What you can and can’t pack in your hand luggage to Uganda – What NOT to pack for Uganda trips

Whether you’re on a student trip to Uganda, a medical elective placement, a volunteer trip, a family safari and need to know how to pack light (fast!) we have checklist with top tips on what NOT to pack and what to leave for your Uganda tour

Please be mindful of the specific regulations in Uganda regarding the items you can bring in your checked luggage. It’s advisable to review the restrictions before you pack your suitcases.

1. Camouflage of any color — be it green, blue, black, or any other commonly-used shades — is strictly prohibited for both locals and visitors in Uganda, and this restriction applies not just to clothing but extends to all accessories, including belts, shoes, hats, and even socks.
2. In Uganda, drones are not allowed unless permission has been obtained beforehand. This restriction applies to both visitors and locals.

For the safety and security of all travelers and aircraft, passengers are not allowed to bring the following items in their checked or carry-on bags to Uganda:

1. Explosives, ammunition, fireworks, and flares
2. Security cases/boxes with items like lithium batteries or pyrotechnics
3. Compressed gases (flammable, non-flammable, or poisonous) including butane, propane, aqualung cylinders, lighter fuels, and refills
4. Oxidizing substances like bleaching powder and peroxides
5. Flammable liquids such as paints and adhesives
6. Disabling devices like mace or pepper sprays with irritant properties
7. Poisons like arsenic, cyanides, or insecticides
8. Radioactive materials
9. Corrosive materials like mercury (found in thermometers or blood pressure gauges), acids, alkalis, and wet cell batteries
10. Any other substances that pose a danger during a flight but are not listed above, such as magnetized, offensive, or irritating materials

Lighters, including butane, absorbed fuel, electric, battery-powered, and novelty lighters, are strictly prohibited in personal belongings, carry-on bags, and checked luggage. This regulation from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) applies to all travelers flying to or from the United States of America, Europe, or elsewhere.

Departure information:

As departing passengers from Uganda, it’s important to note that customs officers may conduct additional security checks on outgoing baggage. Travellers must be ready to present their baggage for inspection by the customs officers. The airport departure tax is already included in your airline ticket.

Items you need to decalre before departure:

-Items purchased for business promotional or commercial purposes are subject to taxation upon return.
– All electronics acquired during the trip such as mobile phones, tablets, gaming devices, laptops, computers, stereos, televisions, projectors, video recorders, microwaves, and cookers.
– Any items bought for another person.
– Goods obtained from duty-free shops that exceed the allowable limits.
– Currency exceeding the designated allowance must be declared to customs prior to departure.

Hunting and Game Trophies:

The hunting and trafficking of game trophies are prohibited in Uganda. Live animals, birds, and reptiles cannot be exported, unless by a licensed professional dealer with special authorization from the Director of Uganda Wildlife Services.

Uganda enforces specific lists of goods that are prohibited or restricted, such as:
– Counterfeit or fake currency
– Cosmetic products containing mercury
– Matches using white phosphorous
– Controlled narcotics
– Pornographic materials
– Used tires for commercial vehicles
– Various hazardous materials and chemicals

Additionally, there are goods that are not prohibited but restricted, meaning they require special circumstances for importation. Permits may be necessary for importing restricted goods, which include:
– Unworked ivory in any form
– Worked or shaped ivory in any form
– Genetically modified goods
– Historical artifacts
– Firearm parts or ammunition
– Bows, arrows, and fencing foils

Please be aware that this list is not exhaustive. For uncertainties about the eligibility of your goods for importation into Uganda, refer to the complete list of prohibited and restricted items.

NOT allowed:

There are many items that are NOT allowed in your carry-on luggage, generally including weapons or work tools.

Prohibited items include the following:

• Oxidisers and organic peroxides, including bleach and car body repair kits
• Acids and alkalis (for example spill able ‘wet’ batteries)
• Corrosives or bleaching agents (including mercury and chlorine)
• Vehicle batteries and fuel systems
• Self-defence or disabling sprays (for example mace, pepper spray)
• Radioactive materials (including medicinal or commercial isotopes)
• Poisons or toxic substances (for example rat poison)
• Biological hazards (for example infected blood, bacteria, viruses)
• Materials that could spontaneously combust (burst into flames)
• Fire extinguishers

You also cannot take guns or firearms in hand luggage, although you may be able to take them in your hold luggage – once again check with your airline about this.

