Can a British Driver Drive in Uganda? — IDP Advised, No Side Switch

A British licence holder can drive in Uganda, and the most useful fact up front is a comforting one: there is no side switch. Uganda drives on the left, exactly like the UK, so your instincts at roundabouts, junctions and overtaking already point the correct way. That removes the hazard that catches most visitors driving abroad.

An International Driving Permit is advised to carry alongside your UK licence and passport. Police checkpoints are routine on Ugandan roads, and an IDP gives officers a recognised translation that keeps stops short and simple. Arrange it in the UK before departure — you will not get one once you arrive in Kampala.

The challenge here is the roads, not the rulebook. Town limits sit around 50 km/h, open roads near 80, and main highways around 100 km/h — but the numbers tell you little. The real factors are condition and traffic: tarmac main routes give way to rough, potholed and sometimes unpaved roads in rural areas; towns swarm with boda-boda motorbike taxis that weave unpredictably; and you will share the carriageway with pedestrians, cyclists and livestock. Lighting outside the cities is minimal, so avoid driving after dark wherever you can — unlit vehicles and animals on the road are a genuine night-time danger.

Fuel costs roughly $1.25 a litre, and the general emergency number is 112. Keep your passport, UK licence and IDP accessible for checkpoints, and download offline maps before heading into national-park or rural areas where signal drops out.

For the full set of rules read the Uganda driving guide, and confirm exactly what documents you need with the Driving Permit Checker. With the left-hand switch off the table, a British driver’s main job in Uganda is simply to slow down for the conditions.