A guide to filming in Uganda
This is a comprehensive guide to filming in Uganda. In here you will find information on how to process filming permits, hiring a local film fixer, how to get your media cards, hiring and flying drones in Uganda, casting, and all production and pre-production services in Uganda and so much more. Feel free to get in touch with one of our line producers
A brief about location Uganda
Uganda, also known as the pearl of Africa, is one of the prominent and desired filming locations for production companies around the world. The people of Uganda are very welcoming, and the country is blessed with nature and culture to explore. Uganda is very famous for its mountain gorillas and wildlife; not only this, but its different food types and cuisines are to look out for. The history of the people also makes it a very interesting location to select for filming. As Film crew fixers, Uganda is one of the countries that we have worked in over the years. From pre-production, permissions, and location scouting up to the very end of production, our experts are available to help you with everything that you need to film in Uganda. Feel free to contact us for more information.
Below are answered questions to guide you as you plan to film in Uganda;
Do I need media accreditation to film in Uganda?
If you are interested in filming in Uganda, take note of the following, as they are fundamental for you to film in Uganda successfully.
First and foremost, you will need media accreditation. This is what distinguishes you as a journalist/media person/crew member. By law all foreign film crew members apart of a shoot are required to get this accreditation. Media accreditations are issued by the Media Council of Uganda. You are advised to work with your fixer to provide you with guidance and ensure you get it in time. For more information, please contact us
What are the requirements for media accreditation in Uganda?
The requirements for media accreditation in Uganda include the following; Introductory letter addressed to The Secretary Media Council of Uganda, certificate of good conduct, Passport copy, passport size photograph, filled in Form G, you should have applied for the special pass. If you have all the above share with us and we will follow up the process for you, our working relationship with the media council of Uganda over the past years enables us to expedite the process and have your application moving in the shortest time possible.
How much does media accreditation cost in Uganda?
Currently, Media accreditation in Uganda is charged at 175usd per person for a period of upto 30 days, 225 for upto 6 months, 325 for upto 2 years. Media cards are applied for and authorized by the Uganda Media Council.
What is a Special Pass, and how to get it?
A special pass is a document that allows you to legally work in Uganda. The pass is issued by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, the process requires us to fill out a form and attach documents; passport copy, passport photograph, introductory letter addressed to the immigration office and attach a cover letter that is issued to you by the Media Council of Uganda. The special pass for Uganda costs USD400.00 per person. Our experts are available to help you with all this.
What is a certificate of good conduct?
A Certificate of Good Conduct (CGC) is an official document issued by a government or law enforcement agency that certifies an individual’s criminal record, or lack thereof, within a specific jurisdiction. The certificate is typically requested for various purposes, as a journalist this is required of you to come to Uganda as it serves as evidence of an individual’s past criminal history or the absence of any criminal convictions.
The content and process of obtaining a Certificate of Good Conduct can vary significantly from one country to another, as each jurisdiction has its own laws and regulations regarding criminal records and background checks. In some places, the certificate may be referred to by different names, such as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), Criminal Record Check, or Police Check.
How to get a certificate of good conduct?
To obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct, an individual usually needs to apply to the relevant government or law enforcement agency responsible for conducting background checks. The application process may involve submitting personal identification details, fingerprints, and other necessary documentation. The agency will then conduct a thorough check of its criminal records database to verify whether the individual has any criminal convictions.
If the individual has a clean record with no criminal convictions, they will be issued a Certificate of Good Conduct indicating their clean history. However, if they have a criminal record, the certificate will include details of their past convictions. Various countries require to get it from different agencies i.e., USA Interpol Letter from the FBI Department, UK Criminal Records Check from ACRO Criminal Records Office, Canada Triton Criminal Records Check, Australia National Police Certificate. For more guidance on this please feel free to contact us.
What is the process of getting filming permission in Uganda?
Filming permissions are different from media accreditation. The rates for the permit vary from one region to another, these are sought for from the regional governances i.e., district headquarters or authorities. Additional permission maybe required to access specific locations be it private or public owned and fees may or may not apply depending on location requirements.
What are the visa requirements in Uganda?
For anyone to enter into Uganda, you must have a visa applied for a visa. Different visas are available for you to choose from but as a tourist the most suited one for you are the Tourist visa and East African Visa. These can be applied for from the official website of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control. The requirements for the visas are; Introductory letter, passport copy, passport photograph, flight booking confirmation, a letter from the host in Uganda, among others. The Tourist Visa and East African Visa fees are USD50 and USD100, respectively. Feel free to reach out to us for help.
What are the best places to film in Uganda?
Uganda is an amazing filming destination with stunning locations to choose from. Known as the pearl of Africa, Uganda has several locations that one may take interest in and depending on your interest, you are spoilt for choices. these include the following; Murchison Falls National Park, Kampala, the capital city, the source of the Nile in Jinga, Lake Victoria, the Rwenzori Mountain. Other National parks like Bwindi Impenetrable, which is famous for gorillas, Kibale National Park for the chimpanzee, and Queen Elizabeth National Park for the tree-climbing lions. Museums and cultural houses like the different Kingdom Palaces. But the stories are not limited to only those areas. There are other differential stories that can be done across the country depending on the topic you are interested in. To know more about this , please contact us
Is it safe to film in Uganda?
