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Currency in Uganda UGX - Things to know

Foreign exchange guide to Uganda and the Ugandan shilling

Uganda

What currency is used in Uganda?

The official currency of Uganda (country code: UG) is the Ugandan shilling, with symbol USh and currency code UGX.

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Things to know about the Ugandan shilling

Here are some things you might want to know about the Ugandan shilling:

  1. The Ugandan shilling is the official currency of Uganda. It is represented by the symbol "Sh" and is abbreviated as UGX.
  2. The shilling was introduced in 1966, replacing the East African shilling. It is divided into 100 cents.
  3. The physical currency consists of coins and banknotes. The coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 cents, and 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 shillings. The banknotes come in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 shillings.
  4. The banknotes feature images of famous Ugandan historical figures, such as Mutesa II and Idi Amin. The design of the currency is constantly being updated, so the physical appearance of the coins and banknotes may vary slightly over time.
  5. The value of the shilling has fluctuated over time, due to factors such as inflation and economic instability in the country. In recent years, the value of the shilling has been relatively stable, although it has depreciated against the US dollar due to the country

Travel money for Uganda

Save money and time by Ordering your Ugandan shilling online from Travelex, you get better rates and can pick up the UGX cash locally or even on travel day at the airport.

Another popular option is to use a Pre-paid Travel Card. Your Debit/Credit Card provider will charge you 2% from market mid-rate, but your bank may also charge an extra 3% as an “Overseas Transaction Charge” plus “Overseas ATM” fees for withdrawing cash.

For card purchases if offered a choice of currencies always select to Pay in Ugandan shilling otherwise you may get much worst exchange rates.

 
 

Travel Ideas and Money Tips for Uganda

With a tapestry of landscapes, excellent wildlife watching and welcoming locals, Uganda packs a lot into one small country. It's home to Africa's tallest mountain range (the Rwenzoris), the source of the Nile, the world's longest river and the continent's largest lake. Rafting the Nile offers a world-class adrenaline adventure, but the country's most iconic experience is tracking mountain gorillas in their misty habitat. And if you view the Big Five, you'll see that nature looms large here.

Emerging from the shadows of Uganda's dark history, tourism is returning the sheen to the 'pearl of Africa'. While anti-gay sentiments mar an otherwise positive picture, Uganda remains one of the safest destinations in Africa – save for the odd hippo at your campsite. Don't rush. Here you'll find the best the continent has to offer at a good value and with fewer visitors than in longer-established East African destinations.

What currency to use in Uganda?

Uganda, for the most part, is a cash-based society and although the Uganda Shilling is the official Currency – the Currency of choice, Commerce and Tourism is the US Dollar. Here and there you can use your credit card, (Visa cards are most readily accepted, Master Card, is next, but not Discover Cards and American Express, except in a few spots) and usually it means 5 to 6 or more% surcharge for the privilege of using your card (due to fees that are incurred by merchants in Uganda by Banks).

That means one needs cash while in the country. Many hotels, safari companies, airlines, Uganda Wildlife Authorities for Gorilla Permits and Park Fees will ask for US dollars. Ugandan Shillings will be accepted in many cases instead, not always at the market exchange rate. Traveler Cheques are often harder to cash and are cumbersome requiring extra fees in banks. Most Forex Bureaus will not take traveler cheques from you.

It is suggested to avoid using credit cards in Uganda due to the possibility of someone stealing your card information. Cases of such have happened even in high-end hotels according to the UK government website. Cases of employees stealing your credit card information has happened here and other African Countries.

Getting around in Uganda.

Standard buses and sometimes half-sized 'coasters' connect major towns on a daily basis. The longer your journey is, the more likely it will be on a bus rather than a minibus. Bus fares are usually a little less than minibus fares and buses stop far less frequently, which saves time. Buses generally leave Kampala at fixed departure times; however, when returning from provincial destinations, they usually leave when full. There are many reckless drivers, but buses are safer than minibuses. Night travel is best avoided.

The safest option is the post buses run by the Ugandan Postal Service (UPS). Post buses run daily (except Sunday) from Kampala to Kasese (via Mbarara), Kabale (via Masaka and Mbarara), Soroti (via Mbale) and Hoima (via Masindi).

Boat travel in Uganda is limited to reaching the Ssese Islands, either by ferry from Nakiwogo (in Entebbe), Bukakata (east of Masaka) or small fishing boats operating from Kasenyi (also near Entebbe).

