Driving from Kampala to Mbarara
Mbarara lies 238 km (148 mi) south-west of Kampala, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 3 h 38 min without stops, over roughly 291 km (181 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Kampala | Mbarara | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Uganda | Uganda |
| Population | 1.7 million | 221,300 |
| Elevation | 1,223 m (4,012 ft) | 1,422 m (4,665 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+3 (Africa/Kampala) | UTC+3 (Africa/Kampala) |
Where to book car hire from Kampala to Mbarara
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Mbarara
Live rooms and prices for Mbarara are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Mbarara
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Mbarara from Kampala?
238 km (148 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Kampala; by road roughly 291 km (181 mi).
How long does it take to get from Kampala to Mbarara by car?
About 3 h 38 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Kampala and Mbarara?
No, both are on Africa/Kampala at the moment.
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 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel 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.