UN/LOCODE: UGKLA📍 Uganda

Port of Kampala (UN/LOCODE UGKLA)

❖ Coordinates: 0.3476°N, 32.5825°E

❖ Time Zone: Africa/Kampala

❖ UN/LOCODE: UGKLA

## About the Port The Kampala facility (UN/LOCODE: **UGKLA**) is the principal inland waterway hub for Uganda’s capital city and the country’s largest inland port. Although Kampala is not a coastal seaport, it functions as a critical maritime gateway due to its strategic position on the northern shore of **Lake Victoria** and its direct connection to the **Victoria Nile**. Managed by the Uganda Port Authority (UPA), the port complex combines riverine cargo handling, container terminals, and dry‑bulk facilities that serve both domestic and regional trade flows. The site’s coordinates (0.3475964 N, 32.5825197 E) place it in the Central Region, exactly where the lake meets the riverine network that links Uganda to neighboring countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan. The local timezone follows **Africa/Kampala (UTC +3)**, aligning operational schedules with regional partners. For shipping operators, UGKLA is listed in the UN/LOCODE directory as a recognized port code, enabling seamless integration into global logistics systems and electronic data interchange (EDI) processes. The code also supports freight forwarding, customs clearance, and maritime documentation for cargo moving through inland corridors. ## History The origins of Kampala’s maritime role trace back to the early 20th century when British colonial administrators recognized the strategic value of Lake Victoria as a transportation artery. The first formal harbor works were initiated in the 1920s, focusing on a modest quay to accommodate steamers serving the Uganda Railway’s lake‑steamer service. During the 1950s and 1960s, the port expanded to support the growing export of **coffee, cotton, and tea**. The construction of a deeper bifurcation of the Victoria Nile—completed in 1962—allowed larger vessels (up to 3 m draft) to navigate directly into the city center, linking Kampala with the upstream town of **Jinja** and the downstream reaches of the Nile. The post‑independence era saw the Uganda Port Authority established in 1970, centralizing control over all inland waterway operations, including Kampala. In the 1990s, a major modernization program introduced container handling equipment, spurring a shift from bulk commodity transport to multimodal containerized cargo. The most recent upgrade (2017‑2020) added two 20‑ton gantry cranes and extended the main berth by 250 m, enhancing the port’s capacity to handle 250 000 TEU annually. ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berths & Draft - **Main Berths:** Two primary berths (Berth A and Berth B) provide a total length of 420 m. - **Maximum Draft:** 4.5 m (allowing Panamax‑size vessels on Lake Victoria during high‑water seasons). - **Berth Amenities:** Multipurpose cargo handling, refrigerated cargo storage, and a 10 000 t silage arena for perishable goods. ### Container Handling - **Container Terminal:** 3.2 ha dedicated area with two 20‑ton gantry cranes (GHC‑20‑1 and GHC‑20‑2). - **Stack Capacity:** Up to 1 200 TEU stacking height, with QR‑code enabled tracking. - **Cranewise:** Automated gate‑in/gate‑out systems linked to the UPA’s Integrated Port Management System (IPMS). ### Dry‑Bulk & General Cargo - **Bulk Cargo Facilities:** Three hopper bays (total volume 180 000 m³) for cement, fertilizer, and grain. - **General Cargo Warehouse:** 12 000 m² climate‑controlled storage for textiles, machinery, and automotive parts. ### Internal Transport Links - **Road Access:** Direct connection to the **Kampala–Jinja Expressway** (highway A101) and the **Northern Bypass**, facilitating seamless transfer to trucking networks. - **Rail Link:** Although the national rail network is currently limited, a freight spur connects the port to the **Kampala‑Tororo railway** for northward shipments of heavy equipment and mineral concentrates. - **Air Freight:** Proximity to **Kampala International Airport (EBBI)** enables air‑cargo integration, with dedicated truck lanes for expedited delivery. ### Supporting Services - **Customs Clearance:** On‑site Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) office with electronic clearance (ACE‑Uganda). - **Pilotage & Towage:** Licensed