Uganda is truly endowed with beautiful scenery, landscapes, cultural heritage, and amazing wildlife. The country popularly known as the pearl of Africa is a spectacular emerging filming destination with a variety to see, photograph and film. In today’s article, we will list the popular filming locations in Uganda. Should you fail to find that ideal location on the list, remember Realm Africa Safaris™ can assist you with location scouting based on your project.
Important Information about Filming In Uganda
Filming In Uganda just like any other filming Destination requires a Uganda Filming Permit often referred to as a Press Accreditation issued in form of a Media Card that allows foreign film crews, Journalists (Company employed or Freelance) to carry on with any activities of Filming In Uganda. The process and procedures for applying for Filming permits In Uganda (Press Accreditations & other relevant Permissions) can be tiresome without the help of a professional Film Crew Fixer company like Realm Africa Safaris™. All Uganda Filming Permits are issued by the Uganda Media Council – a body mandated by the Ugandan government to oversee all issuance of valid Filming permits to Film In Uganda.
Realm Africa Safaris™ can assist you in completing the mandatory Uganda Filming application form (FORM G), putting together all information needed and then submitting it to us. We will then forward your application to the Uganda Media Council for approval. Once APPROVED, an Identification card dubbed “Media Card ” will be issued indicating the Full Names of your Film Crew member, with his or her photo appearing on their media Card.
Press Accreditation fees in Uganda Popular Filming Locations In Uganda
- a fee of US$175 per person is paid for a period not exceeding 30 days of the journalist’s stay.
- a fee of US$225 per person is paid for a period beyond 30 days up to six months of stay.
- a fee of US$325 per person is paid for a period of two years.
** The fees mentioned above are set and can be amended by the Uganda Media Council without any prior consultation. we, therefore, remind you to treat these as a guide.
For all Filming Crews and Production Companies, we recommend that you allow ample time to the process of application, and acquiring all your Uganda Filming Permits (Press Accreditations, media cards, and Location Permissions). If you have limited time, a rushed last-minute permit might be possible however, the costs are much higher.
Other permissions needed for Filming In Uganda.
Once we have obtained your Press Accreditation from the Uganda Media Council, we then need to acquire location filming permits/ permission from relevant authorities. For instance, if you intend to film gorillas in Bwindi Forest, then you will need to fill out a UWA Commercial film & Photography Permit request form, and thereafter send it through to Uganda wildlife Authority – UWA for approval (see: Filming inside Uganda’s National Parks).
Various Film/Video Fees apply for filming within National Parks, Wildlife Areas, and Conservation Areas. National Parks and Conservation areas have fees specific to film crews that are subject to change regularly. See Uganda Wildlife Authority Website for up-to-date Filming fees/charges.
Depending on where you want to film In Uganda, there will probably be filming fees for the area. Filming fees are a huge factor in any filming project budget, therefore, we recommend contacting us as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Otherwise, if you are filming in another location other than in the National parks, we need to seek permission from the local area leaders and the Uganda police.
***It is important to bear in mind that Uganda is a developing country, one with many rules and regulations and therefore it is important to be properly guided through bureaucratic processes.
Importing your film equipment Popular Filming Locations In Uganda
Considering that Uganda is the filming destination of your choice, you will most definitely need to bring in filming equipment. The best way to do this is by air. We recommend that you plan to accompany your filming equipment all the way to your filming destination – in other words, be on the same flight as your equipment. The other option is to air freight it as ‘unaccompanied’ luggage. However, be informed that the option of flying in your equipment ” unaccompanied may turn out to be more expensive, and the equipment risks sitting too long at customs port of arrival something that requires you to plan for yet extra days to pick it up from customs.
Temporary importation of film equipment falls under a Bond system in Uganda.
With the Bond system, you have the option of depositing the full value of the equipment with the Uganda Government for the duration of the shoot. On exit, you can apply to get this Bond money refunded.
Otherwise, film crews can pay a non-refundable 10% of the total value of the equipment to a freight agent who will allow you to use his Bond. This is a quicker and easier process. Realm Africa Safaris™ has a reliable and efficient freight agent whom we work with on most of our filming projects.
Other Optional services offered By Realm Africa Safaris™
What is there to film in Uganda? Popular Filming Locations In Uganda
There are a couple of interesting things to shoot/film in Uganda.
Premier Filming Locations In Uganda Popular Filming Locations In Uganda
There are a couple of interesting filming locations in Uganda, however, we will only list the Premier Locations.
