{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/uganda/gulu","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:20:24.660Z","place":{"city":"Gulu","country":"Uganda","countryCode":"UG","lat":2.77457,"lon":32.29899},"safety":{"score":44,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":32,"confidence":0.89,"caps":[{"max":44,"reason":"Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel"}],"databaseScore":44,"travellerSentiment":{"score":65,"label":"Cautiously optimistic","summary":"61% of residents report feeling safe walking alone at night, and Gulu authorities claim it is safer than other major Uganda cities. However, documented gang activity and high assault rates substantially temper this self-perception for visiting outsiders.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":61,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":57,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":65,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":30,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":55,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":65,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-07-27T14:00:28Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uganda"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":3,"label":"Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/uganda"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":8.97308867739149,"display":"9.0 / 100k","year":"2023","score":49,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":0.7,"display":"0.7%","year":"2013","score":99,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.03892194464777917,"display":"0.04 / million","year":"2021","score":95,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":16,"display":"16.0 / 100k","year":"2021","score":51,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":48.4331578,"display":"48/100","year":"2024","score":48,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":44.2541878,"display":"44/100","year":"2024","score":44,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":25.2618885,"display":"25/100","year":"2024","score":25,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":44.5324232,"display":"45/100","year":"2024","score":45,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":46.5941247,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":39.1204397,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":177400,"display":"177k residents","year":null,"score":84,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":61,"display":"61.0%","year":"2017","score":61,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":24.8,"display":"24.8%","year":"2022","score":26,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"sexual_violence","label":"Sexual violence (past year)","value":4.3,"display":"4.3%","year":"2022","score":59,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":1.71,"display":"1.71 / 100k","year":"2024","score":69,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":17,"display":"17.0%","year":"2017","score":63,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":56,"display":"US AQI 56 · Moderate","year":null,"score":87,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":2,"display":"1 notice · max Alert","year":null,"score":60,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":5,"display":"5 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2010","score":30,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":30,"display":"July: highs ~30°C · wet spell","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Drought (green)","year":null,"score":96,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":3,"display":"Level 3 — Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":30,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":61,"display":"61 / 100 (Cautiously optimistic)","year":null,"score":61,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/ebola-drc-uganda"},{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Drought","severity":"green","title":"Drought is on going in Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda","distanceKm":190}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"No — Gulu is not safe for casual travel; essential visits require comprehensive security planning given documented gang activity, very high assault rates, and an active Ebola alert.","summary":"Gulu's 42/100 safety index reflects very high assault rates (24.8% annually), gang activity, and weak governance institutions, compounded by an active Ebola alert and a Canadian Level 3 advisory to avoid non-essential travel. Petty theft is the main risk to tourists, but broader security concerns warrant careful pre-trip planning.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Gang activity is documented but historically targeted at residents. Street robbery/mugging of tourists is less common than general assault rates suggest, but constant vigilance is essential."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Petty theft is the primary risk to tourists—pickpocketing and bag-snatching in markets, transport hubs, and crowded areas."},"safeAreas":["Gulu City Centre (commercial zone with police presence and established businesses)"],"avoidAreas":["Kampala–Gulu Highway (14 killed, 28 injured in bus crash July 2026; traffic fatality rate 16/100k)","Traveling alone after dark (24.8% past-year physical assault rate)","Laroo and other areas with documented gang activity"],"scams":["Boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) overcharging or ambush schemes on highways","Fake tour operators or permits for gorilla trekking or wildlife tours","Street vendor price inflation and short-change scams","Investment or mining scheme frauds targeting foreign visitors"],"zones":[{"name":"Gulu City Centre","level":"caution","note":"Commercial core with police presence and foot traffic; best-patrolled area but watch belongings, avoid solo night walks"},{"name":"Pece Division","level":"caution","note":"Established residential area; moderate petty crime and assault risk — stay alert, travel with companions after dark"},{"name":"Laroo Division","level":"caution","note":"Residential zone; gang activity documented in past reports (2019–2022) — avoid displaying valuables, maintain awareness"},{"name":"Bardege-Layibi Division","level":"caution","note":"Mixed residential-commercial; moderate street crime and theft — travel in groups, minimize visible cash"},{"name":"Nyadri Division","level":"caution","note":"Outer residential area; less visible security presence — apply standard precautions, especially after dusk"},{"name":"Kampala–Gulu Highway","level":"avoid","note":"Dangerous transit corridor; fatal bus crash July 2026 (14 dead, 28 injured) — poor roads, reckless driving; use alternatives"}]}}