Uganda in January

Dry: good trekking, green hills; Liberation Day 26 Jan.

No other month rates higher than January for Uganda in this guide.

• 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 Valleyhot

  Hotter and drier; Kidepo is best Oct–Mar when animals gather at water.

• Central Uganda: Kampala / Entebbe · Lake Victoria shore and hinterlanddry

  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 Ugandadry

  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 highlandsdry

  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, Aruabest weather

  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.

• Entebbe28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• Arua31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 4 rain days
• Busia28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 15 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 15 rain days
• Butogota27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 8 rain days
• Fort Portal28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 5 rain days
• Gulu30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 10 rain days
• Hoima28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 8 rain days
• Jinja30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 6 rain days
• Kabale22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Kampala29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• Kasese28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 6 rain days
• Kisoro27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
• Lira30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
• Masaka28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 12 rain days
• Masindi30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Mbale28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 5 rain days
• Mbarara28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 5 rain days
• Nkoringo26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Pakwach30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
• Rwaihamba27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 8 rain days
• Soroti27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 5 rain days
• Ssese Islands28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Tororo28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 12 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Public holiday.

• Liberation Day

  26 Jan

  NRM victory anniversary.

Crowds · Uganda

Medium

Prices · Uganda

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Uganda, side by side.

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

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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)

• Entebbe

  Dry and hot.

• Arua

  Best months: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb

• Busia

  Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

• Butogota

  Best months: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb

• Fort Portal

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb

• Hoima

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb (dry season)

• Jinja

  Best months: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb (drier); rafting runs all year

• Kabale

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb (dry season)

• Kampala

  Best months: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb (drier)