This includes the following:

• Blasting caps
• Detonators and fuses
• Imitation explosive devices (including replica or model guns)
• Mines, grenades, and other explosive military stores
• Fireworks and pyrotechnics
• Smoke canisters
• Smoke cartridges
• Dynamite
• Gunpowder
• Plastic explosives (including black powder and percussion caps)
• Flares
• Hand grenades
• Gun cigarette lighters

Fireworks, flares, and knives or scissors with blades longer than 6cm are also not permitted in the cabin.

Sharp Objects or Blades

Another category to talk about in regard to what is allowed in cabin baggage and what isn’t is sharp objects. 

Almost any sharp object you can imagine will not be allowed on board a plane in your hand luggage. This includes obvious items like knives, saws, swords, and machetes, but also small items with blades like pairs of scissors that are 4″ or longer in size. 

Agricultural Items

This is one that sometimes catches people out. You may not be aware that the TSA has rules in place to restrict travel with certain food items, including fruits, vegetables, meats, and more.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t travel with any food in your hand luggage, but there are strict rules to adhere to. For example, fruits and veggies need to be in solid form (not in liquids or gels) for domestic flights around the continental US.

Sporting Goods

Last but not least, we have sporting and outdoor equipment. This is quite a broad category, and it’s important to note that there are some sporting and outdoor items you can bring onto a plane, but there are also many items that are forbidden.

These include Baseball bats, ski poles, hockey sticks, golf clubs, and hiking poles. Bowling pins are also banned, as well as rollerblades, javelins, windsurfing boards, canoes, paddles, and darts.

Other Weapons

Along with the likes of knives and guns, it’s also forbidden to take other weapons on board as part of your hand luggage. This includes things like batons, nightsticks, clubs, and brass knuckles, as well as self-defence weapons like pepper spray and mace.

Helpful tip:

Expensive Jewelry

It is advisable to keep your valuable items safe by leaving them at home when traveling to Uganda. While there might be exceptions like your wedding ring, it’s best to avoid taking expensive jewelry with you on your trip

Too Many Gadgets 

In today’s world of technology, many of us own multiple devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and perhaps even e-readers. However, it’s worth considering if all these gadgets are necessary to bring along on a trip to Uganda. Carrying them all may only burden you with extra weight and occupy valuable space in your bag.

Don’t Bury Your Liquids and Gels Deep in Your Bag

Save time in the security line by making sure your plastic bag of liquids and gels is right at the top of your carry-on or in an easily accessible pocket—that way you’re not digging around for it while the passengers behind you tap their toes in irritation. The same goes for a laptop computer, you’ll have to take this out at the security checkpoint for screening.

Don’t Assume Your Carry-on Won’t Be Gate-Checked

Even if your bag is perfectly within your airline’s weight and size limits, you might still have to check it at the gate if the plane is very full or it’s a smaller aircraft than expected. Just in case this happens to you, make sure everything truly vital—travel documents, pricey gadgets, medicine—is stowed in the personal item you keep with you, not in the carry-on you gate-check.

More Than two Pair of Jeans

Following the previous point…  Jeans take up a lot of space, are heavy, and they take forever to dry.

Things You Can Buy in Uganda

Even when you go to extremely remote places on our community and cultural tours, it’s pretty sure you’re going to find shaving soap, reusable water bottles, extra toiletries, and pretty much everything or a reasonable facsimile. 

The wrong adapter

Uganda’s associated plug type is G, which is the plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Uganda operates on a 240V supply voltage and 50Hz.

A final thought… Pack Uganda-destination specific, but don’t pack anything you’re not sure you’ll use. Also, this list is not absolute as we all have our packing priorities. We hope this What NOT to pack list was helpful. 

Have a look at other: Uganda Packing tips

When in Uganda: Safari day packing tips

 

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