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Kampala eSIM

71 Uganda plans · from $10.71

Kampala is a hill city that runs on boda-boda motorcycle taxis, and it is the staging point for gorilla trekking in Bwindi and the Nile at Jinja. A travel eSIM covers the capital and the main routes — with two caveats worth reading, on mobile money and on which platforms are actually reachable here.

Landing at Entebbe International (EBB)

Entebbe is 40km from Kampala on the lake, and the drive routinely takes 60–90 minutes in traffic. Many safari itineraries start from Entebbe directly rather than going into the city at all.

eSIM plans that cover Kampala

Kampala is covered by every Uganda plan below — there is no separate city-only eSIM to buy.

Choose a data plan

1 GB

Africa only

7 days· 0.1 GB per $1

$10.71

★ BEST VALUE

Unlimited

1 days· ∞ GB per $1

$11.08

2 GB

Africa only

15 days· 0.1 GB per $1

$20.21

3 GB

Africa only

30 days· 0.1 GB per $1

$28.08

Unlimited

3 days· ∞ GB per $1

$30.82

5 GB

Africa only

30 days· 0.1 GB per $1

$45.99

Unlimited

5 days· ∞ GB per $1

$50.54

Unlimited

7 days· ∞ GB per $1

$70.25

10 GB

Africa only

30 days· 0.1 GB per $1

$83.95

20 GB

Global - Standard only

60 days· 0.3 GB per $1

$85.87

Unlimited

10 days· ∞ GB per $1

$99.85

Unlimited

15 days· ∞ GB per $1

$149.14

20 GB

Africa only

30 days· 0.2 GB per $1

$150.37

50 GB

Global - Standard only

90 days· 0.3 GB per $1

$202.35

Which networks you'll be on in Kampala

Siima eSIMs for Uganda ride MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda. Coverage is strong in Kampala, Entebbe and the main towns, and follows the highways to the national parks.

Coverage around Kampala

Kampala and Entebbe

Good 4G across the city's hills, the Kasubi Tombs, Nakasero market and the Entebbe lakeshore. SafeBoda and similar apps work throughout.

Platform access

Uganda has restricted access to some social platforms at times — Facebook in particular has been blocked for extended periods. This is a national network policy, not a plan limitation, and it applies to any SIM or eSIM. Check the current position before relying on a specific app.

Jinja and the Nile

The source of the Nile, the rafting put-ins and the road east are well covered.

Bwindi and Murchison Falls

Lodges and park headquarters generally have signal or their own Wi-Fi. Gorilla trekking inside Bwindi's forest has none — expect a full day offline, which is rather the point.

How much data you need

Ten days in Uganda is 3–4 GB. The trekking and safari days use almost nothing; the Kampala days use most of it.

Work it out with our data usage calculator →

Frequently asked questions

Can I use mobile money in Uganda with a travel eSIM?
No. MTN and Airtel mobile money are tied to a Ugandan number, which a data-only eSIM does not provide. Cards work in Kampala hotels and larger establishments; carry cash otherwise.
Will my eSIM work on a gorilla trek?
At the lodge and the park headquarters, usually. Inside the forest during the trek, no — the trek can run eight hours or more through dense terrain with no coverage at all.
How do I set up an eSIM before arriving in Kampala?
Install it at home while you still have Wi-Fi: open Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM and scan the QR code from your Siima confirmation email. Leave the line switched off until you land — the plan starts counting from first use in Uganda, not from purchase.
How much data do I need for a trip to Kampala?
Ten days in Uganda is 3–4 GB. The trekking and safari days use almost nothing; the Kampala days use most of it.
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming in Kampala?
Almost always. Daily roaming passes from most home carriers run $10–15 per day, while Siima plans covering Kampala start from $10.71 for the whole trip. You also avoid per-megabyte charges if you exceed a roaming pass allowance.
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