Border Crossing: Kenya to Uganda via Busia
This is a 2023 trip report as I travelled from Kisumu, Kenya to Jinja, Uganda using the local matatus via the border post at Busia.
Just to remind you, you need to apply for a Uganda eVisa. The visa on arrival is not available. And make sure you have in printed out.
Just to remind you, you need to apply for a Uganda eVisa. The visa on arrival is not available. And make sure you have in printed out.
Kisumu to Busia (Kenya):
I took a matatu from the Bungoma stage in Kisumu:
The price is 500 KSH. You get a ticket from the booking office.
You can get cheaper ones for 400, nearer the bus station but they are slower.
Arrival in Busia, at the spot marked on the map below, duration 2 hrs 30:
You can get cheaper ones for 400, nearer the bus station but they are slower.
Arrival in Busia, at the spot marked on the map below, duration 2 hrs 30:
From where its a 10 minute walk to the border post.
A young man tried to encourage me to take his vehicle on the other side to Kampala.
"The people here are thieves. They will cheat you"
African travel tip: If anyone says 'others will cheat you', they are the very person that will cheat you.
'There are no buses'. Biggest lie ever. There are always buses or something similar that locals use. You just need to find them.
On all my travels, regarding transport, prices, always ask someone who is NOT involved in the transport business. Go into a shop, look for a woman, preferably, selling perfume, or anything completely unrelated. You can trust their advice.
I changed my left over Kenyan shillings for Uganda Shillings (I had checked the rate before).
I had 3,000 KSH, 20 USD +/- worth, enough to get me to Jinja, 75,000 UGX
A young man tried to encourage me to take his vehicle on the other side to Kampala.
"The people here are thieves. They will cheat you"
African travel tip: If anyone says 'others will cheat you', they are the very person that will cheat you.
'There are no buses'. Biggest lie ever. There are always buses or something similar that locals use. You just need to find them.
On all my travels, regarding transport, prices, always ask someone who is NOT involved in the transport business. Go into a shop, look for a woman, preferably, selling perfume, or anything completely unrelated. You can trust their advice.
I changed my left over Kenyan shillings for Uganda Shillings (I had checked the rate before).
I had 3,000 KSH, 20 USD +/- worth, enough to get me to Jinja, 75,000 UGX
The Exit Kenya/ Enter Uganda immigration booths are right next to each other. Needed to show Yellow Fever certificate.
Make sure you have your eVisa for Kenya. They ask for it!
Exit stamp for Kenya:
Make sure you have your eVisa for Kenya. They ask for it!
Exit stamp for Kenya:
Even with the eVisa for Uganda, you still get a full page sticker:
From the border post it's a short distance to the taxi stand, the parking lot where you'll find onward transport.
I hadn't bothered to check the details before. On exiting the border area a young lady told me I could find a taxi (she meant a minivan/matatu) for 15,000UGX. "If they charge you 20,000, they are ripping you off".
I walked. Unsure where I was going exactly but the opportunity would arrive. It always does.
I jumped on the back of a motor bike, a Boda-Boda and rode the short distance to the 'stage'.
I hadn't bothered to check the details before. On exiting the border area a young lady told me I could find a taxi (she meant a minivan/matatu) for 15,000UGX. "If they charge you 20,000, they are ripping you off".
I walked. Unsure where I was going exactly but the opportunity would arrive. It always does.
I jumped on the back of a motor bike, a Boda-Boda and rode the short distance to the 'stage'.
I found the Jinja matatu:
It would be 15,000 UGX as the young lady said.
It was some time before we were ready. It was hot. I suffered quietly.
We stopped at a road block. One of many. I showed my passport. No problems.
We had 3 Kenyans who had missed immigration. They thought they could just wander in. They could visit the town of Busia without needing to deal with the formalities but beyond the city's limits was a different matter.
So we lost time. I'm sure a bribe was paid. TIA. We continued.
And after 2 hours 30 we arrived in Jinja.
7 hours door to door including 1 border crossing, a successful day. But boy I was feeling ragged.
Uganda, my 101st UN-Listed country. 108th in the grand scheme of things. I'm getting there. Though I have no desire in getting to 193. There are too many countries I have no interest in.
It was some time before we were ready. It was hot. I suffered quietly.
We stopped at a road block. One of many. I showed my passport. No problems.
We had 3 Kenyans who had missed immigration. They thought they could just wander in. They could visit the town of Busia without needing to deal with the formalities but beyond the city's limits was a different matter.
So we lost time. I'm sure a bribe was paid. TIA. We continued.
And after 2 hours 30 we arrived in Jinja.
7 hours door to door including 1 border crossing, a successful day. But boy I was feeling ragged.
Uganda, my 101st UN-Listed country. 108th in the grand scheme of things. I'm getting there. Though I have no desire in getting to 193. There are too many countries I have no interest in.
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