Uganda Currency Guide

Uganda Currency Guide

Uganda runs on the shilling — but not the way a currency converter app suggests. Park entry and gorilla permits are priced in US dollars, the Paraa ferry wants Ugandan shillings in cash, and a craft seller at Boomu village will not break your $100 note. Get the currency picture wrong and you lose time at gates, overpay at airport bureaus, or arrive at Murchison with nothing small enough for tips.

This guide explains the Ugandan shilling (UGX) itself: who issues it, which notes and coins circulate, how the exchange rate is set, and where dollars still matter on a Murchison Falls safari. For ATM locations, card acceptance and mobile money, see our Uganda money and ATMs guide.

What Is the Ugandan Shilling?

The Ugandan shilling (ISO code UGX, numeric 800) is Uganda’s sole legal tender, issued and regulated by the Bank of Uganda in Kampala. The shilling is not pegged to the US dollar; its value is determined in the interbank foreign exchange market, with the Bank of Uganda publishing indicative buying and selling rates three times each business day — at 9:30, 12:30 and 15:30 — compiled from commercial bank quotes.

Uganda has used seven distinct currency series since independence in 1962. The current banknote designs date from May 2010, featuring wildlife, cultural symbols and landmarks rather than political portraits. Notes carry watermark strips, security threads and tactile marks for the visually impaired. The Bank of Uganda is gradually replacing low-denomination paper with coins to cut printing costs, but 1,000-shilling notes remain widely circulated alongside their coin equivalents.

Banknotes and Coins in Circulation

Six banknote denominations are in everyday use. Each carries distinct colour coding that market traders rely on when making change:

50,000 UGX (yellow) — the largest note, worth roughly US$13–14 at mid-2026 rates. 20,000 UGX (red). 10,000 UGX (purple). 5,000 UGX (green). 2,000 UGX (blue). 1,000 UGX (brown) — often worn from heavy use; the 50,000 note depicts Bwindi forest and mountain gorillas, while the 2,000 note shows the Nile and Parliament building in Kampala.

Coins circulate in 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 shilling denominations. They matter for boda-boda fares, market produce and small tips, though most safari spending involves notes. Very old 1, 2, 5 and 10 shilling coins from earlier series occasionally surface but have no practical value.

When packing for a park trip, request a mix of 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 notes at the bureau. Vendors struggle to change 50,000-shilling notes for a single purchase, and guides appreciate receiving tips in smaller denominations rather than one large note that must be broken elsewhere.

Exchange Rates in 2026

The shilling trades freely against major currencies. In early July 2026, interbank quotes placed the dollar near 3,660–3,670 UGX for buying and selling, with the Bank of Uganda’s official closing rate on 27 March 2026 at 3,725.09 / 3,735.09 — commercial banks and licensed forex bureaus add a spread on either side.

Licensed forex bureaus — regulated by the Bank of Uganda alongside commercial banks — typically offer sharper rates for cash than hotel desks or airport counters. The most traded currencies in Uganda are the US dollar, euro, British pound, Kenyan shilling (KES) and Tanzanian shilling (TZS). Pound and euro closing rates on the same March session were approximately 4,958 / 4,973 UGX and 4,294 / 4,307 UGX respectively.

Rates move daily on business days only; no official fix is published on weekends or public holidays. For a quick mental conversion on safari, divide shilling amounts by 3,700 — UGX 37,000 equals roughly US$10, UGX 185,000 equals roughly US$50.

US Dollars and Ugandan Shillings on Safari

Uganda’s tourism economy operates in two currencies. Uganda Wildlife Authority conservation tariffs for foreign non-residents — including US$45 per 24 hours at Murchison Falls National Park — are set in dollars. Gorilla permits, lodge deposits and most packaged safari quotes are also dollar-denominated. UWA gates accept Visa, Mastercard, mobile money, USD cash and UGX cash, though card terminals at remote gates can fail when signal drops.

Everything else runs on shillings. That includes the Paraa ferry — charged per vehicle weight and per passenger in UGX, not dollars — craft purchases at community stops, fruit sellers, boda-boda rides, and tips for guides and lodge staff. See our Paraa ferry fees guide for the current shilling tariff table; a light vehicle crossing one way costs UGX 20,000 plus UGX 5,000 per passenger.

Bring clean US dollar notes — ideally printed from 2013 onwards, in $50 or $100 denominations — for pre-paid items and park fees. Exchange or withdraw shillings in Kampala, Entebbe or Masindi before entering the park; there are no forex bureaus at Paraa. Our budget safari guide lists every UWA fee in dollars so you can calculate the shilling float you need for incidentals separately.

