Time: GMT + 3
Official Name: Republic of Uganda
Capital: Kampala
Area: 236,580 sq km, 93,065 sa mi
Population: approximately 31,367,972 (2008 estimation)
Population growth rate 3.60 percent (2008 estimation)
Airport and Airlines
Most tourists reach Uganda by air. The country’s international airport is located in Entebbe (the country’s former capital city) only 30 minutes away from Kampala, the capital city. Hotel courtesy transport is always available though there are taxis at about US$20 from Entebbe airport to Kampala City Centre. There are currently many airlines for international, regional and domestic flights at Entebbe International Airport. Most flights into and out of Entebbe stop-over in Nairobi with check-in time being two hours before flight time. These include Africa One, British Airways, Kenya Airways-KLM, Emirates (EK), South African Airways, SN Brussels, and Ethiopian Airlines among others.
Banking
There are several local and internationally owned banks. Most banks are open from 8:30am to 4:00pm; however they offer ATM services while a few also have Visa Card services. All banks handle foreign currency during their business hours. There are many Forex bureaus that exclusively deal in buying and selling of foreign currencies. The common convertible currencies are the Kenya and Tanzania shilling, the US dollar and the Pound Sterling, the German Mark and the Euro. All other international currencies can be converted at the Bank of Uganda during normal working hours.
Climate
Most of the country is at a fairly constant altitude, with most mountains only in the east (Mt. Elgon), west (the Rwenzori Mts.). The bulk of the country is tropical, with temperatures averaging about 26C during the days and 16C at night. The hottest months are December to February with temperatures up to 30C.The highlands can be considered cooler at night. The rainy seasons are generally from April to May and October to November.