Tourists who travel to unfamiliar places may at some point require a means of transport which is reliable, convenient and safe. In a country like Uganda where public transport is not well organized, hiring a private vehicle is the best option. Travelers hire vehicles for several reasons and it’s up to car rental providers to meet their needs. The reasons for car hire can be for road trips, airport transfers, weekend tours, business and conference transfers. The car hire industry in Uganda is still at its infancy. Some of the vehicles available for hire are of older models (1998 to 2010) and car hire providers don’t always 
have a large fleets of cars. However, the cars are usually in good condition and have comprehensive insurance for the safety of the travelers.
Because the car hire industry in not well developed, there is also less information about car hire services. Travelers who wish to hire cars in Uganda, may find it hard to get complete information that could aid making the right decision. We will be discussing important information that you might find useful if you are planning to hire a car in Kampala in particular. You can also read about the things to do in Kampala city.
Types of cars available for hire in Kampala
There are a wide range of cars for hire in Kampala. They include compact, multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) and sport utility vehicles (SUV). The purpose of your trip will determine the type of car you wish to hire. Car hire companies or tour operators will advise a client on the types of car available and the best one to use depending on the purpose of travel. Most of the cars available for rent are all terrain vehicles due to the nature of roads in Uganda. However, it is also possible to hire two-wheel drive vehicles especially when planning to travel only in Kampala. Here are some of the types of vehicles available for hire in Kampala: –
Toyota Super Custom: This type pf car has a standard seating capacity of 5 travelers. It is more like a traveling lounge due to its exquisite interior whereby the passenger seats are adjustable. Travelers can sit facing each other. It has a lot of leg room and is why people prefer it when traveling for long distances.
Safari Van (Toyota Hiace): This van has a seating capacity of 9 people. It has similar looks to the Toyota Super Custom but is a more robust and combative car. It is excellent for group tours and many travelers like it for its resilience even on rough roads.
Toyota Rav4: This is a 4×4 crossover car but some regard it as a compact car. It is very popular for self-drives because of its fuel consumption and cheaper hiring fees. The Toyota Rav4 has four seats in it.
Toyota Kruger Suv: This is considered a posh vehicle for urban areas. It is not so strong and resilient especially on rugged roads. That is why we don’t recommend it for safari expeditions. It is best for city tours where comfort is paramount. It can also be a great car for business meetings and conferences due to its appearance.
Land Cruiser Prado TX and TZ: This is a popular car for mid-range travelers because of being an 4×4 SUV. It is excellent for self-drives in both towns/cities and upcountry. Travelers who do not find the Rav4 spacious enough can opt for this Prado TX.
Land Cruiser V8: The Land Cruiser V8 is a classy and relatively large sports utility vehicle. Its large size makes it strong and steady on the road. The Land Cruiser V8 is a sophisticated and comfortable car which is excellent for business meetings in Kampala or Entebbe. It’s only drawback is that it is a fuel guzzler.
Safari Land Cruisers: This car is perfect for an African safari because it was built to manage rough roads. The Toyota land cruiser can be modified for game viewing and is a favorite vehicle for tour operators in Africa. It has a hard body, communication systems and a pop-up roof for viewing animals while out in the African savanna. The Safari Land Cruiser comes as a 5 or 8-seater.
Toyota Coaster Buses: For large group tours, there is the Toyota coaster bus. Coasters can take between 25 to 35 people. They are perfect for large groups, students, humanitarians or company workers. If you are interested in hiring a coaster bus, you must prepare to also hire a driver. This is because a certain class of driving license is required for one to drive them and not every driver has the required experience to drive a bus.
Note: Hired vehicles may come with certain accessories depending on the purpose of the rental. A car hire company should also be able to provide camping gear, baby seats, GPS and road maps. These extra accessories may be charged separately from that of hiring the vehicle.
Cost of renting a car in Kampala
Most car rental companies do not have a fixed price for hiring out their cars. The price depends on several factors that we will highlight below:
Model, Type and Size of Vehicle: The latest models of cars with more features cost more to hire per day. A larger SUV may be charged higher than a smaller one.
Period of Car Rental: When one hires a car for a long time, they should expect to pay more than someone who hires it for a day or 2. Most car rental companies charge per day. If the car goes for $50 per day and you are interested in having it for 10 days, you should expect to pay $500 in total.
Destination: Travelers who hire a vehicle to be used in Uganda are charged less than those who wish to cross borders. If one intends to use the car in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, he/she should expect to pay more than the standard price.
Car Rental with Driver or Self-drive: The price for hiring out a car with a driver is higher than when one goes for a self-drive. A driver will charge about $60 per day for their services excluding fuel and the car hire fee. Using a local driver is always recommended for those who can afford because they know the reads and terrain. It’s always important to use a driver who has defensive driving and basic mechanical skills. The driver should also be excellent in speaking English. The car hire company can also get you French, German and Italian speaking drivers on special request.
