The official currency of Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling. Its ISO code is UGX and the official abbreviation is Ush. The division is in 100 cents. The Uganda shilling is available in banknotes as well as in coin form. The banknotes are issued at 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 Ush. The coins are available in 50, 100,200,500 and 1000 Ush.
However, these are not the only currencies that are used as a means of payment in Uganda; the US dollar and the British pound are also used.
History of the Ugandan Currency
The East African shilling was the national currency of Uganda until 1967, but that changed that year when the Ugandan shilling was introduced. This currency was pegged to the American dollar until 1975.
Almost eleven years later, in 1987, a new variant of the Uganda shilling was introduced. This could be exchanged for a value of 100 old schillings.
Exchange into the currency of Uganda
Unfortunately, the Uganda shilling cannot be exchanged in Germany, because this national currency is unfortunately not available in Germany. That is why you should bring US dollars or British pounds from Germany to Uganda, because you can easily exchange them yourself at a good rate in Uganda. It has to be clear, however, that this is especially possible in the big cities like Kampala, Fort Portal and Entebbe.
If you have obtained the entry visa, which has to be paid in US dollars in advance, it is also possible, as mentioned before, to use US dollars as a direct means of payment. However, only in the tourist areas or the densely populated cities.
ATMs are also available in Uganda. Cash can also be conveniently withdrawn from these and this is also the recommended payment method, because credit cards should not be used to pay.