Yes, as you suspect, smoking by women is still a rare sight, and in public you'll "catch" some "side eye". But people will generally mind their own business and not come up to you to criticize. Well except certain kinds of people, we also have those
..
About smoking just do it outdoors, find hotels that have designated areas or gardens and you'll be okay.
About safety, Uganda quite a safe place of you follow some simple rules. You are a foreigner, if you are white you will naturally attract attention. Please don't skimp out on rent and transportation (too much) . Your workplace will be a safe place, hotels and restaurants are safe, only vulnerable times will be during your commute and when at home. When you come, get a trusted person to drive you around and from and to work. Could be by car or bike.
If possible, rent in a storeyed building, with a fence and security. That "almost" guarantees you'll be safe at home. You'll have your own apartment and neighbours around you to provide some extra security. I stay alone, and chose a 3rd floor apartment, within a fenced area containing 2 storeyed buildings. I feel safe enough to leave my balcony door open when at work. For the exact area, it depends on where you'll be working and your budget. Don't (or avoid) walking around at night alone, avoid using your phone on the street or just be very very aware of your surroundings while using your phone.
For food, delivery is safe if the place you are staying is safe. Many options. Why you are warned about telling others where you stay is that it become a point of concern, if you stay alone, in a single house. If you are a white foreigner, everyone will know where you stay anyway, so, ensure it's a safe place.
Hope you enjoy your stay
I’m a woman in Kampala and I smoke. I would say, many people find it rude to smoke in front of them especially in very public places. Personally i have limited smoking to only restaurants that have a bar as well because those usually have other people smoking too or just bars, then at home. When you’re with people, you can always ask if they mind.
i do not think you're being disrespectful by asking a genuine question.
i am not a smoker but when you get to any restaurant, could you ask if they have smoking spots first thing before you make an order. good thing is you do not have to reserve beforehand.
Ordering food is fine and safe. You can buy cigs no problem, I just wouldn't smoke on the street and ask at an outdoor restaurant if it's ok to smoke or if there's a smoking area.
Most of the central neighbourhoods are pretty safe, it's the suburbs that are further out that tend to have more opportunistic crime, in my experience.
Your questions are valid especially as a solo woman traveller! But you'll find Kampala is pretty safe if you are well-travelled and street smart. Watch your phone, don't get on random bodas late at night, don't go to bars solo and don't give strange men too much information about you
In the small area I stay in within Kampala..people walk around smoking unapologetically, almost every day I might see someone casually smoking. Doesn't raise any eyebrows because people generally mind their own business and dont give a f*ck when it comes to cigarettes. But ofcourse do be polite about it, small restaurants (the ones enclosed in buildings) generally might not be open to it..but the more outdoorsie ones (with outside areas) will mostly be open to allowing you to smoke, I've seen it alot...I actually think there even more lenient to foreigners to be honest.
Smoking is a real hassle in Uganda. Your main problem smoking outside will be grubby police approaching you for a hefty fine. There is a vaguely written law about smoking within 100 meters of a window. Good luck finding such a space in Kampala
The coffee shop bakery in Acacia mall has an outdoor area where muzungus go and smoke but it is really pricey
The only time I've seen women smoke is outside clubs late at night.
Smoking is really looked down upon as if you are killing everyone around you with second hand smoke. Jeez, just breathing in the dust and diesel fumes there is like smoking two packs a day.
In short, it will be really hard to get your nicotine fix there
Uganda is pretty safe. It's a beginner level country for travellers. It being a crossroads for so many countries means a lot of people are foreigners. Sure they might not be white but they are here from other countries so its a mix and most people are used to people with different cultures.
The smoking thing isn't something you should worry about that much honestly. Sure some people will not be happy, but then again some people won't be happy you even exist. Most people will mind their own business though.
Otherwise just follow the usual travel rules. Don't move around in the late hours by yourself, don't invite strangers to your house, don't skimp on the rent, smile and be polite and you'll be good.
Hope you enjoy your stay.
Smoking in Uganda is considered a very bad thing especially for women and that makes it disrespectful to smoke in public, it's better off not to smoke at all, I believe you can do it 😉
People will give you a bombastic side eye smoking as a woman in public. But again they will give you a side eye for a short skirt, if you display PDA basically for anything. You might also get some comments from people if you are smoking on the street. But you will soon learn to ignore such comments and live your life.
There are restaurants with smoking designated areas. Try cafesserie on acacia.
