Uganda Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Uganda? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Uganda

For an introduction to shooting in Uganda see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

Uganda Film Locations 

Uganda is Africa in miniature. Despite its small size, it is home to one of Africa’s most diverse ranges of African landscapes and wildlife. Film locations include its magnificent mountain ranges, jungle, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, savannas, and traditional villages.

Agricultural film locations include plantations of coffee, tea, cotton, sugarcane, corn, and sunflowers. Industrial locations include gold, tin, granite, copper, and iron ore mines.

Uganda has hosted films including The Amazing Race 31 (2019), The Last King of Scotland (2006), Queen of Katwe (2016), Congo (1995), The African Queen (1951), and King Solomon’s Mines (1950).

Film locations can be divided into the following regions:

Central Region

This region includes the districts of Buikwe, Bukomansimbi, Butambala, Buvuma, Gomba, Kalangala, Kalungu, Kampala, Kayunga, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Luweero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Masaka, Mityana, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Rakai, Sembabule, and Wakiso.

Kampala is the capital, the largest city, and the main production service centre where crew and equipment are based. Film locations of note include Kabaka’s Palace, Kasubi Tombs, Uganda National Mosque, Kampala Hindu Temple, Baha’i House of Worship, St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Rubaga Cathedral, Uganda Museum, Makerere University, Nakasero Market, Entebbe International Airport, and Mandela National Stadium.

Ssese Islands, located in Lake Victoria, are known for their white-sand beaches and relaxed pace of life.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is located on an island in Lake Victoria.

Ssezibwa Falls are a beautiful film location.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has an active breeding programme.

Aero Beach is a resort built around the rusty relics of old airplanes.

Western Region

This region includes the districts of Buhweju, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Hoima, Ibanda, Isingiro, Kabale, Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kasese, Kibaale, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Masindi, Mbarara, Mitooma, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Rubirizi, Rukungiri, and Sheema.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the Great Apes.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to hippos, elephants, crocodiles, buffaloes, lions, leopards, and chimpanzees.

Kibale National Forest is home to chimpanzees, monkeys, and a diversity of birdlife.

Uganda is the source of the White Nile River. The spectacular Murchison Falls force the river’s flow through a tight gap known as the Devil’s Cauldron. Murchison Falls National Park is home to elephants, crocodiles, giraffes, leopards, buffalos, hippos, and waterbuck.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a great place to photograph the mountain gorilla.

Lake Mburo National Park is home to zebras, hippopotamus, leopards, and a diversity of bird species.

Uganda is home to the highest mountain range in Africa; the Mountains of the Moon in the Rwenzori National Park.

The picturesque Lake Bunyonyi is a great location for bird photography.

Semuliki National Park is home to leopards, hippopotamus, elephant, monkeys, the Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel, and a diversity of butterfly species.

Mount Muhavura is an extinct volcano in the Virunga Mountains.

Northern Region

This region includes the districts of Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Dokolo, Gulu, Kaabong, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Lamwo, Lira, Maracha, Moroto, Moyo, Nakapiripirit, Napak, Nebbi, Nwoya, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Yumbe, and Zombo.

Kidepo Valley National Park is home to hyenas, lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and a diversity of birdlife.

Pian Upe Game Reserve is a wooded grassland location home to wildlife such as such as giraffes, lions, leopard, zebras, and buffaloes.

Manyattas are interesting traditional villages lived in by the Karamojong people, a tribe of warrior pastoralists.

Eastern Region

This region includes the districts of Amuria, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bukedea, Bukwa, Bulambuli, Busia, Butaleja, Buyende, Iganga, Jinja, Kaberamaido, Kaliro, Kamuli, Kapchorwa, Katakwi, Kibuku, Kumi, Kween, Luuka, Manafwa, Mayuge, Mbale, Namayingo, Namutumba, Ngora, Pallisa, Serere, Sironko, Soroti, and Tororo.

Sipi waterfall is located in Mount Elgon National Park.

Uganda Film Location Permits

For location permits most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. Please contact us for location specific information. Visiting crew may be required to present their Press Accreditation when filming on location. See “Visas & Work Permits” section for more information/

When To Shoot?

Uganda has a wet, tropical climate, with the exception of the far north savanna region which is dry. Uganda’s first dry season runs from December to February. The first wet season runs from March to May. The second dry season runs from June to August and the second wet season runs from September to November. The dry seasons are the best time to film for weather and tracking the Great Apes. Big game wildlife filming is best at the end of the dry seasons, when animals congregate around water sources. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Uganda is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Uganda.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

Costs & Tax Incentives

Costs. Uganda’s local costs such as talent, supporting crew and locations are inexpensive. Imported goods can be expensive. Since little to no filming infrastructure exists all key crew and equipment must be brought in from abroad. Kenya is the closest major production centre. Our Ugandan fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.

Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Uganda.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. There are very few directors, videographers or stills photographers in Uganda. Most crew must be brought in from abroad. Local supporting crews can help with basic projects. If you need to look further, more experienced crews exist in nearby Kenya.

Contact us if you are looking for a director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in Uganda.

Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable.

English and Swahili are the official languages.

Uganda has 54 different ethnic groups. The largest groups include the Baganda, Banyankole, Basoga, Bakiga, Iteso, Langi, Bagisu, Acholi, and Lugbara. All other looks need to be brought in from abroad.

Uganda Film Equipment

Equipment. Uganda has all of the standard camera, grip and lighting equipment available locally. Bringing in gear is a simple process. Customs fees are around 10% of the value of imported equipment but our fixer can work out a flat fee. Send us your gear list and we can advise accordingly. Nairobi, Kenya is the closest regional film production centre if you need to bring in gear.

Communication. Slow internet.

Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production

Art department and set construction are basic and not the main reason film productions visit Uganda.

Studios. Uganda has some studio facilities.

Post Production. Post abroad.

Visas & Work Permits

Uganda requires Press Accreditation for each visiting crew member. Once all required visitor documentation is submitted, processing takes 2-3 days. Press accreditation is valid for 30 days. Visitors are required to have this permit at the port of entry, when clearing gear through customs, and when filming anywhere in Uganda. Our fixer can arrange this for all visiting crew members. Press accreditation costs US$175 per person.

What we need from each crew member:

a) Headed cover letter addressed to the Uganda Media Council stating 
the purpose of your visit to Uganda.
b) Scanned photocopies of the passport of each crew member.
c) Scanned passport size photo of each crew member.
d) $175 per crew member press accreditation fee.
e) Completed form.

Visas are required by all nationals. These can be applied for at your closest embassy, or online using the e-Visa system, or on arrival at Entebbe airport. Our local team can provide you with an invitation letter for you and your crew. The tourist visa costs $50.

Uganda has an agreement with Kenya and Tanzania to waiver visa re-entry fees if travelling between the three countries.

Similarly, obtaining an East Africa Visa allows travel multiple entry travel between Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.