Climate and Weather of Uganda
Earning the title of 'The Pearl of Africa', Uganda is home to magnificently rich landscapes, green pastures, and expansive range of wildlife. From the lush national parks overlooking the Nile River to the snowy peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains—Uganda truly has it all.Situated along the Equator, Uganda is an equatorial country with consistent temperatures throughout the year, although Uganda’s climate can be subdivided into four—tropical rain forest, tropical monsoon, tropical savannah, and the hot, arid steppe. Being a tropical country, Uganda has only two seasons, namely the dry season and the rainy season. The rainy season usually runs from March to May and from October to December. In southern Uganda, temperatures on average are lower, resulting in more frequent rains than northern Uganda.
Uganda is sunny most of the year with temperatures rarely rising above 29°C. The average annual temperature is about 26°C.
In terms of precipitation, April is Uganda’s wettest month while February is the driest. Rainfall in April ranges from 92 mm in Mbarara to heavy in Entebbe with 266 mm. Meanwhile, rainfall in February ranges from 35 mm in Gulu to 83 mm in Entebbe. The rainy season occurs twice a year from March till May and from October till November. Light rain season falls in November and December. Dry seasons are from December to February and June to August.
What attractions should I visit in Uganda?
Certainly, the most popular tourist destinations in Uganda are the national parks that also serve as gorilla sanctuaries. As the mountain gorilla is endangered, it is only found in the African countries of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. In the Ugandan setting, gorillas can be seen in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi National Park, housing an average of 400 gorillas.
Is it hot in Uganda?
Although Uganda is an equatorial country, it enjoys average temperatures throughout the year in contrast to its neighboring countries. This is in part due to Uganda's steep elevation, as well as the breeze emanating from lakes surrounding the country.
As a matter of fact, Uganda's geographical position in the globe can be visited in a tourist destination of the same name, the Uganda Equator. Dubbed one of the best safari destinations in the country, the Uganda Equator is where travelers can go stand with one leg in the northern hemisphere with the other leg standing in the south hemisphere.
When is the best time to visit Uganda?
The best time to visit Uganda would be December to late February and from June to September as these are the sunniest months of the year. Travelling during the wet season would not be as worthwhile as transportation can get stuck in muddy roads.
Are you interested in more detailed information for various cities in Uganda?
Please select the city you plan to visit, or one closest to your destination. For each selected city, you will see the following graphs:
1. Yearly average minimum and maximum temperatures
2. Monthly averages of precipitation throughout the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Monthly average hours of sunshine throughout the year
Additionally, some pages provide historical weather data such as humidity, wind speed, and water temperature.