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Climate in Uganda


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Uganda

Map - Uganda

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Uganda is an African country crossed by the Equator, whose climate is tropical, but mitigated by altitude. In fact, much of the country is occupied by a plateau, which has an altitude ranging from 1,000 to 1,400 meters (3,300 to 4,600 feet). Here, the climate is pleasantly warm, with average temperatures ranging between 20 °C and 25 °C (68 °F and 77 °F).
Temperature variations throughout the year are little, however, there is a warmer period from December to March, more noticeable in the north, and a cooler period from June to September.
In general, the temperatures are pleasant, although it can sometimes get very hot during the day, especially from December to April. On the other hand, nights can be cool or even cold, depending on altitude, and this can happen throughout the year, but especially from June to August.

Rainfall is moderate to relatively abundant, typically ranging between 700 and 1,500 millimeters (27.5 to 60 inches) per year.
In the north, further from the Equator, there is a dry season from December to February and a rainy season from April to October. In the centre-south, on the other hand, there are two rainy seasons, corresponding to the two passages of the sun at its zenith (around late March and late September).
However, even when they don't bring heavy rains, thunder and lightning storms can erupt throughout the year, especially in the south.
The driest areas are the south-west, on the border with North Kivu and Rwanda, where precipitation drops below 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, and even more the north-east (where the Kidepo Valley National Park and the Matheniko Wildlife Reserve are located), which receives 700 mm (27.5 in) per year or even less, is near the arid areas of Kenya, and is more subject to drought.
The wettest areas are the north-central (Gulu District) and some shores of Lake Victoria (see Entebbe), where rainfall reaches or exceeds 1,500 mm (60 in) per year.

The climate in detail


  • North - Gulu
  • The center-south - Kampala
  • Mountains - Kabale
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The north



In the north, there is a hot and dry period from December to February, when the prevailing currents come from the north-east, originally from the arid regions of Sudan and Eritrea, and a rainy period, slightly less hot but more humid, from April to October, when the area is dominated by more humid currents from DR Congo. The fact that the hottest period is also the driest is an anomaly in comparison with other tropical areas, where the dry season is usually the least hot.

Gulu

Climate chart - Gulu
In Gulu, located at 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) above sea level, the temperature can reach 36/37 °C (97/99 °F) from January to March.
As for precipitation, there is a single rainy period from April to October.
In the north, the sun regularly shines in the dry season, while in the rainy season, the hours of sunshine decrease a little.

In the northwest, around Lake Albert, whose banks are located at 620 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level, and along the Albert Nile River, the altitude drops below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), so the heat is more intense. The western part of the Victoria Nile River, where the Murchison Falls are located, flows at an altitude lower than 700 meters (2,300 feet): here, the daytime temperatures from December to March are around 32/33 °C (90/91 °F), with peaks around 40 °C (104 °F). On the contrary, in other areas, the altitude exceeds 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), and at night, it can get cold.

Il center-south



In the center-south, crossed by the Equator, the temperatures are more stable; however, even here, there's a slightly cooler period from June to September, when relatively cool south-eastern currents prevail, coming from the Indian Ocean and from the highlands of Tanzania.
Furthermore, as mentioned, in this area there are two rainy periods, from March to May (called long rains) and from late September to December (called short rains), alternating with two relatively dry periods (January-February and June-August).
This happens because the sun at the Equator passes overhead twice a year (in late March and late September), and for the thermal inertia of the soil and the atmosphere, the effect continues in the following weeks.

Kampala

Climate chart - Kampala
In the capital, Kampala, which lies practically at the Equator, a short distance from Lake Victoria and at 1,100 meters (3,600 feet), daytime temperatures range from 29 °C (84 °F) between January and March to 27 °C (81 °F) between June and August; night temperatures are even more stable, hovering around 17/18 °C (63/64 °F) throughout the year. Lake Victoria is large enough to affect the climate along its banks, reducing a bit the daily temperature range while increasing moisture.
In Kampala, precipitation amounts to 1,260 mm (50 in) per year.
The amount of sunshine is decent, but not excellent, most of the year, and decreases a bit in the "long rains season", from March to May.

