UK FCO lifts Uganda travel advisory
The United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office has lifted the advisory warning British citizens against travel to any part of Uganda in East Africa.
On October 12, the FCO removed advice against all but essential travel to the Karamoja region of north-eastern Uganda;
“If you are travelling in this part of Uganda, you should be aware that inter-communal violence and occasional attacks on security forces do happen; foreigners are not usually the target of violence but you should remain vigilant and exercise caution.”
The clearance has been communicated in a travel advisory that is contained in a statement on the government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office website
However, the statement does advise UK citizens to travel with caution, and “avoid travel by road outside major towns at night, except between Kampala and the airport at Entebbe”.
In 2014, CNN nominated Kidepo Valley National Park as among their top ten choices of national parks across Africa. Kidepo, a prime piece of African wilderness, literally untouched by the outside world and nestled in the border triangle of Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan, offers spectacular views, much game and the solitude visitors can enjoy, meeting but a few other tourists while they are there.
The advisory further says ,although there have been a number of incidents of violent clashes in western Uganda in recent years, including the Kasese clashes in November last year, in which over 100 people were killed, “there has been no suggestion that tourists or foreign nationals have specifically been targeted in these incidents.”
“But if you plan to visit these areas, which are close to popular tourist destinations including Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori Mountains and Kibale National Parks, you should remain vigilant, exercise caution, avoid crowds and follow local media for updates on the current situation.”
Around 15,000 British nationals visit Uganda every year. Most visits are trouble-free.
