Planning a trip to Uganda, flying to Entebbe International Airport and wondering what is the best way to stay connected? This is your complete guide for buying a sim card at Entebbe Airport on arrival in Uganda. Don't get stuck with high roaming costs. Get yourself with a Uganda prepaid sim card for tourists or an eSIM.
Find out below where to buy a sim card at Entebbe airport, up to date prices as per August 2024, my recommendation, a vlog about my experiences and info about international and eSIMs for Uganda.
When visiting a country abroad and there is no free roaming with your sim card from home then get yourself a local prepaid sim card or an eSIM to stay connected.
It is the first thing I do whenever I arrive in a new country. On my big Africa overland trip I wrote sim card guides for Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nairobi, South Africa, Zambia, Cameroon, Rwanda, Burundi, Gabon and many more.
Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Entebbe Airport for traveling in Uganda are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends tourists to buy an Airtel Uganda sim card at Entebbe Airport. Based on my own experiences, especially in the South of Uganda (Bwindi and Mburo National Park) Airtel has much better coverage than MTN. Africell is the weakest network in Uganda.
Local prepaid sim cards are cheaper than eSIMs, but eSIMs are much more convenient as you can arrange everything on the internet before your trip to Uganda. Therefore Traveltomtom also recommends eSIMs. For
Another alternative for a local prepaid sim card is an international sim card. More expensive but it comes with a lot of other benefits, especially if you travel to more than 1 country. Check out my comparison of the best international sim card for travelers in 2024 and find the one that suits your trip the best.
However, the easiest way to stay connected when traveling abroad in 2024 is an eSIM.
Best eSIMs for Uganda
You can now also order an eSIM for Uganda on the internet. It works very simple, you will receive a QR code, scan it, follow the steps, instal your eSIM, activate it and as soon as the plane lands you have internet on your phone.
No more swapping a physical sim card and visiting a phone store anymore. However, make sure your phone is e-sim compatible and unlocked before ordering an eSIM for Uganda.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider that Traveltomtom has used multiple times in over 50 different countries.
Here are the Airalo eSIM deals for Uganda:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $13 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $17.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $27 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $49 USD
Click here to order an Airalo eSIM for Uganda.
The above Ugish! eSIMs from Airalo are only valid in Uganda and they do not support incoming and outgoing calls. They operates on the 4G/LTE network of Airtel.
SimOptions
SimOptions sells international eSIMs for traveling to Uganda but they are valid in up to 141 countries.
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
- 6 GB data for 15 days = $39.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $39.90 USD
Click here to order an international eSIM for Uganda via Simoptions.
Nomad
Last but not least is Nomad, an eSIM provider that has great eSIM plans for Uganda.
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $10 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $17 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $23 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $37 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for Uganda via Nomad.
The above Nomad eSIMs are from eSIM Go and they operate on the Airtel 4G/LTE network in Uganda.
As you can see the Nomad eSIMs for Uganda are the best-value. However, it is not Traveltomtom's first recommendation. Personally I faced some reliability and performance issues with Nomad and was not 100% happy with my e-sim. So for now Nomad will need to work on their performance before getting recommended again by Traveltomtom.
You can also still order a physical sim card for Uganda if your phone is not e-sim compatible. This sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip.
For example 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.9 USD. Click on the link to order this Uganda sim card deal via SimOptions or find more info and offers in the link.
RELATED: Tips for Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park + Best Things To Do in Kampala!
Entebbe Airport
Entebbe Airport is the main international hub for traveling to Uganda. Entebbe is a laid-back town 45 kilometer south of Kampala, the capital Uganda. It is a fairly small airport and very easy to navigate. There is only one arrival hall. After you pick up your luggage and go through customs you will walk into a small hall.
Where to buy a sim card at Entebbe Airport
As soon as you walk into the arrival hall you will see a Tourist Information desk just right in front of you. On your right hand side you will see several ATMs and a yellow sign saying MTN shop. MTN is a Uganda sim card provider, however at this particular kiosk they don't sell Uganda sim cards. Welcome to Africa! :)
Just behind the information desk in the direction of the restaurant there is an Airtel shop on your left hand side and here is where you can buy a sim card for Uganda at Entebbe Airport.
The Airtel shop supposed to be open 24 hours, if for some reason no one is there you can try to call the owner Hosea: +256 755 628 905.
