Shipping from Dubai
to Uganda.
We ship from Dubai and from anywhere in the UAE to Uganda every week. Uganda has no coast, so sea cargo lands at Mombasa in Kenya and travels inland by rail and road. We also fly into Entebbe. We ship business and personal cargo, we handle the paperwork at both ends, and we deliver to your address in Uganda.
Overview
Sea, road and air freight
to Uganda.
Uganda has no sea port of its own, so shipping from Dubai goes one of two ways. By sea, your goods sail to Mombasa in about 7 to 18 days and then travel inland to Kampala, which usually adds two to four weeks. By air into Entebbe it is 2 to 6 days. We deliver everywhere, including Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Gulu, Mbarara, Mbale, Masaka and Fort Portal. We move machinery, building materials, furniture, electronics, food and household goods. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to Uganda route, door to door. Tell us what you are sending, how heavy it is, and where it is going, and we will tell you which way is cheaper.
Ports and gateways
Ports and airports
we ship to from Dubai.
Every bill of lading carries two ports: where the cargo loads, and where it discharges. We load at Jebel Ali or another UAE port. Uganda is landlocked, so sea cargo discharges at Mombasa, Kenya and travels inland from there. That inland leg is a shipment in its own right, so we plan and price it separately.
POLPort of loading
We collect anywhere in the UAE, free zones included, and load at whichever of these eight suits the cargo.
- Jebel AliAEJEA
- Port RashidAEPRA
- Khalifa PortAEKHL
- Zayed PortAEAUH
- Port KhalidAESHJ
- Khor FakkanAEKLF
- Port of FujairahAEFJR
- Ajman PortAEAJM
PODPort of discharge
The right one is whichever leaves the shortest inland leg to your delivery address. On a long lane that leg is a shipment in its own right, so it is planned rather than assumed.
- Entebbe InternationalEBBAirportKampala, Entebbe and the whole country. The main air gateway
How cargo reaches Entebbe International
Air freight from Dubai to Entebbe International can use accepted nonstop or connecting belly and freighter capacity, subject to commodity, space and customs approval. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Jomo Kenyatta is the regional alternative when through cargo to Entebbe is unavailable. The quote combines air freight, security screening, handling, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Entebbe International - Kampala inland container depotsDry portKampala, Jinja and central Uganda. Where cargo from Mombasa is released
How cargo reaches Kampala inland container depots
Shipping from Dubai to the Kampala inland container depots can enter through Mombasa or Dar es Salaam, then continue under East African customs transit to a confirmed Kampala depot. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Mombasa port side clearance is the alternative when the inland depot does not suit the cargo or consignee. The quote combines ocean freight, port and inland terminal handling, rail or road transfer, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Kampala inland container depots - Mombasa, KenyaTranshipment portThe Northern Corridor, which carries most Ugandan sea cargo
How cargo reaches Mombasa, Kenya
Shipping from Dubai to Mombasa can use an accepted Indian Ocean booking, then move under East African customs transit by rail and road toward Uganda. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Dar es Salaam is the Central Corridor alternative, while Mombasa normally offers the shorter Northern Corridor. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay, port handling, customs transit, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Mombasa, Kenya - Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaTranshipment portThe Central Corridor, the alternative route for southwestern Uganda
How cargo reaches Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Shipping from Dubai to Dar es Salaam can use an accepted Indian Ocean booking, then move under customs transit through Tanzania toward Uganda. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Mombasa is the Northern Corridor alternative, while Dar es Salaam may suit southwestern Uganda. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay, port handling, customs transit, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Naivasha inland container depot, KenyaDry portThe railhead on the Northern Corridor where Ugandan cargo transfers to road
How cargo reaches Naivasha inland container depot, Kenya
Shipping from Dubai to the Naivasha inland container depot can enter through Mombasa, then move by rail to Naivasha and transfer to approved road transit through Malaba or Busia. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Direct road movement from Mombasa is the alternative when the rail transfer adds no time or capacity benefit. The quote combines ocean freight, port and inland terminal handling, rail or road transfer, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Naivasha inland container depot, Kenya - Malaba land portLand borderThe main Kenya border crossing on the Northern Corridor
How cargo reaches Malaba land port
Shipping from Dubai to Malaba land port can enter Kenya through Mombasa, then continue under East African customs transit through Malaba into Uganda. Border and convoy times vary, so we confirm the days when we quote. Busia is the alternative when congestion or the final destination favours the southern crossing. The quote combines the international leg, trucking, transit guarantees, border handling, clearance, insurance and final delivery. Get a rate for Malaba land port - Busia land portLand borderThe second Kenya crossing, south of Malaba
How cargo reaches Busia land port
Shipping from Dubai to Busia land port can enter Kenya through Mombasa, then continue under East African customs transit through Busia into Uganda. Border and convoy times vary, so we confirm the days when we quote. Malaba is the main Northern Corridor alternative, especially when the rail or Tororo route is useful. The quote combines the international leg, trucking, transit guarantees, border handling, clearance, insurance and final delivery. Get a rate for Busia land port - Mutukula land portLand borderThe Tanzania border on the Central Corridor route
How cargo reaches Mutukula land port
Shipping from Dubai to Mutukula land port can enter Tanzania through Dar es Salaam, then continue under customs transit through Mutukula into Uganda. Border and convoy times vary, so we confirm the days when we quote. Mombasa through Malaba is the Northern Corridor alternative for central and eastern Uganda. The quote combines the international leg, trucking, transit guarantees, border handling, clearance, insurance and final delivery. Get a rate for Mutukula land port
- Entebbe InternationalEBBAirportKampala, Entebbe and the whole country. The main air gateway
Before you ship
Import rules
for Uganda.
