The best way to travel from Kampala to Fort Portal, Uganda is to take the Link Bus. The bus departs about every hour throughout the day. A ticket costs 40,000 UGX one-way (about $10.60). The bus departs from the Link Bus terminal, which is located in downtown Kampala. It is also possible to hire a private transfer or drive yourself. The trip from Kampala to Fort Portal is around 300km (186 miles) and takes about 6 hours.
I recently made this trip with my girlfriend. We wanted to take a weekend getaway and we decided on Fort Portal because neither of us had ever been. We bought tickets on the Baby bus on the way there. That turned out to be a huge mistake. On the way back, we took the Link Bus and enjoyed a smooth trip. In this guide, I’ll explain how to make this trip.
Transport Options and Prices
| Mode | Bus | Private transfer | Self drive |
| Time | 6 hours | 4.5-5.5 hours | 4.5-5.5 hours |
| Cost | 40,000 UGX or $10.60 (one-way price) | $150-$250 (one-way price) | 145,000-215,000 UGX or $38-$56 (fuel cost one way) |
| When you’d use it | When you’re on a budget | If you prefer private transport and you don’t feel comfortable driving yourself | If you have your own vehicle or if you prefer driving yourself |
Where to Catch the Bus
The Link Bus departs from Link Bus Terminal. It is located on Namirembe Road in downtown Kampala. Here is the location on Google Maps. You could get there by taxi (shared minibus). It is within walking distance of the old taxi park. You could also take an Uber or SafeCar there. You could also get there by boda.
We took a taxi from our home in Kyanja. The ride took 45 minutes or so. From the taxi park, we walked to the bus terminal.
Because these buses depart hourly, it doesn’t really matter when you arrive. You don’t have to book a ticket in advance. When you show up, just go to the ticket window and buy a ticket for the next bus. You can pay with cash or mobile money. The tickets cost 40,000 shillings. You shouldn’t have to wait more than an hour.
It’s important to note that these buses don’t run all night long. The first bus in the morning departs at 4:30 am. The last bus at night departs at 11:30 pm.
We actually took the Baby Bus from Kampala. We happened to walk by the station on our way to the Link station and saw that the tickets were 5,000 shillings cheaper so we took it. Don’t do what we did.
The Ride
The bus ride from Kampala to Fort Portal takes around 6 hours, if there are no issues along the way. In our case, it took over 16 hours.
If you take the Link Bus, the ride is relatively comfortable. The bus will make a couple of stops along the way. There will be one bathroom break. The bus is pretty basic. The windows open. The seats recline. It’s not that comfortable but it’s fine.
As I mentioned, we took the Baby Bus from Kampala. The driver would not leave until the bus was completely full. We had to wait about 2.5 hours for the bus to fill up. The entire time, there were people walking up and down the aisle trying to sell different kinds of snake oil.
When we finally left, we didn’t make it very far. Unfortunately, the bus broke down on the side of the road, just outside of Kampala. The driver snuck off so he wouldn’t have to deal with angry passengers. Evidently, he had to go all the way back to Kampala to get a different bus because ours couldn’t be repaired. That is what another passenger told us after calling the company.
We waited an hour or so and decided to abandon the bus and take a series of taxis to Fort Portal instead. This cost an additional 20,000 UGX ($5.30).
This was probably a mistake. We didn’t get to Fort Portal until 8pm. The taxis were incredibly cramped and uncomfortable but we made it.
It surprised me that this road was not paved the whole way. About ¼ of the trip was on dirt and gravel roads. There is one section in particular that is incredibly dusty. It was so dusty that all of the greenery on the sides of the road was white because it was covered in dust. Everyone on the bus closed the windows and held their clothing over their noses and mouths. It was that bad. The road was rough as well. Lots of bouncing around.
Arriving in Fort Portal
If you take the Link Bus, you’ll be dropped off at the Link Bus terminal. It is located on a side road, just off the main road, within walking distance of the city center. Here is the location on Google Maps.
From there, you could walk, take a boda, or take a special hire taxi to your hotel. Fort Portal is a small city. You could walk across it in 20 minutes so everything is relatively close by.
Because we arrived by taxi, we were dropped off right in the city center, near the main roundabout. It was about 8pm when we arrived. We walked about 5 minutes to our hotel.
The Ride Back to Kampala
We took the Link Bus on the way back. We walked to the Link Bus station and bought tickets at the window. The ticket cost 40,000 UGX. There is a price list so you won’t be overcharged. There is a bathroom at the back of the station.
After buying our tickets, we boarded the bus immediately. Our bus left about 20 minutes later. It was fast and efficient. The bus was not completely full so it was pretty comfortable.
The bus made maybe 2 or 3 stops along the way. There was only one stop that was long enough to use the bathroom. There were snacks and drinks available. Whenever the bus stopped, vendors would sell through the windows.
The bus will make several stops in Kampala. You can tell the conductor where you’re going and they will let you off at the closest stop. We got off at Busega Roundabout then traveled home from there. It was faster than going all the way to downtown. The last stop is the Link Bus terminal.
Final Thoughts
If you’re going to travel from Kampala to Fort Portal, I recommend taking the Link Bus. This bus runs hourly. It is fast, safe, affordable, and efficient. They operate a professional service. Avoid any smaller or unknown bus companies. If you’d prefer private transport, you can hire a car and driver. You could also make this drive yourself. The road isn’t all paved but it is reasonably well maintained.
If you’re traveling in the region, check out my guide: How to Travel from Entebbe to Kampala by Bus. Also, check out my in-depth guide to living in Uganda as a foreigner.
Zachary Friedman is an accomplished travel writer and professional blogger. Since 2011, he has traveled to 68 countries and 6 continents. He founded ‘Where The Road Forks’ in 2017 to provide readers with information and insights based on his travel and outdoor experience. Zachary is also an avid cyclist and hiker. He is currently based in Entebbe, Uganda. For more information on his journey and background, visit the About page. For inquiries and collaborations, please reach out through the Contact page. You can also follow him on Facebook.