{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/uganda/mbarara","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:21:08.029Z","place":{"city":"Mbarara","country":"Uganda","countryCode":"UG","lat":-0.60467,"lon":30.64851},"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":63,"label":"Cautiously navigable with risk","summary":"Travelers report Mbarara can be visited with constant vigilance, though mostly for those on essential business. While 61% of residents feel safe in daylight hours, the high assault rate (24.8% past year) and omnipresent petty crime mean visitors should expect daily risk management rather than ease.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":55,"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":55,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":63,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":30,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":55,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":63,"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":221300,"display":"221k 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":84,"display":"US AQI 84 · Moderate","year":null,"score":74,"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":31,"display":"July: highs ~31°C · no weather extremes","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Drought (green)","year":null,"score":90,"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":55,"display":"55 / 100 (Cautiously navigable with risk)","year":null,"score":55,"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":351}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"No — Mbarara is not suitable for tourism due to elevated crime, weak governance, and active health alerts; only essential visits with strong precautions are advised.","summary":"Mbarara is a caution-level destination with a homicide rate of 9.0 per 100,000 (above world average) and 24.8% of residents experiencing physical assault annually. Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel while the UK permits visits with normal caution. Governance is weak (rule of law 44/100, corruption control 25/100), and the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak is active in the region.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Street robbery and mugging occur especially at night and in isolated areas; visitors with visible valuables or electronic devices face elevated risk."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in markets, on minibuses, and crowded gathering areas; constant alertness and secure bags are essential."},"safeAreas":["Nyamitanga (outer residential)","Biharwe (suburban fringe)"],"avoidAreas":["Kakoba after dark (central commercial zone, highest robbery risk)","Isolated alleys and unlit streets citywide after dark","Areas outside the six main municipality divisions at night"],"scams":["Boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) overcharging — always negotiate fares before boarding","Job and investment schemes — never accept unsolicited offers of employment or quick profits","Taxi fraud and inflated fares — use only hotel-arranged transport or registered services"],"zones":[{"name":"Kakoba","level":"caution","note":"Central commercial hub; highest theft and mugging risk; stay alert, avoid alone after dark"},{"name":"Kamukuzi","level":"caution","note":"Residential area; moderate petty theft and robbery; secure valuables, avoid isolated streets at night"},{"name":"Nyakayojo","level":"caution","note":"Mixed residential; moderate crime risk; standard urban precautions apply throughout"},{"name":"Kisenyi","level":"caution","note":"Gentrified neighborhood; transformed from 1980s–90s no-go zone; improved but still exercise caution at night"},{"name":"Nyamitanga","level":"caution","note":"Quieter outer residential; lower street crime than central areas; still avoid late-night solo travel"},{"name":"Biharwe","level":"caution","note":"Suburban division; relatively calmer but limited after-dark police presence; standard precautions advised"},{"name":"Kakiika","level":"caution","note":"Residential division; similar risk profile to other areas; watch for theft and mugging"}]}}