Is Uganda Safe?

Is Uganda Safe? No, Uganda isn't as safe as you think it is. The streets are lined with shabby shacks made of bamboo and corrugated iron. The country is plagued by political instability, violent crime, and corruption. Nonetheless, you should travel here without any plans to stay in hiding. There are few stable governments in sub-Saharan Africa. The country is rich in natural resources but has massive, ungoverned spaces that remain vulnerable to militia activity and guerrilla warfare.

There are very few countries in the world that are completely off-the-grid and the people who live there have learned how to survive almost entirely off the kindness of strangers. The people of Uganda know how to make do with what they have. Most people have a car and a residence nearby but they hide their identity and use fake documents to get by. The government controls the flow of goods and people within certain areas but outside of these main roads travel is relatively safe. The US deployment of troops to Uganda in 2011 resulted in an increase in vehicle accidents involving Ugandan drivers but overall safety continues to improve in Uganda.

The world is safer than you might think, at least when it comes to the military. The Ugandan military is one of the most professional and efficient fighting forces in the world, and you would be surprised how much money an army can buy with its budget. Civilians in Uganda are sophisticated and well-prepared for anything, including terrorism. The key to maintaining public safety is the unity of effort among government, civil society, religious leaders, business leaders, including commercial actors, and local stakeholders.

The country is recovering from years of civil war and violence, and ongoing health and development challenges. According to the latest Global Competitiveness Report issued by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Uganda is ranked 55th out of 61 countries in ease of doing business, putting it at the bottom of a list dominated by Central Asian states. Despite this, companies are moving rapidly into the country and investors are flowing in. The international investor base has grown steadily over the last five years with some $3.3 billion being invested in Uganda via private companies and multilaterals, according to preliminary data from Global Security.

If you're planning a trip to Uganda, be aware that some elements are out of your control. Anti-government protests occur regularly, and the government has been known to crack down on individuals whom it views as dangerous threats to national security. Civil engineers, however, have been crucial to the survival of many communities for centuries; and as such, are considered some of the country's best protection against threats both foreign and domestic.

No country is perfect, and while some countries make it easy for expats to live and work in, others have unique challenges. While it’s not possible to predict which country or region will be the next """"good"""" place to live or work, there are some factors that you should consider when making your choice. Starting with the safety issue, it should be remembered that violent crime rates are high in many African countries. These crimes often go unpunished or underreported, resulting in a high population of expats living in areas where illegal and vigilante-style activity exist. Common sense suggests that living or working in an area with high crime rates puts you at greater risk of being a victim of crime.

Uganda is a developing country with high rates of poverty and civil unrest. Anti-government protests have occurred regularly since President Museveni took power in 1986. Protests have also occurred in other countries in the region, including Burundi, southern Yemen and north-eastern Nigeria. Civil unrest in Uganda began online on September 21st, 2001 when three students were killed and more than 180 were injured when police fired upon students demonstrating against the printing of government-owned currency.