Two things to know, and we handle both. First, regulated products need a Certificate of Conformity issued here in Dubai before shipping, and it has to be a Ugandan certificate from an approved agent. A Kenyan one does not count, even though your cargo travels through Kenya. That catches people out who have shipped to Kenya before. Second, Ugandan duty is worked out and paid at Mombasa, not at the Ugandan border, so the paperwork has to be right before the container starts its long journey inland. Tell us what you are sending and we will check both.
Documentation
Documents you need
for Uganda.
These 8 cover most shipments to Uganda. The exact list depends on the commodity and its HS code, so send us both and we confirm what applies before the cargo is booked.
- 01Invoice showing what you paid for the goods
- 02Packing list showing what is inside
- 03Certificate of origin showing where the goods were made
- 04Bill of lading or air waybill, which is the shipping ticket
- 05Dubai export paper, which we do for you
- 06Ugandan Certificate of Conformity, if your product needs one
- 07The Ugandan buyer tax number
- 08Bond papers for the road and rail leg from Mombasa
Get the paperwork right in Dubai and clearance at destination is routine. Fixing a document after arrival is slow, and storage accrues the whole time it takes.
How it works
Dubai to Uganda
shipping, step by step.
Send the cargo details: what it is, where it is going, rough weight and dimensions. We come back with the routes that suit it, sea against road against air, and a written rate with a validity date on it. You pick one, we book it, and one coordinator stays with the shipment until it is delivered in Uganda.
- 01
Send the details
Tell us what you are sending, how heavy it is, how big it is, and where in Uganda it goes.
- 02
We check and certify
We arrange the Ugandan certificate if your product needs one, and make sure the entry is right before the goods sail.
- 03
Get a price and ship
We send a written price for the sea leg and the inland leg separately, then collect, load and clear.
- 04
We deliver
We track the shipment and keep you updated all the way, then bring the goods to your door.
Questions
Cargo to Uganda
questions, answered.
The 15 we are asked most on the Dubai to Uganda route. If yours is not here, send it with the commodity and we will answer it directly.
Do you offer movers and packers for a house move from Dubai to Uganda?
Yes. Our movers and packers do the packing, wrapping and listing, then we ship your furniture and household goods in a full container, or share one if you have less to send. The item by item list matters, because customs clear personal effects against it. Fuel, gas cylinders, paint, aerosols and loose batteries cannot travel, and we give you the full list before packing day.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Uganda take?
By sea it is about 7 to 18 days to Mombasa, then two to four weeks inland to Kampala. By air into Entebbe it is 2 to 6 days. We quote the sea leg and the inland leg separately because they behave very differently.
How much does shipping from Dubai to Uganda cost?
It depends on what you send, how big it is, and where in Uganda it is going. We do not publish prices because every shipment is different. Sea freight to Uganda is priced per container when you fill one, and per cubic metre when you share one. Air freight to Uganda is priced on weight or size, whichever is greater. Send us the details and we send you a price in writing, usually the same day.
Why does my cargo go through Mombasa?
Because Uganda has no coastline. Almost all Ugandan sea cargo lands at Mombasa in Kenya and travels inland by rail and road. Dar es Salaam in Tanzania is the alternative for the southwest.
Which cities in Uganda do you deliver to?
All of them. Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Gulu, Mbarara, Mbale, Masaka, Fort Portal, Lira and Arua. Just give us the address and we bring it to the door.
Where do I pay the Ugandan duty?
At Mombasa, not at the Ugandan border. Ugandan tax officers work at the port, so the duty is worked out and paid there and the container then travels inland under bond. It means the paperwork has to be right before the long inland trip starts.
I already have a Kenyan certificate. Does that work for Uganda?
No, and this is the most common mistake on this route. Uganda does not accept a certificate issued by another country in the region, even though your cargo passes through Kenya. You need a Ugandan certificate from an approved agent.
Do you deliver door to door?
Yes. We handle freight forwarding to Uganda door to door. We collect the goods in Dubai, move them, clear them through customs, and bring them to your address. You deal with one company for the whole journey.
Can I send a small shipment, or do I need a full container?
You can send as little as one box or one pallet. We put small shipments from different customers into one shared container. This is called LCL, or less than container load. Your goods load at Jebel Ali and come into Mombasa, Kenya. When you have more goods, you move up to your own full container, which is called FCL. We will tell you which one is cheaper.
Is the inland leg expensive?
Often it costs more than the sea leg. It is over a thousand kilometres of bonded road and rail from Mombasa to Kampala. Any quote that stops at Mombasa has priced the easier half, so we always show both.
Can you ship a car from Dubai to Uganda?
Yes, in a container or on a roll-on roll-off vessel through Mombasa, then inland. Uganda charges more tax on older vehicles. Send us the make, model, year and chassis number and we will set out the position.
Do you handle customs clearance in Uganda?
Yes, at both ends. We handle customs clearance in Dubai and customs clearance in Uganda. You do not need to find your own clearing agent.
Can you collect the goods from my supplier in Dubai?
Yes. We collect anywhere in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE. We can also hold your goods in warehousing and storage in Dubai until you are ready to ship. That helps when you are buying from several suppliers and want everything to travel to Mombasa, Kenya in one container.
Should I route through Mombasa or Dar es Salaam?
Mombasa for almost everything. It has the better rail link and more sailings from Dubai. Dar es Salaam is worth pricing for southwestern Uganda or when Mombasa is congested.
Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to Uganda?
Yes. We move project cargo to Uganda as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship into Mombasa, Kenya. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.
Ready to ship from Dubai
to Uganda?
Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what Uganda checks before you ship, then the routing options, then a written rate with a validity date on it.
- Written rates
- One coordinator
- Customs handled in house
- UAE-wide collection
