2026 Presidential elections and its impact on tourism

2026 Presidential elections and its impact on tourism. The Uganda elections are always a big deal for both the locals and tourists planning safaris to Uganda and we can say that tourists should stay confident visiting Uganda during the 2026 elections. The reason why one should feel confident is because it is a safe country and it is still a prime destination even during the elections. Although the big cities are busy with the election process, the remote areas where the national parks are located usually continue operating normally and this is to ensure that the tourists can continue enjoying their safaris with little or no disruptions.

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The possible impacts of the 2026 presidential elections on the tourism sector

Below are some of the possible impacts of the 2026 presidential elections on the tourism sector.

Heavy traffic and delays:

During the election period, movement within, in and out of the capital city of Uganda, Kampala, is slow because of the security checks and other election-related activities, and this increases the traffic along the roads. The security checks are to ensure that everyone is safe and there are no security threats to the locals and the tourists. The delays might affect your itinerary but you need to be flexible and adjust with time.

Effects on the Uganda shilling:

The Uganda shilling is most likely to depreciate as more money is put into circulation during the presidential elections. With the depreciation of the shilling across the country and the appreciation of the dollar against the shilling in all sectors, the tourism sector is affected negatively, with Uganda being seen as an expensive safari destination as compared to the neighbouring countries. With the increased imports into the country and reduced exports, the dollar circulation in the economy is minimal and this will lead to the crippling of the Uganda tourism sector.

The increased presence of security agents:

Normally, towards the presidential elections, there are always heavy deployments of security agents, including police and army officials, mainly in the major cities and along highways. These are deployed to ensure that there are no uproars from the locals, and it positively impacts the tourism sector as the tourists are ensured of safety throughout the safari.

Political rallies and protests:

These are not a guarantee, but they can happen at any time and can cause disruptions and road closures temporarily, mostly in urban areas. This can disrupt your day and cause delays with the itinerary but with the help of the security personnel, you will be helped to get to your destination with little or no incidence.

Internet restrictions:

In the previous elections of 2021, the government of Uganda turned off the internet, and there was no access for anyone to all the social media handles. If this is done with the upcoming elections of 2026, this will greatly affect communication between the tour operators and the tourists. You need to adhere to the situation or have international network connections to ease your communication.

Some of the main reasons why tourists should still feel confident about visiting Uganda during the elections include the following:

The importance of the tourism sector to the economy in Uganda:

The tourism sector in Uganda is significant in Uganda and it plays important roles like contributing to foreign exchange earnings, provision of jobs and wealth creation. It is one of the most organized sections in Uganda and has been recognized as a fast-growing area by the government mainly focusing on infrastructure development, aggressive marketing and diversification. Some of the reasons why tourism is important to the Ugandan community include:

• The tourism sector highly contributes to Uganda’s GDP, improving economic growth.
• It directly and indirectly creates jobs for a good percentage of the Ugandan population.
• It creates opportunities for generating income which has reduced poverty.
• Tourism generates foreign exchange which is very important for the economic growth of Uganda.
• Tourism has led to infrastructure development like roads, hospitals, schools and hotels among others.

Safari destinations are safe and not affected:

Most of the national parks that are found in Uganda are found in remote areas far from the political activities and it takes hours to get there. The national parks that are found in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, among others. Note that the Conservation areas and lodges operating in Uganda as well are not part of the election events.

Stability of the country through tourism:

The government of Uganda prioritizes tourism as its main revenue source and it has increased security for the tourists and entire country to ensure that they are protected throughout. The security during a safari is high, with 24/7 security around the national parks; armed rangers patrol the parks on a daily to ensure that the tourists and the national parks and surrounding areas are a safe haven. Tour operators also keep on monitoring the situation and adjust their itineraries before tourists come into the country to avoid any political gatherings.

The Entebbe International Airport is open:

Uganda has one main airport, which is Entebbe International Airport, and it remains open throughout elections with little or no impact from elections. The flight schedules from other countries and land border crossings with the neighbouring countries, including Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania, are always operational throughout the election season.

The tourism sector has experience with previous elections:

Uganda has had previous elections, with the recent one being in 2021, and it has had minimal impact on the tourism sector. Previously, safaris to the different parts of Uganda have been moving on smoothly even during the election period and the same is expected to happen in the coming general elections of 2026.

