Gulu: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Gulu is a city of 177,400 people in Uganda (Northern Region), 1,104 m (3,622 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Gulu Airport (ULU), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Gulu runs from about 12 h a day in late December to 12 h 19 min in late June (computed for 2.77° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Gulu is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Gulu Airport (ULU), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre, whose 10,314-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Flights to Gulu: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Gulu · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Kakamega, 389 km (Kenya) — flights
- Kampala, 275 km — flights · buses · car rental · tours
- Nansana, 269 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Kira, 267 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Juba, 244 km (South Sudan)
- Bunamwaya, 282 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Bunia, 265 km (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Kyengera, 277 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Yei, 232 km (South Sudan)
- Kasangati, 262 km — buses · car rental · tours
Common questions
Which airport serves Gulu?
Gulu Airport (ULU), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre.
How big is Gulu?
About 177,400 people live in Gulu (GeoNames).
What time zone is Gulu in?
Africa/Kampala, currently UTC+3.
What currency is used in Gulu?
The Shilling (UGX). Traffic drives on the left.
Which cities are near Gulu?
Kakamega (389 km), Kampala (275 km), Nansana (269 km), Kira (267 km), Juba (244 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.