Uganda is the land of shared minibuses (called taxis, or occasionally matatus), and there's never any shortage of these blue-and-white minivans. Except for long distances, these are the most common vehicles between towns.

There are no train services available currently in Uganda, though a restoration of original lines which would connect Uganda to the Kenyan coast is in the works.

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Travel tips for Uganda.

You will need a multiple-entry visa if you plan to take side trips into neighboring countries and re-enter Uganda. These cost 100 USD and can only be purchased prior to entry by following the instructions available on the Ugandan embassy’s website. Plan ahead, and research specific rules for entering Uganda’s neighbors. An East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.

Casual, modest apparel is best in Uganda. If you wear skirts, they should be knee-length or longer. Jeans/trousers and t-shirts are most commonly worn. Button down shirts and tank tops are fine as well. It can get cool in the evenings so a light scarf/jacket or a light sweater is recommended.

You do need shots to go to Uganda as without a Yellow Fever vaccination certification you can not obtain a visa. On top of that it is also advised you get vaccinations for DTP, Hepatitis A and malaria. Some organizations may advice you to take Typhoid, Cholera, Hepatitis B and Rabies as well.

 
   

USD/UGX Market Data

The below interactive chart displays the USD/UGX change and UP📈 DOWN📉 trends over the past 1 Year.

 
1 USD =
3883.2We compare provider deals to this wholesale mid-market rate. Read more
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Frequently Asked Questions

What currency should I use in Uganda?

The domestic currency in Uganda is the Ugandan shilling.

What is the Ugandan shilling currency code and symbol?

The three letter currency code for the Ugandan shilling is UGX — symbol is USh.

Which countries use the Ugandan shilling?

It is the domestic currency in    Uganda.

Is the Ugandan shilling a closed currency?

No, the Ugandan shilling is freely available and convertible. See guide: What is a closed currency?

What are equivalent amounts of USD and UGX?

Here are some popular conversion amounts for USD to UGX (US dollar to Ugandan shilling)*.

USD UGX
$ 1 USh 3,883
$ 5 USh 19,416
$ 10 USh 38,832
$ 20 USh 77,664
$ 50 USh 194,160
$ 100 USh 388,320
$ 250 USh 970,800
$ 500 USh 1,941,600
$ 1,000 USh 3,883,200
$ 2,000 USh 7,766,400
$ 5,000 USh 19,416,000
$ 10,000 USh 38,832,000
$ 20,000 USh 77,664,000
$ 50,000 USh 194,160,000
$ 100,000 USh 388,320,000
USD UGX
$ 0.0003 USh 1
$ 0.0013 USh 5
$ 0.0026 USh 10
$ 0.0052 USh 20
$ 0.0129 USh 50
$ 0.0258 USh 100
$ 0.0645 USh 250
$ 0.1290 USh 500
$ 0.2580 USh 1,000
$ 0.5160 USh 2,000
$ 1.2900 USh 5,000
$ 2.5800 USh 10,000
$ 5.1600 USh 20,000
$ 12.90 USh 50,000
$ 25.80 USh 100,000

More amounts

*Converted at the current USDUGX interbank exchange rate. Calculate actual payout amounts for Send Money and Travel Money exchange rates.

Send Money to Uganda - Best Rates

To get a good (and fair) exchange rate when sending money to Uganda you need to find and compare exchange rates for International Money Transfers (IMTs).

The available FX rates for sending money abroad can be very different to the mid-market (wholesale) rate which you see reported online and in the News.

You should especially compare your own bank's exchange rates to those available from Money Transfer specialists to see how much you can save - we make that calculation easy in the below table.


Get a better deal for foreign transfers to Uganda

When sending money to Uganda it’s important to compare your bank’s rates & fees with those we have negotiated with our partner money transfer providers. To get a better deal you should follow these 4 simple steps :

  1. Open an account with a BER reviewed FX provider (id docs may be required)
  2. You specify the local or Ugandan shilling amount you want to transfer
  3. Make a local currency domestic transfer for the requested amount to the provider's bank account in your country
  4. Once your funds are received by the provider the converted UGX amount will be transfered to the recipient account you specify in Uganda.

Use the above calculator to compare the exchange rates of FX specialist providers rates versus your bank's standard rates you can hopefully save around 5% and maybe more - end result is more Ugandan shilling deposited into the recipient bank account and less margins and fees kept by the banks!

 

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