Everything You Need to Know to Film in Uganda
Your story is ready to be filmed. The paperwork isn't.
You have a story, a location and a shoot date. Maybe the flights are booked and the crew is ready to go. But before the first frame is shot, there's still work to do.
Media accreditation. Visas. Temporary import of equipment. Location permits. And if you're bringing a drone, there's a separate aviation process to deal with.
Exactly what you need depends on your production, your crew and where you plan to film. That's why it's worth sorting things out before you board the plane.
Here are the main things to consider when planning a production in Uganda.
Media accreditation in Uganda
Professional film and media productions need to consider media accreditation through the Uganda Media Council. Applications are handled per crew member. Depending on the current procedure, you may need documents including a completed application form, passport photo, passport copy and Certificate of Good Conduct.
The Uganda Media Council publishes the current requirements and process, so check its official information before submitting an application. We also cover the process in more detail in our article about Media Accreditation in Uganda.
Visa and work authorisation
Your travel documents also need to be sorted before you arrive. For many international crew members, this starts with a Uganda e-visa. Depending on the length and nature of your stay and the work you're carrying out, additional immigration authorisation may also be relevant, including a Special Pass.
One important distinction: permission to enter Uganda isn't automatically the same as permission to work there.
Check the latest requirements with the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) before you travel. More on this subject here: What Visa Do You Need to Film in Uganda?
Equipment clearance at Entebbe
Bringing professional cameras, lighting, sound equipment and other production gear into Uganda? Temporary import needs to be part of your planning. A detailed equipment list is important. Include serial numbers where required and make sure the list accurately reflects what your crew is carrying. Depending on your situation, you may need a local customs agent to assist with clearance at Entebbe International Airport.
It sounds like a small administrative detail. Until your equipment is sitting at customs and your first shooting day is getting closer. Good preparation means your crew spends less time at the airport dealing with paperwork that could have been arranged in advance. Read more about Equipment Clearance here.
Drones in Uganda
Planning to use a drone? Treat it as a separate part of your production planning.
Drone operations fall under the regulations of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA). Depending on the circumstances, additional authorisation, a local pilot, insurance and import documentation may be required. If you're bringing your own drone into Uganda, start the process well before you travel.
You can't simply land at Entebbe, unpack the drone and start flying the next morning. Requirements can depend on the operation, the location and whether you're importing the drone yourself.
For productions, we work with a locally UCAA-certified drone pilot and can help with the practical side of organising an aerial shoot. Read here more about Drones in Uganda.
Location permits
Your general filming authorisation doesn't automatically mean you can film anywhere. The location itself may have its own permit or approval process.
Filming inside a national park, for example, involves the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Government locations can follow different procedures. Filming in or around refugee settlements may also require additional coordination or permission.
That's why location checks should happen early in the production process.
A location may look straightforward on Google Maps or during a scout, but that doesn't automatically mean you can arrive with a camera crew and start filming.
Do you need a police escort?
Not every production does. In certain production contexts, police accompaniment can be arranged. Whether it's useful or necessary depends on the location, subject matter and circumstances of the shoot. We assess this on a production-by-production basis.
What you do need is permission from the police and inform them about the shoot. This will help you before, during and after the shoot to make sure the police knows and you have the right papers.
Transport is part of the production
One of the easiest things to underestimate when filming in Uganda is transport.
A journey that looks simple on Google Maps can take much longer in reality. Traffic, road conditions, construction and unexpected delays can all affect your shooting schedule. That's why we work with trusted local drivers who know the routes and understand how a film production works. It means the crew can work on the road, equipment is transported safely and the schedule has a little more room to breathe. Want to know more about transport and Drivers in Uganda? Read this blog.
Accommodation outside Kampala
For shorter productions, Kampala can be a practical base.
Once you're travelling further into the country, accommodation becomes part of the production logistics. Good accommodation isn't always available at short notice in remote areas. And sometimes the most important question isn't how nice the hotel is, but how long it takes to get from there to your location. When we plan a production, we look at the whole picture: location, travel time, accommodation and shooting schedule.
Health and travel preparation
The crew itself needs preparation too.
Uganda's health and entry requirements can change. The rules around yellow fever have recently changed and is not mandatory anymore, so older information on travel blogs and third-party websites may no longer be accurate. Check the latest information with the Uganda Ministry of Health, your airline and the relevant official authorities before departure.
You should also speak to a travel health professional about vaccinations and other health precautions relevant to your itinerary and work.
When should you start?
Start at least four to six weeks before departure. Earlier is better.
Several processes run alongside each other, each with its own requirements and timelines. Some applications may also require documents that need to be obtained elsewhere first. For a production, we work backwards from the departure date. When does the visa application need to go in? When should media accreditation be submitted? When does equipment clearance need to be prepared? Which locations need additional permission? And are you planning to fly a drone? The earlier you answer those questions, the less likely the paperwork is to dictate your shooting schedule.
We handle it
Story To Video is a Kampala-based production studio, founded and run by Dutch and Ugandan filmmakers. We know the steps, the contacts and the timelines. We think from a production perspective, not just a logistics one. Give us your shoot date and we'll make sure everything is in place when you arrive.
📍Based in Uganda and the Netherlands
Information in this post is current as of September 2026. Regulations can change. Get in touch for the most up-to-date situation.
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