When to go · Uganda
Uganda in August
Great month. Peak trekking and chimp season.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- High
- Uganda
- Prices
- High
- Uganda
Verdict
Peak trekking and chimp season.
Is another month better than August?
No other month rates higher than August for Uganda in this guide.
Weather in August
- South-west highlands · Bwindi, Mgahinga, Lake Bunyonyi, Kisorobest weather
Montane forest at 1,200–2,600 m: cool nights, rain possible any day; the steep trails get slippery in the wet months.
- Western parks · Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Fort Portal, Rwenzoribest weather
Two rainy seasons; the Rwenzori are wet all year and best Dec–Feb and Jun–Aug.
- Lake Victoria basin · Entebbe, Kampala, Jinjabest weather
Warm and humid at 1,150 m; afternoon storms in the rains.
- North and north-west · Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valleyfine
Hotter and drier; Kidepo is best Oct–Mar when animals gather at water.
- Central Uganda: Kampala / Entebbe · Lake Victoria shore and hinterlandfine
Two wet seasons (roughly Mar–May and Sep–Nov); rain is often a short afternoon downpour. Temperatures stay mild year-round at this altitude.
- Eastern Uganda: Jinja and Lake Victoria shore · Western and southern Eastern Ugandafine
Warm and humid year-round, 25–30 °C (77–86 °F); rain peaks March–May and September–November.Warm and humid year-round, 77–86 °F (25–30 °C); rain peaks March–May and September–November.
- Eastern Uganda: Mbale and Mount Elgon highlands · Eastern highlandsfine
Cooler at altitude, 15–25 °C (59–77 °F); the same wet seasons, with mist and afternoon showers on the slopes.Cooler at altitude, 59–77 °F (15–25 °C); the same wet seasons, with mist and afternoon showers on the slopes.
- Northern Uganda: Northern savanna · Gulu, Kidepo, Aruafine
Driest and easiest October to March — check current conditions before Kidepo, whose access tracks are the first to suffer in rain.
- Western Uganda: Fort Portal and the crater lakes · north of the Rwenzorifine
Rain falls most months; the driest stretches are December to February and June to August.
- Western Uganda: Bwindi, Kabale and Kisoro · southwest highlandsfine
Highland air is cool year-round; nights can drop near 10 °C (50 °F). Trails are muddiest in the wet months.Highland air is cool year-round; nights can drop near 50 °F (10 °C). Trails are muddiest in the wet months.
- Entebbe26 °C (79 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 10 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 10 rain days
- Arua28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 13 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 13 rain days
- Busia24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
- Butogota26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 10 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 10 rain days
- Fort Portal25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 13 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 13 rain days
- Gulu27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 9 rain days
- Hoima24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 13 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 13 rain days
- Jinja29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
- Kabale18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 12 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 12 rain days
- Kampala27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 10 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 10 rain days
- Kasese28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 8 rain days
- Kisoro25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
- Lira31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 15 rain days
- Masaka25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 13 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 13 rain days
- Masindi27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 12 rain days
- Mbale24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 13 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 13 rain days
- Mbarara25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 12 rain days
- Nkoringo22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 20 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 20 rain days
- Pakwach28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 13 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 13 rain days
- Rwaihamba25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 10 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 10 rain days
- Soroti23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 13 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 13 rain days
- Ssese Islands25 °C (77 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 9 rain days
- Tororo24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 12 rain days
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Uganda
- High
- Prices · Uganda
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Uganda, side by side.
Verdict
Aug: Great
Jan: Great
Crowds
Aug: High
Jan: Medium
Prices
Aug: High
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Aug: 0
Jan: 2
August: Peak trekking and chimp season.
January: Dry: good trekking, green hills; Liberation Day 26 Jan.
Uganda: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in August
Rated best or good this month
South-west highlands
Best weather of the year (Bwindi, Mgahinga, Lake Bunyonyi, Kisoro)
Western parks
Best weather of the year (Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Fort Portal, Rwenzori)
Lake Victoria basin
Best weather of the year (Entebbe, Kampala, Jinja)
Dry.
Best months: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb
Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
Best months: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb
Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb
Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb (dry season)
Best months: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb (drier); rafting runs all year
Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb (dry season)
Best months: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb (drier)