Public Holidays in Uganda
Statutory public holidays in Uganda, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Uganda at a glance
Uganda’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 9 October alongside Christian and Islamic dates and several liberation anniversaries.
Because the country is religiously mixed, Easter, Christmas and both Eids are all national holidays.
Uganda public holidays 2026
Uganda has 16 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| General Elections | Jan 15Thu | National |
| General Elections | Jan 16Fri | National |
| NRM Liberation Day | Jan 26Mon | National |
| Archbishop Janani Luwum Day | Feb 16Mon | National |
| Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labour Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Uganda Martyrs' Day | Jun 3Wed | National |
Showing 12 of 16 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Uganda
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Uganda.
Kampala
A city built across hills, of markets, a lakefront and a buzzing boda-boda culture.
Entebbe
A city on Lake Victoria with botanical gardens and the international airport.
Gulu
The main city of the north, rebuilt after decades of conflict.
Jinja
A city at the source of the Nile, with rapids and white-water rafting.
Fort Portal
A city of tea plantations and crater lakes beneath the Rwenzori.
Mbarara
A city in the Ankole cattle country, a gateway to the western parks.
Top attractions in Uganda
The places that draw most visitors to Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
A rainforest of mountain gorillas, tracked on foot from Buhoma.
Murchison Falls
Where the Nile forces through a narrow gorge in a white torrent.
Rwenzori Mountains
The Mountains of the Moon, an equatorial range of glaciers and moorland.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
A park of crater lakes, tree-climbing lions and the Kazinga channel.
Source of the Nile
The point where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria, marked near Jinja.
Kibale Forest
A rainforest holding one of the highest densities of chimpanzees.
Festivals, food and getting around Uganda
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
-
🎉
New Year
Falls on Jan 1
-
🎉
Liberation Day
Falls on Jan 26
-
🎉
Remembrance of Archbishop Janani Luwum
Falls on Feb 16
-
🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
-
🎉
International Women's Day
Falls on Mar 8
-
🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Boda-bodas and matatus dominate; the parks are reached by 4×4 and domestic flights serve the far west.
Travelling around Uganda’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Uganda tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Uganda's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Uganda public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Uganda have?
Uganda has 16 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Uganda is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Uganda's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Uganda typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Uganda?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Uganda?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Uganda
School term dates in Uganda
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.