How to get from Kisumu to Jinja via the Busia Border Crossing
This is a 2023 trip report as I travelled from Kisumu to Jinja using the local matatus via the Busia border crossing.
I just wanted to remind you that you must apply for an Uganda eVisa. The visa on arrival is not available.
And you must have in printed out, in colour.
I just wanted to remind you that you must apply for an Uganda eVisa. The visa on arrival is not available.
And you must have in printed out, in colour.
The journey from Kisumu to Jinja is done in 2 stages:
- Kisumu to Busia
- Busia to Jinja
How to get from Kisumu to Busia:
I took a matatu from the Bungoma stage in Kisumu:
The distance from Kisumu to the Busia border is 110km.
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! (You now need an ETA for Kenya)!
Exit stamp for Kenya:
Make sure you have your eVisa for Kenya. They ask for it! (You now need an ETA for Kenya)!
Exit stamp for Kenya:
Even with the eVisa for Uganda, you still get a full page sticker:
How to get from Busia to Jinja:
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 was going to cost 15,000 UGX, exactly as the young lady had 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.
The distance from Busia to Jinja is 220km and that took 2hours 30 minutes.
The days total was 7 hours door-to-door. A successful day. But boy I was feeling ragged.
Uganda, my 101st UN Member State, 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.
The distance from Busia to Jinja is 220km and that took 2hours 30 minutes.
The days total was 7 hours door-to-door. A successful day. But boy I was feeling ragged.
Uganda, my 101st UN Member State, 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.