Car Hire Reservation
What is the process of hiring a car in Kampala? You can reach out to car hire companies and tour operators by sending an inquiry by email or walking into their offices. Most tour operators and car hire providers have a website which also has their phone number. Look for their phone number from the website and call to inquire. You should receive a reply and get all the information you need about hiring a car with the company. Before handing over a car to a client, the company will request for a driving permit, passport and other documentation. After the documents have been received, a contract will be signed between the car hire company and the traveler.
Mission Africa Safaris will require a deposit of 40% of the overall cost to confirm interest in a particular car. The balance must be paid during pickup and after checking that the vehicle is in excellent condition. The deposit can be paid in cash or through an electronic funds transfer system like Pesapal. Bank transfers are also accepted whenever a credit card payment is not possible. The car can be picked from our offices or delivered to your hotel/home.
Frequently Asked Questions about car hire in Kampala with Mission Africa Safaris
How do I pay for car rental services? If you choose to hire a car with Mission Africa Safaris, you will have 3 options of making payment. One is in cash from our offices. The other methods are by credit card using our Pesapal online system. Finally, you can also send the funds directly to our bank account.
How is the delivery and pick up done? We will deliver the car at any point of convenience within Kampala or Entebbe free of charge. It could be at the airport, your hotel, your home or any place within Kampala. You can also pick the car from our offices. Any deliveries outside Kampala or Entebbe attracts a delivery fee of $30. Apart from the delivery fee, you will also take care of the fuel and allowance of the driver. These extra costs for delivering that car outside Kampala are calculated on a case by case basis while taking into consideration mileage.
Who pays for the fuel? The price of hiring a car doesn’t include fuel or a driver unless requested for. The traveler must refill the car on his/her own at all times while driving it. We normally charge $50 per day for fuel.
Renting a car for use outside Uganda
We rent out vehicles in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. It is possible to rent one car to take you to multiple countries in East Africa. There is some paperwork that needs to be completed if one needs to hire a car for use in more than one East African country. A consent letter for crossing with the car to other countries is issued by us. We will advise a client on all the possible paperwork required before or after crossing from one country to another.
Why hire a vehicle with us?
We are a reputable tour and travel company that has been in the hospitality and travel business for a 
long time. We have experience resolving issues related to hiring out a car and will ensure that the client has all the important information about driving in Uganda.
Our services are reliable because we hire our vehicles in excellent condition. The vehicles we hire out are not only well serviced but are insured. The process of hiring a car with us is simple. A client can contact us through the phone or email. We also accept walk-in customers at our offices.
We have put in place measures and remedies that enhance the security/safety of all those who hire a vehicle with us. Our fleet of cars have comprehensive insurance. The client is less liable for damages caused by an accident. We also offer road assistance when a car breaks down given Uganda’s rough roads. There are different mechanical workshops in the different towns around the country that partner with us in case of break-downs or accidents. We also provide a phone number and focal person to always be on standby in case of any questions or help.
Important things to consider while renting a car in Kampala
Go through the car rental agreement carefully so that you understand all the conditions stated. Seek for clarification if you don’t understand any part of the contract. The car rental agreement should help the client know what do in case of any repairs or how to handle police issues.
Driving passed the speed limit on a particular road is not recommended and should be indicated in the contract. Ensure that you adhere to the speed limit that you see on the different sign posts along the different roads. Over speeding can lead to accidents or a police case. Over speeding is also an offense in other East African countries leading to high fines. The standard speed limit is 40km/hr while in a city like Kampala. Ensure that you drive at 80km/hr while on highways.
In Uganda, driving is on the left side of the road. Any client who finds it hard to adhere to this left hand rule is advised to hire a driver. Those who have just learnt how to drive are also advised to get a driver too. Driving in Kampala is not easy especially if you are used to driving in the countryside or in small cities. The roads in Kampala are narrow, uneven, congested, full of potholes, have reckless drivers and motorcyclists. Prepare to deal with that especially if you come from more developed cities where things are more organized.
The roads in Uganda are made of asphalt and gravel. Roads made of asphalt are found in the cities/towns and main highways leading to the different districts in the country. The rest of the roads are made of gravel – especially those in the national parks. It is important to hire a 4×4 vehicle which is robust and strong enough to pass through the rough roads outside the city.
In case a car breaks down, always contact the car rental company before carrying out any repairs on the car. Never take the car to a garage without informing the car hire company. There are few reliable mechanics in the country and you risk handing in the car to people who are only interested in stealing important spare parts.