First and foremost, it’s very safe to film in Uganda and generally, the conditions are very favorable. As a foreign film crew, you should ensure that you have all the paperwork allowing you to film in Uganda before going out to film. When working in crowds, you are advised to take with you extra security for protection of your gear and staff as we have petty thieves, avoid taking pictures without getting authorization from both the individuals and communities that you are working in.
What is the process of equipment importation in Uganda
Uganda is not a member of the Carnet Free Systems Unions, so Carnet’s are not valid. The only process for getting equipment into (and out of) Uganda cleared and with no restriction is;-
Through a Bonded Agent – A comprehensive list of equipment and value needs to be submitted to URA – through a bonded clearing agent – for the issuance of a Temporary Import Permit (TIP). A fee – equivalent to 10% percentage of the value of the equipment – is payable. This fee is non-refundable but will guarantee you safe entry and exist with your equipment. We work with trustworthy bonded agents who have done this for many years and guaranteed clearance for our clients on many occasions.
What is the process of drone importation in Uganda?
The drone application process is a complex one and requires a lot of time and paperwork to complete but it’s not an impossible task as we have done this on several times in the past for our clients. As long as you full fill all the requirements, you will be granted permission to temporarily import and use the drone for the specified duration as you will have stated in the letter of request. Below are the requirements and procedures for the temporary importation of a drone in the country. if you are interested in drone importation, don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance
- Fill in and complete an RPAS/Drone Operations Application Form. We provide this on request.
- Write an introductory letter for drone request and include all details of location, drone, drone pilot
- Share the drone operations manual and specifications.
- Remote pilots training certificate and license.
- You will require to provide the geographical location and map of the areas of operation.
- A copy of the third-party insurance for the drone.
- Safety Risk assessment report of the area of operation, emergency procedures and safety management systems.
- A copy of the certificate of airworthiness if applicable.
- Lastly you need to get a Class III medical certificate issued by a recognized aviation designated medical examiner.
- Pay a fee of USD500.00 for paperwork verification.
- After approval work with a bonded customs agent to enable you clear the drone through customs.
What is the best time to film in Uganda?
Filming in Uganda can be done all year round, depending on the kind of project that you are dealing with, but it can be said that the best time to shoot in Uganda is during the dry season months, which occurs from December to February and from June to August. However, it should be noted that the seasons in Uganda are also dependent on regions and vary from one region to another, and also the existence of massive water bodies creates a variation.
Does Uganda have filming equipment for hire?
Filming equipment is available in Uganda. Several equipment houses are available for you to source out the type of gear you would like to hire. You just have to compile a list of the equipment needed. The costs of equipment hire will vary according to the type and the amount of time that the equipment will be hired. To find out more about this, please reach out to us
What are the safety and security measures?
Stay updated on the local security situation and assess potential risks. Consult with local authorities or experienced professionals to determine any necessary safety precautions and measures during your shoot.
Does Uganda have local talent and crew that can be hired for filming?
Uganda has professional and capable talent. For those interested in using local crew, be assured that you will be able find talents that are able to work with you, these range from producers, directors of photography, sound engineers, media managers, photographers and more. For local talent we do have a number of casting agencies that we can get in touch with to provide the cast and also secure the rights as well.
Does one need a fixer to film in Uganda?
For a successful shoot in Uganda, it is important that you hire the services of a fixer in the country. Both for preproduction and production. Having a fixer with you at all times during your shoot will ensure that any issues that may come up in the process will be dealt with. Shoots can be dynamic, and any small thing can erupt into a big issue halting your shoot, but with a fixer on ground, you get to eliminate such. feel free to talk to one of our fixers and experts for help
What are the services offered by fixers in Uganda?
The services of a fixer include customs clearance, Equipment and talent sourcing, location scouting. Fixer also helps in securing all the filming permissions that are necessary for your shoot.
Does Uganda offer insurance to film crews?
If you are coming to shoot in Uganda, it’s advisable to get your own issuance covered by an agency in your home country, this is important to mitigate risks associated with equipment damage, loss, liability, and other potential incidents that may occur during filming. As a company we make sure that all gear, filming equipment and local personnel are insured on our end and workers liabilities covered.
What do you need to film in the national parks of Uganda?
You will need to get permission form the Uganda wildlife Authority. This is the body and organization that is in charge of wildlife and national parks in the country. An introductory letter should be written detailing the purpose of the shoot, the people on the crew, the time period and the synopsis of the shoot. Once this is done you will be required to pay a 40 percent fee of all the park activities done and a 50 percent of all the park activities if you are flying a drone in the parks. Park activities include game drives, boat cruises, lion tracking, nature walks, gorilla tracking and chimpanzee trekking.
Why use Film Crew fixers?
Film Crew Fixers is a local fixer company in East Africa. We assist filming companies and production agencies in countries located listed on our website, including Uganda. Over the years, we have worked with various production companies on several projects, making us very experienced in this industry. We handle all fixer services required with our professional team of local fixers and driver guides. We have all relevant connections with other service providers and government agencies in Uganda to make sure that accreditation and filming permit for filming in Uganda are processed in the shortest time possible. Contact us for details and all relevant information you would like to know for successful filming in Uganda.
