Equipment Clearance at Entebbe: How Temporary Import of Film Gear Works
Your gear is packed. Entebbe is where it actually starts.
Flights booked, gear packed, shoot scheduled. Then you land at Entebbe and a process begins that you should have arranged entirely in advance. Equipment clearance in Uganda works differently from what most European crews expect. Discovering that on arrival costs time you cannot afford to lose.
Uganda does not accept ATA Carnets
Most European film productions travel with an ATA Carnet: an international customs document that allows temporary import of professional equipment without paying import duties. Convenient, fast, familiar.
Uganda is not an ATA Carnet country. The document is not accepted here. That means you need to approach the process differently: through a local clearing agent and a temporary import permit arranged specifically for your production.
Everything starts with the kit list, before departure
Before your gear gets on the plane, you need to submit a complete kit list to your clearing agent. Not a rough summary: a detailed list of every item with description and value. Cameras, lenses, lights, sound equipment, tripods, batteries, everything.
The logic is straightforward: customs needs to verify that everything brought in also leaves the country. No kit list means no clearance. An incomplete list means delays on arrival.
Arrange this before departure, not on the day you land.
Note: your drone is not covered by this
You cannot simply add a drone to your kit list. Drones follow a separate process, with permission from the UCAA, the UPDF and the Chief of Defence Forces. Without that paperwork your drone does not enter the country at Entebbe, even if the rest of your gear has been cleared. Arrange this well in advance, because it can take months.
Read more about drones: Bringing a drone to Uganda? Here's what to arrange first
The clearing agent
You need a local clearing agent to handle the formalities at Entebbe on your behalf. We work with a dedicated fixer who manages this on the ground: he knows the process, knows the contacts at the airport, and makes sure it runs smoothly. Without someone handling this for you, you are navigating an unfamiliar system alone.
Clearance costs around $1700, depending on the amount of gear. This covers both the agent fees and customs costs. Build this into your production budget.
On the day: allow time
The clearance process at Entebbe takes time. Do not schedule tight appointments on your arrival day. With a good agent it is structured, but it is not quick.
On departure: everything goes back out
Temporary import means temporary export too. When you leave, your gear gets checked again: customs verifies that everything that came in is going back out. Keep your kit list accessible and make sure your gear is complete and organised at departure.
What goes wrong without proper preparation
Gear that has not been declared can be seized. An incomplete kit list causes delays. Assuming an ATA Carnet will work leads to a conversation with customs that your production schedule cannot absorb.
We handle this for you
Story To Video is a Kampala-based production studio, founded and run by Dutch and Ugandan filmmakers. Our fixer handles equipment clearance at Entebbe for every production we manage. All you need to provide is the kit list.
Your gear is only one part of your preparation. Want to make sure you don't miss anything? Read Everything You Need to Know to Film in Uganda. Or leave it to us. From visas and permits to transport and drones: we take care of everything, so you can focus on the story.
📍Based in Uganda and the Netherlands
Information current as of September 2026. Regulations and fees can change. Get in touch for the most up-to-date situation.
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