Another lake of some importance is Lake Edward, to the west, at 950 meters (3,100 ft) of altitude. At the center of the country, about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, we find the Kyoga and Kwania lakes, fed by the Victoria Nile, which tend to expand during rainy periods and are surrounded by swampy areas.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Mountains



In Uganda, there are mountainous areas, with volcanoes and high mountains.
The Ruwenzori Mountains are located in the west, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and reach their highest point in Mount Stanley, 5,109 meters (16,762 feet), which is also the third highest peak in Africa (after Kilimanjaro and Kenya). In this and other peaks of the range, above 4,500 meters (14,800 ft), glaciers are found.
Other high mountains are located in the east: Mount Elgon, 4,321 meters (14,176 feet), Mount Moroto, 3,083 meters (10,115 feet), and Mount Kadam, 3,063 meters (10,049 feet).
In addition, in the south, on the border with Rwanda and Congo, we find the Virunga Mountains, whose highest peak (at least among those in Uganda) is Mount Muhabura, 4,127 meters (13,540 ft) high. Along the mountain slopes, there grow cloud forests, where the air is mild or cool, moisture is high, and sunshine is scarce. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the south-west, between 1,500 and 2,500 meters (5,000 and 8,200 ft) above sea level, and it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hosting the mountain gorilla, a species at risk of extinction.

Kabale

Climate chart - Kabale
In Kabale, located near the park, at 1,900 meters (6,200 ft) above sea level, nights are cool and the days pleasantly warm, all year round.
As mentioned, the southwest is one of the driest areas of the country. In Kabale, about 1,000 mm (40 in) of rain fall per year, although the only really dry months are June and July.
The sun in Kabale does not shine very often, though at higher altitudes, as mentioned, it shines even less often.

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park is significantly higher, since it is home to the aforementioned highest peaks of the range of the same name, and of the whole country.

When to go



Considering that the temperature is quite stable and both the intense cold and the heat rarely occur, the best times to visit Uganda are related to the rains.
January and February are quite dry almost everywhere, so they are the best months, although some showers may still occur, especially in the south and along the western mountain slopes, while during the day, it can get hot especially in the north and below a thousand meters (3,300 feet). It is worth while to recall that the equatorial sun's rays require appropriate protection, especially in the mountains.
In June, July and August there is little rainfall too, but only in the south, so in these months you can go if you intend to visit Kampala, Lake Victoria and southern parks such as that of the Ruwenzori.
The rainiest months in the south are April, May, October, and November, while in the north, as mentioned above, there is a single rainy season from April to October.

What to pack



All year long, for Lake Albert and at the lowest elevations, pack light clothing, and a sweatshirt and a light jacket for the evening.
For Kampala and Lake Victoria, pack light clothes for the day, a sweater and a jacket for the evening, a light scarf for the breeze, and a light raincoat or umbrella.
For the plateau at the highest altitudes, bring spring/autumn clothes, a sweater and a warm jacket, and a raincoat or umbrella.
For the mountain peaks, warm clothes, such as a down jacket, a hat, and gloves.

Climate data - Uganda


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Arua (1,200 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.171818181817161616171717
Max temp.303130292827262627282829
Precip.20359012013014515521517521012530
Prec. days13799811131214103

Entebbe (1,200 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.192020201919181818191919
Max temp.272727262626262627262626
Precip.8585185265255115708080130170120
Prec. days771317169767111410
Humidity77%78%80%82%83%81%80%81%80%81%82%81%
Day length121212121212121212121212
Sun hours877666666777

Gulu (1,100 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161818181817171717171716
Max temp.313231292828272728292929
Precip.1040801702001401602201701609040
Prec. days1369991012101063
Sun hours998888668889

Kabale (1,900 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.10111112121091010111211
Max temp.242424242324242425242324
Precip.658011514010030205510011011590
Prec. days81013161032611131610
Sun hours565546656554

Kampala (1,200 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.181818181818171717171818
Max temp.292929282727272728282728
Precip.706513017012070659511014015090
Prec. days551012116579987
Sun hours776667777777

Kasese (970 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161717181717161717161716
Max temp.313131302930293030292929
Precip.3040851301004535709011510560

Masindi (1,150 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.171718181717161616161616
Max temp.303030282727262627272728
Precip.35451151651458010515015017013055
Prec. days45101412810121415126

Mbarara (1,450 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.141414141414131414141414
Max temp.272727262627272727262626
Precip.5555951207025257011013013075
Prec. days6610127226912148

Soroti (1,130 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.181919191818181818181818
Max temp.323231302929282930303031
Precip.706513017012070659511014015090

Tororo (1,200 meters)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161617171716161616161616
Max temp.313130292828282829292930
Precip.60751402252151109011511513512575
Prec. days68111617119111114127



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