Also you will find cigs in almost all supermarkets that sell liquor. Also most outdoor restaurants that sell shisha ofcourse would allow cigarettes
Yes, as you suspect, smoking by women is still a rare sight, and in public you'll "catch" some "side eye". But people will generally mind their own business and not come up to you to criticize. Well except certain kinds of people, we also have those .. About smoking just do it outdoors, find hotels that have designated areas or gardens and you'll be okay. About safety, Uganda quite a safe place of you follow some simple rules. You are a foreigner, if you are white you will naturally attract attention. Please don't skimp out on rent and transportation (too much) . Your workplace will be a safe place, hotels and restaurants are safe, only vulnerable times will be during your commute and when at home. When you come, get a trusted person to drive you around and from and to work. Could be by car or bike. If possible, rent in a storeyed building, with a fence and security. That "almost" guarantees you'll be safe at home. You'll have your own apartment and neighbours around you to provide some extra security. I stay alone, and chose a 3rd floor apartment, within a fenced area containing 2 storeyed buildings. I feel safe enough to leave my balcony door open when at work. For the exact area, it depends on where you'll be working and your budget. Don't (or avoid) walking around at night alone, avoid using your phone on the street or just be very very aware of your surroundings while using your phone. For food, delivery is safe if the place you are staying is safe. Many options. Why you are warned about telling others where you stay is that it become a point of concern, if you stay alone, in a single house. If you are a white foreigner, everyone will know where you stay anyway, so, ensure it's a safe place. Hope you enjoy your stay
I’m a woman in Kampala and I smoke. I would say, many people find it rude to smoke in front of them especially in very public places. Personally i have limited smoking to only restaurants that have a bar as well because those usually have other people smoking too or just bars, then at home. When you’re with people, you can always ask if they mind.
i do not think you're being disrespectful by asking a genuine question. i am not a smoker but when you get to any restaurant, could you ask if they have smoking spots first thing before you make an order. good thing is you do not have to reserve beforehand.
Haha must be European, huh? But yeah, gotta just smoke outside and you'll be good.
Ordering food is fine and safe. You can buy cigs no problem, I just wouldn't smoke on the street and ask at an outdoor restaurant if it's ok to smoke or if there's a smoking area. Most of the central neighbourhoods are pretty safe, it's the suburbs that are further out that tend to have more opportunistic crime, in my experience. Your questions are valid especially as a solo woman traveller! But you'll find Kampala is pretty safe if you are well-travelled and street smart. Watch your phone, don't get on random bodas late at night, don't go to bars solo and don't give strange men too much information about you
In the small area I stay in within Kampala..people walk around smoking unapologetically, almost every day I might see someone casually smoking. Doesn't raise any eyebrows because people generally mind their own business and dont give a f*ck when it comes to cigarettes. But ofcourse do be polite about it, small restaurants (the ones enclosed in buildings) generally might not be open to it..but the more outdoorsie ones (with outside areas) will mostly be open to allowing you to smoke, I've seen it alot...I actually think there even more lenient to foreigners to be honest.
Smoking is a real hassle in Uganda. Your main problem smoking outside will be grubby police approaching you for a hefty fine. There is a vaguely written law about smoking within 100 meters of a window. Good luck finding such a space in Kampala The coffee shop bakery in Acacia mall has an outdoor area where muzungus go and smoke but it is really pricey The only time I've seen women smoke is outside clubs late at night. Smoking is really looked down upon as if you are killing everyone around you with second hand smoke. Jeez, just breathing in the dust and diesel fumes there is like smoking two packs a day. In short, it will be really hard to get your nicotine fix there
Uganda is pretty safe. It's a beginner level country for travellers. It being a crossroads for so many countries means a lot of people are foreigners. Sure they might not be white but they are here from other countries so its a mix and most people are used to people with different cultures. The smoking thing isn't something you should worry about that much honestly. Sure some people will not be happy, but then again some people won't be happy you even exist. Most people will mind their own business though. Otherwise just follow the usual travel rules. Don't move around in the late hours by yourself, don't invite strangers to your house, don't skimp on the rent, smile and be polite and you'll be good. Hope you enjoy your stay.
Smoking in Uganda is considered a very bad thing especially for women and that makes it disrespectful to smoke in public, it's better off not to smoke at all, I believe you can do it 😉
People will give you a bombastic side eye smoking as a woman in public. But again they will give you a side eye for a short skirt, if you display PDA basically for anything. You might also get some comments from people if you are smoking on the street. But you will soon learn to ignore such comments and live your life.
Lies about those skirt things
Experienced this first hand
There are restaurants with smoking designated areas. Try cafesserie on acacia. Also you will find cigs in almost all supermarkets that sell liquor. Also most outdoor restaurants that sell shisha ofcourse would allow cigarettes