You might not expect a broad and good network for data in Uganda. However, even though there is barely WiFi, the phone data work perfectly and is reliable on every corner of the country.
Buying a local SIM card in Uganda is relatively easy. Go to one of the shops and tell them you like to get a card. You can decide between MTN, Airtel, Africell and Lyca mobile. Every city focuses on a different service like Lycamobile is mainly used in Kampala. On the other side, you'll find Airtel and MTN always everywhere. Friends recommended my Airtel with the vastest network and reliable connections. After buying the card, it still needs to be activated. The system there works a bit differently in European countries. You need to charge your account with money first.
Then type in the special code from your data service with * and # - ask for it. You will be led through a menu section where you can choose between daily, weekly, and monthly packages and a lot more offers. Make sure to follow the guidelines correctly or ask for local help. The data packages are very cheap. So you get 1.5GB for 7.000 UGX (1,90€); 4.5GB for 16.000UGX, 7GB for 25.000UGX and 15GB for 50.000UGX (12,20€). The 15GB lasted for around 20 hours of online video calls.
Mobile data was important while staying in guesthouses that didn't provide WiFi connections. However, it wasn't easy finding calm places to sit and work. The guesthouses rooms are not isolated nor 100% powered with electricity, which leads to problems with charging the laptop, loud noises because of neighbors or kids, or the summer rain showers. So even though the mobile data worked perfectly throughout the whole country, you need to find some alternatives, which are hotels! Or famous restaurants, mostly mainly used by tourists or wealthier local people.
Every town or city has one or two more pricy accommodation options with good service and reliable WiFi. It means watching those places everywhere you go and kindly asking for a calm place to sit and work. I took a few drinks meanwhile, and it was always fine. Maybe still not as quiet as it should be, but better than sitting outside!
Here are places I can recommend for working. Either because of possibilities to sit, a calm surrounding or good WiFi. In lots of those places, we also stayed overnight.
Kampala: Edmond Hotel kinawataka
huge sitting area outside and inside
music in the background
but: area in the back accessible without any music (close to the toilets)
Mityana: Mityana SDA Church
a hotel with a lot of sitting area on the groundfloor, completely calm
good rooms that are also perfect for working
Entebbe: Entebbe bnb (A1-Sky inn)
not ideal, but a sitting area is available in the garden area. Though without protection from the sun
the rooms are fine to work inside too, as long as you don't have a partner using the room at the same time
Jinja: 1. Ebenezer Guesthouse
no internet connection inside the rooms and the guesthouse
but: sitting area in the garden. With a lot of chicken though, very active and noisy
2. Sikia Cafe & Crafts
a coffee place served by deaf people
in the evening it gets noisy the more tourists arrive but during the day it is empty, really comfortable and calm
Fort Portal: Roho Guest House
good rooms with working mobile data
If you want to know more about Uganda and things to do there, click here!
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