make sure that they have an inbuilt harness.
Minimum driving age
The minimum driving age in Uganda is 18 years, but if you have plans of hiring a car, most companies will require you to be at least 23 years old and have possessed your valid driving license for at least 2 years.
Driving around roundabouts
The recommended way of driving around roundabouts in Uganda is going clockwise and any car that is already on the roundabout has the right of way over any other vehicles entering the roundabout, and this traffic rule applies to all vehicles (even to the VIP) because it avoids any possible accidents.