Travel safety comparison Β· Africa

Rwanda vs Uganda: safety comparison

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Rwanda vs Uganda: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.

Β· How Warnely scores risk β†’
Rwanda carries a materially lower safety risk than Uganda on the composite Warnely score: 43/100 against 64/100, a gap of 21 points. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Rwanda scores 2/5 against Uganda's 3/5. The US State Department currently carries a Level 3 advisory on Rwanda and a Level 4 on Uganda.
πŸ‡·πŸ‡ΌRwanda πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¬Uganda
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 43 / 100 64 / 100
Risk tier Exercise Increased Caution High Risk
UK FCDO advisory avoid all but essential travel to parts of country No active advisory
US State Department advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) Level 4 (Do Not Travel)
Global Peace Index rank #91 #113
Drug law Severe (long sentences) Severe (long sentences)
Women's safety rating Exercise Caution Exercise Caution
LGBTQ+ legal status legal death
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency RWF UGX
Full guide

Is Rwanda safe to visit in 2026?

Full guide

Is Uganda safe to visit in 2026?

Rwanda vs Uganda: common questions

Is Rwanda or Uganda safer to visit?

Rwanda has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 43/100 vs 64/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Rwanda or Uganda safer for solo female travellers?

Rwanda is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; Uganda is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Rwanda and Uganda?

Rwanda: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) (US State). Uganda: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 4 (Do Not Travel) (US State).

More comparisons

Kenya vs Uganda · Kenya vs Rwanda · Rwanda vs Tanzania · Tanzania vs Uganda · Democratic Republic of Congo vs Rwanda · South Sudan vs Uganda · Rwanda vs South Sudan

Planning the trip? Check Rwanda visa requirements and Uganda visa requirements.

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