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Country Code 256 – Uganda

LAST UPDATE: July 27th, 2019

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.

0three digitssix digits
trunk prefixarea codelocal 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.

0three digitssix digits
trunk prefixcarrier codelocal 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
25641442 0000
country code for Ugandaarea (geographic) code for Kampalalocal 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.

041442 0000
trunk prefixarea (geographic) code for Kampalalocal 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.

041442 0000
trunk prefixarea (geographic) code for Kampalalocal 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 code25641442 0000
exit code of the country the call is dialed formcountry code for Ugandaarea (geographic) code for Kampalalocal 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.

005local phone number
direct dial from Tanzania or Uganda to Kenyalocal phone number within Kenya

Tanzania

The Tanzanian switchboard can be reached by dialing ‘007’ ahead of the local Tanzanian phone number.

007local phone number
direct dial from Kenya or Uganda to Tanzanialocal phone number within Tanzania

Sources and more resources