Where Shillings Go on a Murchison Itinerary

A typical three- to four-day Murchison Falls road safari from Entebbe passes through Masindi — the last town with reliable banking — before Kichumbanyobo Gate, roughly 16 kilometres east of town and 305 kilometres from Entebbe. Budget for shillings across several line items:

Ferry crossings. If your lodge sits south of the Nile and game drives run on Buligi north of it, each scheduled crossing adds vehicle and passenger fees in shillings. Multi-day itineraries with daily crossings can accumulate UGX 50,000–100,000 in ferry costs alone.

Tips and gratuities. Guides, lodge porters and boat crew appreciate shillings in the 5,000–20,000 UGX range per interaction. A thoughtful tip for a full-day guide might run UGX 20,000–50,000 (roughly US$5–14).

Community and craft stops. Village walks at Boomu Women’s Group or Mubako typically cost US$20–40 per person when booked through an operator, but craft stalls and demonstrations on site expect cash in shillings — often UGX 10,000–30,000 per item.

Food and drinks outside lodges. Roadside rolex wraps, bottled water at Masindi markets and petrol-station snacks are shilling-only. Many guests manage a three-day trip on US$150–250 equivalent in shillings for all incidentals beyond pre-paid lodge meals.

East African Context and Cross-Border Travel

Uganda is part of the East African Community but does not share a currency with Kenya or Tanzania. The Kenyan shilling and Tanzanian shilling are separate units — do not assume they convert one-for-one with UGX. If your itinerary continues to Queen Elizabeth via the Ishasha sector or crosses into Rwanda for gorilla trekking, exchange or spend your Ugandan shillings before leaving the country; neighbouring bureaus may accept UGX but at poor rates.

Kenyan shillings occasionally appear at border towns and in transit hubs, but park fees, permits and licensed operators price exclusively in USD or UGX. For multi-country circuits, carry dollars as the portable reserve and convert to local currency in each country rather than hauling three shilling types.

Practical Rules for Handling Cash

Count change at the bureau before leaving the counter. Inspect notes for tears, heavy staining or missing corners — damaged shillings are sometimes refused by the next vendor. Keep large notes separate from daily spending money, and store backup dollars in lodge safes rather than day packs.

Decline dynamic currency conversion when an ATM or card terminal offers to charge your home currency — the shilling rate is almost always worse. Notify your home bank before travel so Ugandan withdrawals are not blocked. If you self-drive, withdraw in Masindi on Tongue Street where Stanbic, Equity, Centenary and Absa all maintain branches — the remaining 85 kilometres to Paraa have no banking infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the currency of Uganda?

The Ugandan shilling (UGX), issued by the Bank of Uganda. Six banknote denominations from 1,000 to 50,000 shillings circulate alongside coins from 50 to 1,000 shillings. Safari park fees for foreign visitors are quoted in US dollars, but everyday spending uses shillings.

How much is US$1 in Ugandan shillings?

In mid-2026, one US dollar trades near 3,650–3,740 UGX depending on whether you are buying or selling and which bureau you use. The Bank of Uganda publishes indicative rates three times each weekday; forex bureaus in Kampala and Entebbe typically offer competitive spreads on clean $50 and $100 notes.

Can I use US dollars everywhere in Uganda?

No. UWA gates, upscale lodges and tour operators accept dollars for fees and deposits, but markets, ferries, tips, boda-bodas and craft sellers expect shillings. Carry both — dollars for pre-paid safari costs, shillings for everything on the ground.

Do I need Ugandan shillings before reaching Murchison Falls?

Yes. Exchange or withdraw in Kampala, Entebbe or Masindi before Kichumbanyobo Gate. The Paraa ferry, community craft stops and most tipping situations require shillings in cash, and there is no forex bureau inside the park.

Are Kenyan or Tanzanian shillings accepted in Uganda?

Not reliably. Uganda uses its own shilling. Border traders may take KES or TZS at unfavourable rates, but national parks, permits and licensed operators price in USD or UGX only. Exchange cross-border currency at a licensed bureau in Kampala or at the border.

Plan Your Safari

Understanding the shilling is the easy part — timing your exchanges is what saves safari mornings. Sort dollars for park fees before you fly, convert to shillings in Kampala or Masindi, and carry small notes for tips and ferry crossings. Browse our Murchison Falls safaris, 3-day Murchison itinerary and Uganda travel tips — tell us your route and we will confirm which costs are dollar-quoted and how much shilling float to carry before you reach the gate.