Tips for tourists to have a good safari experience in Uganda during the 2026 general elections

The tourism sector is important as earlier discussed and cannot be closed due to elections but even though you are guaranteed a safe and wonderful safari experience, there are a few things that you need to put into consideration when you come to Uganda for a safari during the election period and these include:

Always stay informed: keep up with the local updates by reading from the embassy websites and asking as many questions as you can from the tour operators. In case of changes to the itinerary, you will be informed in time.

Avoid the capital city: If your itinerary falls in the election week, try as much as possible to avoid the capital city of Uganda, Kampala because this is where the main chaos is and just head straight to your safari destinations.

Use of domestic flights: If you can, avoid the use of road transport, although it is also safe. You can decide to use domestic flights which are much faster to use and save on several disruptions during your safari.

Be flexible: Try as much as possible to be flexible by having an allowance for buffer days before and after the election dates.

Note that Uganda is a safe and top tourist destination throughout the year and during the election periods. All you need to do is plan properly for your safari, and we at Encounter Africa Safaris are here to help with planning your safari and getting safe accommodation facilities and transport to ensure that you enjoy your safari with no concerns.

When to travel to Uganda for a safari

The best time to travel to Uganda is any time of the year, depending on the different activities you wish to carry out while on your safari, like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game drives, boat rides and bird watching, among others. However, if you wish to visit Uganda for a safari and want to avoid the election period, the best time is during the months of mid-December 2025 to mid-February 2026. Tourists should also be confident when visiting Uganda during the 2026 presidential elections.

Activities carried out on a safari in Uganda

Gorilla trekking: Gorilla tracking is the top tourist activity carried out in Uganda in two destinations which are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Just like chimpanzee trekking, you will also need to purchase a gorilla trekking permit from UWA to access the mountain gorillas (for more information about permit purchase, get in touch with us at Encounter Africa Safaris), follow all the rules and regulations and make sure that you plan in advance because of the high demand for the activity. You can also spend more time with the Mountain gorillas if you opt for Gorilla habituation which is carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Chimpanzee tracking: Chimpanzee tracking is one of the popular safari activities in Uganda, and it is carried out in different national parks, including Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, Kaniyo Pabidi Forests and Kalinzu Forest. This can be carried out throughout the year, but the best time is during the dry season, and all tourists will need to purchase a chimpanzee trekking permit from the UWA.

Golden monkey trekking: This is an activity that is only carried out in Mgahinga. These are endangered species, and you need a permit, which gives you an hour with the golden monkeys to get to know more about the primates. In cases where you want to spend more time with them, you can opt for Golden Monkey habituation, which gives you 4 hours with the primates.

Wildlife viewing: Uganda is home to numerous savanna national parks which are home to hundreds of wildlife species. A fee of the national parks where you can go for a wildlife viewing safari include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park some of the wildlife species to look out for include leopards, zebras, tree-climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, giraffes, and antelopes among others. Wildife viewing is best done in the dry months June to September and December to February when the wild animals gather around watering holes.

The cultural experiences: Uganda is a diverse country with numerous cultures, each with a unique touch from the more than 50 tribes that are found in the country. When you visit Uganda, you will be able to visit the numerous communities especially those that are found near the safari destinations as part of your itinerary. Cultural visits help you understand how the locals spend their day-to-day lives; you get to participate in the activities, purchase souvenirs from the locals as support to their livelihood and enjoy the traditional songs and dance, among others.

Bird watching: Uganda is home to more than 1000 registered bird species making it one of the best birding destinations on the African continent. It is home to many endemic Albertine bird species like the Shoebill and other birds to look out for, including the Abyssinian ground Hornbill, Rare Swamp flycatcher, grey crowned crane, shoebill stork, African Jacana, back-bellied Bustard, Secretary bird, nightjars, marabou storks and Giant Kingfisher among others. Some of the birding destinations are Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kidep, Bigodi Wetland, Mabamba Swamp and other safari destinations.

Mountain climbing and cycling: Mountain Rwenzori is a top safari destination for mountain climbing especially for tourists who are looking for adrenaline activities. There are other mountains that you can climb, including Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, Sabinyo, Moroto and Mountain Elgon. You can also plan to go for cycling safaris as part of the activities and these take you through the different villages around the country in the chosen safari destinations.

Boat safaris: Boat rides are always carried out in the different national parks, for example, along the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth Park, along the River Nile and in Murchison Falls National Parks. It is one of how you can explore the national parks and view the wildlife.

Contact us for more information at Encounter Africa Safaris about why the tourism sector will be safe during the 2026 presidential elections and its impact on the tourism sector.