Car hire and driving in Mbale
Driving distances to the cities around, the rules that change at the border, and where to compare rental prices.
In Uganda traffic drives on the left. Picking up at SRT means 94 km (58 mi) into the centre before the trip starts. The emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3086706 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Drives from Mbale
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mbale to Njeru | Uganda | 132 km (82 mi) | about 2 h |
| Mbale to Lugazi | Uganda | 159 km (99 mi) | about 2 h 25 min |
| Mbale to Mukono | Uganda | 177 km (110 mi) | about 2 h 42 min |
| Mbale to Kira | Uganda | 187 km (116 mi) | about 2 h 52 min |
| Mbale to Kasangati | Uganda | 189 km (117 mi) | about 2 h 53 min |
| Mbale to Lira | Uganda | 192 km (119 mi) | about 2 h 56 min |
| Mbale to Kampala | Uganda | 197 km (122 mi) | about 3 h |
| Mbale to Nansana | Uganda | 200 km (124 mi) | about 3 h 3 min |
| Mbale to Bunamwaya | Uganda | 202 km (126 mi) | about 3 h 5 min |
| Mbale to Kyengera | Uganda | 206 km (128 mi) | about 3 h 8 min |
| Mbale to Kajansi | Uganda | 206 km (128 mi) | about 3 h 9 min |
| Mbale to Katabi | Uganda | 220 km (137 mi) | about 3 h 21 min |
| Mbale to Mbarara | Uganda | 435 km (270 mi) | about 6 h 38 min |
| Mbale to Gulu | Uganda | 281 km (175 mi) | about 4 h 17 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Where to compare car hire
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.
Common questions
Which side of the road do they drive on in Mbale?
The left, as everywhere in Uganda.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
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.