Whether you are importing or flying a drone for private non-commercial use, there are permits and permission required by law for the use of drones in Ugandan airspace. Flying a drone In Uganda
Bringing a drone on your safari to Uganda does give you the liberty to capture the most captivating shots of places an ordinary handheld DSLR Camera could never capture. However, importing and flying a drone In Uganda requires for one to have secured all relevant drone importation paperwork and filming permits. The drone operator has got to be a certified drone pilot – paper proof might be required by authorities.
For all our travellers intending to import & fly a Drone in Uganda, we do recommend that you follow the procedures set by the Uganda Government regarding importing Drones Into Uganda.
Procedures of importing drones Into UgandaFlying a drone in Uganda
Write an Official letter (Use Company headed paper if working for the Film production company) to the respective Ministerial Office introducing yourself, the filming project you intend to shoot with a drone, where you will be filming In Uganda with a drone, don’t forget to mention the intentions of this film.
To make this a little more clear, for instance, if you intend to visit Uganda to film Gorillas in Bwindi Forest, the respective ministerial office to write to would be the Ministry of tourism, introducing your filming company and also giving some details regarding your intended project.
Attach / Mention FULL specifications of the Drone you intend to Import (Mention: Make, year of Manufacture, Serial Number & the Value/price of the drone) and send these to Realm Africa Safaris™ and we, in turn, will forward them to the respective Ministerial office. Upon receipt, the respective ministry will then forward your request to import a Drone into Uganda to the Ministry of Defense and Security – which office will thoroughly scrutinize your request.
All Rights to Permit and or Deny Importation and Or use of drones into Uganda is a reserve of the Ministry of Defense & security.
After scrutiny, the Ministry of defence will then contact the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority instructing them to permit or deny the importation of the drone mentioned in your letter requesting to import a Drone into Uganda. The Ministry of Defense will then write back to the respective Primary Ministry ( For example; if importing a drone into Uganda to shoot a film about Uganda’s Wildlife, the primary Ministry to which your letter is addressed should be; Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities) informing them of either Approval or Denial of your request To import the said Drone. It’s at this point that Realm Africa Safaris™ safaris will contact you after receiving the same communication for the Primary Ministry.
All persons intending to use Realm Africa Safaris™ Film Crew fixing Service of Importing Drones Into Uganda are advised to allow ample time – at least 06 months in advance.
The laws governing the use of drones in Uganda Flying a drone in Uganda
- Avoid flying within five (05) miles/8 kilometres of an airport or Listed No-Fly zones
- Keep the drone within visual line-of-sight.
- Fly at or below 400 feet/ 122 meters.
- Only fly during daylight or after sunset or before sunrise ending or beginning when the sun is about 06 degrees below the horizon and during which on clear days there is enough light for ordinary outdoor occupations
- Fly at or under 100 mph/ 160Kmh.
- Yield right of way to any manned aircraft
- Do not fly directly over people. especially if they are not part of your shoot.
- Do not fly from a moving vehicle, unless in a sparsely populated area.
The rules are very simple and clear (at least we think so). However, failure to respect the drones laws In Uganda will result in confiscation of your drone, and imprisonment for breach of law. We advise that you respect the drone laws in Uganda – even if you find these ridiculous.
Listed No-fly zones In Uganda
You cant fly a drone in the following areas unless special permission has been granted.
- Entebbe International Airport.
- Entebbe State House.
- Kampala State House.
- The Presidential Ranch in Gomba.
- State Lodges spread all over the country.
What to expect from shooting with a Drone
Take a glimpse at what Uganda has to offer through the eye of a DJI Mavic Pro – Uganda is an amazing destination with jaw-dropping sceneries and tonnes of wildlife. You will love flying your drone in Uganda.