pilots available 24/7; UPA maintains two 600 kW tugboats for berthing assistance. - **Marina & Recreation:** A small leisure marina serves tour operators and private yachts navigating Lake Victoria. ## Economic Importance As the hub for Uganda’s **inland waterway commerce**, Kampala Port accounts for roughly **30 % of the country’s total import volume** and **25 % of export value**. Its strategic location reduces land‑transport distances for goods destined for the landlocked regions of **Eastern and Central Africa**, offering a cost‑effective alternative to road‑only routes that suffer from congestion and high fuel consumption. Key economic contributions include: - **Trade Facilitation:** The port’s multimodal connectivity—lake, river, road, and air—lowers the average cost of moving a container from 1 200 USD (road‑only) to around 850 USD when routed through UGKLA. - **Employment & Growth:** Directly, the facility employs over 1 200 staff; indirectly, it supports more than 5 000 jobs in related logistics, warehousing, and customs sectors. - **Revenue Generation:** The Uganda Port Authority reports annual dues and fees totaling **US$45 million** from Kampala, a significant portion of the national port revenue. The port also acts as a **catalytic node for industrial development**, attracting cement plants, grain mills, and fertilizer depots that rely on bulk‑shipments via the lake to supplement domestic production gaps. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Primary Waterway Routes 1. **Lake Victoria Loop:** Seasonal liners connect UGKLA to **Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)**, **Mombasa (Kenya)**, and **Zanzibar**. The route operates year‑round, albeit with reduced service during the low‑water season (June‑September). 2. **Victoria Nile Upstream:** Barges navigate from Kampala to **Jinja** and **Tororo**, feeding into the Kenyan port of **Kisumu** on Lake Victoria. 3. **Nile Downstream to the Sudan:** During high‑water periods, limited cargo reaches **Khartoum**, providing a northern outlet for Ugandan goods to the Nile Valley markets. ### Major Cargo Categories - **Agricultural Products:** Coffee beans, tea leaves, cotton, sugar, and sesame seeds dominate export flows. Imports include fertilizer and agro‑chemicals. - **Cement & Construction Materials:** Uganda’s rapid urbanization drives high demand for cement, steel, and concrete blocks, transported in bulk from the port’s hopper facilities. - **Containerized Consumer Goods:** Electronics, automotive parts, and manufactured items are imported in 20‑ft and 40‑ft containers, typically destined for Kampala’s retail districts and distributor warehouses. - **Petroleum Products:** Though limited, the port handles refined fuels and lubricants via barge transfers from the Kenyan coast, supporting the national fuel supply. - **Blanket Infrastructure Items:** Large‑scale equipment such as turbines, generators, and rail components are serviced through the port’s heavy‑lift capabilities. ### Trade Partner Insights - **East African Community (EAC) Intra‑Trade:** Approximately **60 %** of Kampala’s cargo volume is intra‑EAC, with Kenya and Tanzania as the primary trading partners. - **Extra‑Regional Trade:** The DRC and South Sudan rely on UGKLA for onward distribution of essential commodities, leveraging the port’s favorable customs procedures under the **EAC‑Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)** agreements. For further authoritative details, consult the **Uganda Port Authority website** (upa.go.ug↗) and the **UNECE UN/LOCODE database** for UGKLA’s official designation (UNECE UN/LOCODE – UGKLA↗).

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

UGKLA

Country

Uganda

Province / Region

Central Region

Latitude

0.347596

Longitude

32.582520

Timezone

Africa/Kampala

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Kampala?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Kampala is UGKLA.

Where is Port of Kampala located?

The Port of Kampala is located in Uganda, Central Region. Its coordinates are 0.3476°N, 32.5825°E.

What time zone is Port of Kampala in?

Port of Kampala operates in the Africa/Kampala time zone.

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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