Uganda in May

Rain eases late; low-season permits and lodge offers.

May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• JuneGreatDry season starts; Martyrs' Day (3 Jun) jams Kampala roads.
• JulyGreatPeak trekking; book permits 4–6 months ahead.
• AugustGreatPeak trekking and chimp season.
• DecemberGreatDry again from mid-month; Christmas lodges fill.

• South-west highlands · Bwindi, Mgahinga, Lake Bunyonyi, Kisororainy

  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, Rwenzorirainy

  Two rainy seasons; the Rwenzori are wet all year and best Dec–Feb and Jun–Aug.

• Lake Victoria basin · Entebbe, Kampala, Jinjarainy

  Warm and humid at 1,150 m; afternoon storms in the rains.

• North and north-west · Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valleyrainy

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

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

  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 Ugandarainy

  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 highlandsrainy

  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, Aruarainy

  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 Rwenzorirainy

  Rain falls most months; the driest stretches are December to February and June to August.

• Western Uganda: Bwindi, Kabale and Kisoro · southwest highlandsrainy

  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) / 18 °C (64 °F), 15 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 15 rain days
• Arua29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 15 rain days
• Busia25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 8 rain days
• Butogota26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 17 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 17 rain days
• Fort Portal25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 12 rain days
• Gulu30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Hoima25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 11 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 11 rain days
• Jinja28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 15 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 15 rain days
• Kabale20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 15 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 15 rain days
• Kampala27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 15 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 15 rain days
• Kasese27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 15 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 15 rain days
• Kisoro24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 16 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 16 rain days
• Lira33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
• Masaka26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 16 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 16 rain days
• Masindi28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 15 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 15 rain days
• Mbale25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 12 rain days
• Mbarara25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 15 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 15 rain days
• Nkoringo22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 18 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 18 rain days
• Pakwach29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 15 rain days
• Rwaihamba25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 17 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 17 rain days
• Soroti24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 9 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 9 rain days
• Ssese Islands26 °C (79 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 16 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 16 rain days
• Tororo24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 16 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 16 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.

• Labour Day

  1 May

  Public holiday.

• Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha

  Lunar (moves)

  Public holidays.

• Long rains

  Mar–May · Entebbe

  Wet afternoons; some tracks and boats disrupted.

Crowds · Uganda

Low

Prices · Uganda

Low

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

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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Rated best or good this month

• Mbale

  Best months: Apr–Oct (dry season)