Calling to Uganda
- Do not include a leading ‘0’ in the international call sequence – it is only used in Uganda for domestic long distance calls and domestic calls to a mobile phone.
- Callers from Tanzania and Kenya can substitute ‘006’ for the exit code and country code in the call sequence.
- A leading '+' in the phone number means 'dial your country's exit code'.
- Calling from a mobile phone: dial from on the country where you're currently located.
- Calling from a VoIP or satellite phone: dial from on the country where the phone is registered.
… to a mobile (cellular) phone or text (SMS)
Use the same call sequence.
Mobile phone numbers begin with ‘7’. Phone numbers are often listed as ’07’, however, the leading ‘0’ is not dialed when calling from outside the country. The second and third digit of the phone number designates the mobile provider.
When calling a mobile phone user, dial to the country where the mobile phone is registered, regardless of where the person is roaming.
… to a VoIP phone
Use the same call sequence.
When calling a VoIP phone user, dial to the country where the VoIP phone is registered, regardless of where the person is roaming.
… to a satellite phone
Uganda does not have a country-specific satellite phone system.
Most satellite phones operate on their country code – calls to these satellite phones follow their own call sequence.
… sending a fax
Use the same call sequence.
Calling within Uganda (domestic dialing)
‘0’ is used as a trunk prefix for calling to a different area code within Uganda.
Local calling (within the same area code)
To call within the same area code in Uganda dial only the local six-digit local number. Do not dial the trunk prefix ‘0’ or the area code.
| ”six |
| ”local |
Long distance calling (to a different area code, or from a mobile phone)
To call to a different area code within Tanzania dial the trunk prefix ‘0’, then the three digit area code, then the local phone number.
| 0 | three digits | six digits |
| trunk prefix | area code | local phone number |
Mobile calling (to a mobile phone)
To call a mobile phone within Uganda dial the trunk prefix ‘0’, then the three digit carrier code, then the local phone number.
| 0 | three digits | six digits |
| trunk prefix | carrier code | local phone number |
Ugandan phone numbers explained
Number details
Ugandan numbers are nine digits.
The first two digit area an area code that represents a geographic part of the country.
Mobile numbers begin with ‘7’.
An example of a Ugandan phone number
The Sheraton Kampala Hotel lists its phone number in Kampala as (256)(414) 420000.
Number explanation
| 256 | 414 | 42 0000 |
| country code for Uganda | area (geographic) code for Kampala | local phone number in Kampala |
Local example – calling from another location in Kampala, Uganda
To call within the same area code, dial only the local phone number. Do not dialt the trunk prefix ‘0’ or the area code.
| 42 0000 |
| local phone number in Kampala |
Long distance example – calling from Kaabong, Uganda (on the other side of the country)
To call to a different area code dial the trunk prefix ‘0’, then the area code, then the local phone number.
| 0 | 414 | 42 0000 |
| trunk prefix | area (geographic) code for Kampala | local phone number in Kampala |
Mobile phone example – calling from a mobile phone (including a foreign mobile roaming in Uganda)
To call from a mobile phone dial the trunk prefix ‘0’, then the area code, then the local phone number.
| 0 | 414 | 42 0000 |
| trunk prefix | area (geographic) code for Kampala | local phone number in Kampala |
International example – calling from outside Uganda
To call from outside Uganda, dial the exit code of the country the call is dialed from, followed by Uganda’s country code of ‘256’, followed by the local phone number.
Do not dial any leading ‘0’ listed in the Ugandan phone number.
| exit code | 256 | 414 | 42 0000 |
| exit code of the country the call is dialed form | country code for Uganda | area (geographic) code for Kampala | local phone number in Kampala |
Calling from Uganda
…to all countries except Kenya and Tanzania
‘000’ is used as an exit code when dialing an international call from Uganda.
…to Kenya and Tanzania
Kenya and Tanzania can be called through an alternative dialing process that is a remnant of the East African Posts and Telecommunications Corporation.
Kenya
The Kenyan switchboard can be reached by dialing ‘005’ ahead of the local Tanzanian phone number.
| 005 | local phone number |
| direct dial from Tanzania or Uganda to Kenya | local phone number within Kenya |
Tanzania
The Tanzanian switchboard can be reached by dialing ‘007’ ahead of the local Tanzanian phone number.
| 007 | local phone number |
| direct dial from Kenya or Uganda to Tanzania | local phone number within Tanzania |
Sources and more resources
- Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) – Uganda’s telephone systems regulator.
- ITU (International Telecommunications Union) – United Nations specialized agency for information and communications technologies.
- International Telecommunications Union – DIALLING PROCEDURES (INTERNATIONAL PREFIX, NATIONAL (TRUNK) PREFIX AND NATIONAL (SIGNIFICANT) NUMBER) (IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITU-T RECOMMENDATION E.164 (11/2010)) – A collection of dialing procedures for all countries and regions of the world. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- International Telecommunications Union – Uganda (country code +256) National Numbering Plan – Details of Uganda’s telephone numbering plan as submitted to the ITU. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- Wikipedia – Telephone numbers in Uganda – Wikipedia entry for telephone number data for Uganda. Includes specific number ranges for each city as well as detail on calling procedures.
- BT – The Phonebook – Uganda – Entry for Uganda in the British Telecom international directory.