But don't worry there is another place to buy a sim card at Entebbe Airport. Just 50 meters on your left hand side when you leave the airport building (still within the gates) there are 3 kiosks that sell prepaid sim cards for Uganda: MTN, Airtel and Africell.
The kiosks are very colorful and you can't miss them. For the best directions watch the vlog about buying a sim card at Entebbe Airport.
Prices Uganda sim cards Entebbe Airport
Inside at the Airtel shop they sell also MTN sim cards and luckily the prices inside in the shop and outside at the kiosks are the exact same. That makes it much easier at least.
The below info and prices are updated in June 2024 and prices are in Ugandan Schilling: $1 USD = 3,725 UGX and 10,000 UGX = $2.68 USD.
Airtel Uganda
An Airtel sim card costs 5,000 UGX ($1.5) and you can top up with several packages: daily, weekly and monthly data bundles. Adding some calling minutes is separate.
Here are the best Airtel data bundles I would recommend:
- 15,000 UGX = 4 GB data for 1 week ($4)
- 20,000 UGX = 7 GB data for 1 week ($6)
- 30,000 UGX = 9 GB data for 1 month ($8)
- 50,000 UGX = 20 GB data for 1 month ($14)
Very competitive prices as you can see. Local sim cards for Uganda are cheap. Airtel calling credit costs about 5 cent for 1 minutes. So adding $1 calling credit will get you about 20 minutes local calling time.
MTN Uganda
An MTN sim card also costs 5,000 UGX ($1.5) and you can choose to add daily, weekly and monthly voice & data bundles separately.
These are the best value MTN data bundles:
- 20,000 UGX = 5 GB data for 1 week ($6)
- 50,000 UGX = 10 GB data for 1 month ($6)
As you can see MTN is more expensive than Airtel and/or less value for money. Also calling credit is more expensive, see below.
Africell Uganda
Africell has the smallest network in Uganda and is therefore a little cheaper. A sim card costs 2,000 UGX ($0.5)
Africell data bundles:
- 15,000 UGX = 4.5 GB data for 1 week ($4)
- 20,000 UGX = 8 GB data for 1 week ($6)
- 25,000 UGX = 8 GB data for 1 month ($7)
- 50,000 UGX = 20 GB data for 1 month ($14)
As you can see the Africell Uganda prepaid sim card data bundles are the cheapest and/or best value for money. However, their network coverage is the weakest.
RELATED: 33 Things to Know Before you Travel to Uganda!
Best sim card Entebbe Airport in 2024
Based on the above info Traveltomtom votes Airtel as the best prepaid sim card for Uganda and you can easily buy one at Entebbe Airport. There is a store inside the arrival hall as well as one just outside. Airtel together with MTN have the best 4G/LTE network coverage in Uganda.
Based on my own experiences I would suggest buying an Airtel sim card over an MTN sim card.
Traveltomtom also recommends eSIMs for traveling to Uganda. The best-buy Uganda eSIM is a Nomad eSIM for Uganda with 10 GB data for $37 USD, which is $3.7 USD per Gigabyte.
See below my video about buying a sim card at Entebbe Airport with prices, directions, where to go and everything else you need to know.
Order a prepaid sim card for Uganda online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible and buying a sim card for Uganda at Entebbe Airport on arrival sounds like too much hassle then simply order a physical prepaid sim card for Uganda on the internet.
SimOptions offers an international prepaid sim card valid in 124 countries around the world:
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order this international sim card for Uganda via SimOptions.
This sim card will be delivered to your home address and is automatically activated from its first use.
However, is your phone e-sim compatible then simply arrange everything directly online by ordering an eSIM for Uganda. Traveltomtom recommends buying your eSIM for Uganda via Airalo or SimOptions.
There are also global sim cards for travelers that work in Uganda, but they are more expensive. If you are curious have a look at them in the link.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying a sim card at Entebbe Airport for your Uganda trip were helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions. Please leave me a comment below.
Also about traveling to Uganda I am happy to help and I recommend you to check out all my Uganda travel blogs.
In search of some Uganda travel inspiration I can also recommend you to have a look at my Instagram profile @traveltomtom. Be aware that it could create some serious wanderlust as I am trying to visit every country in the world. As of August 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world.
Enjoy your trip to Uganda!