Road signs in Uganda and their meanings

Read the shape before the symbol

• Red triangle: warning

  A hazard is ahead. Slow down and get ready.

• Red circle: prohibitory

  Something you must not do, such as no entry, no overtaking or a speed limit.

• Blue circle: mandatory

  Something you must do, such as turn left or keep left.

• Octagon and upside-down triangle: priority

  Stop and Give way. The only two signs with these shapes, so you can recognise them even from behind.

• Rectangle: information and guidance

  Tells you about the road, services nearby, or which way to go.

Signs that are easy to mix up

Some of these pairs share a picture but sit in different groups, so the shape and colour change the meaning. Others look close but ask different things of you.

• 
  Pedestrian crossing

  The red triangle warns that a crossing is coming. The blue square stands at the crossing itself, where you give way to people on it.

  W43 and I01
• 
  Hump

  The triangle warns of a hump ahead. The blue square marks the hump where it is.

  W24 and I02
• 
  Roundabout

  The triangle warns that a roundabout is ahead. The blue circle orders you to go round it in the direction of the arrows.

  W09 and R77
• 
  No parking or no stopping

  One red bar bans parking and waiting. A red cross bans stopping at all, even for a moment.

  R47 and R48
• 
  Stop or give way

  Stop means stop completely at the line, every time. Give way means slow down and stop only if traffic on the main road needs you to.

  R61 and R62
• 
  No entry or no motor vehicles

  A white bar means no vehicle may enter at all. A circle with vehicles in it bans only the vehicles shown.

  R01 and R02

Warning signs

Triangles with a red border. They warn you about a hazard ahead so you can slow down and get ready. They do not give an order.

• 
  Hairpin curve

  A very sharp bend ahead. Slow down before you reach it.

  W02
• 
  Crossroad

  A crossroads ahead, with traffic able to join from both sides.

  W04
• 
  Side road

  A side road joins the main road ahead. Watch for vehicles pulling out.

  W05
• 
  T-intersection

  The road ends at a T-junction ahead. You will have to turn left or right.

  W06
• 
  Y-intersection

  The road forks ahead.

  W07
• 
  Staggered intersection

  Two side roads ahead, offset from each other rather than directly opposite.

  W08
• 
  Roundabout ahead

  A roundabout ahead. Slow down and be ready to give way.

  W09
• 
  Traffic signals ahead

  Traffic lights ahead. Be ready to stop.

  W10
• 
  Two-way traffic

  Traffic ahead runs in both directions, often after a one-way stretch or a dual carriageway.

  W15
• 
  Other danger

  A hazard not covered by another sign. A plate underneath usually says what it is.

  W21
• 
  Height restriction

  Low headroom ahead, such as a bridge. Tall vehicles may not fit.

  W22
• 
  Uneven road

  Bumps or a damaged surface ahead.

  W23
• 
  Hump ahead

  A speed hump ahead. Slow down.

  W24
• 
  Drift

  A dip where water can flow across the road.

  W25
• 
  Narrow bridge

  The road narrows over a bridge ahead. There may only be room for one vehicle.

  W26
• 
  Loose gravel

  Loose stones on the surface. Slow down and keep your distance.

  W27
• 
  Slippery road

  The road can be slippery, especially when wet. Brake and steer gently.

  W28
• 
  Falling rocks

  Rocks may fall or lie on the road ahead.

  W29
• 
  Steep descent

  A steep downhill ahead. Use a lower gear.

  W30
• 
  Steep ascent

  A steep uphill ahead.

  W31
• 
  Quay or river bank

  The road runs to the edge of water ahead.

  W32
• 
  Low flying aircraft

  Aircraft may fly low over the road, often near an airfield.

  W33
• 
  Crosswinds

  Strong side winds can push your vehicle.

  W34
• 
  Railway crossing with gate

  A level crossing with a gate or barrier ahead.

  W41
• 
  Railway crossing without gate

  A level crossing with no gate or barrier. Look both ways for trains.

  W42
• 
  Pedestrian crossing ahead

  A pedestrian crossing ahead. Be ready to stop for people crossing.

  W43
• 
  Pedestrians

  People may be walking on or beside the road.

  W44
• 
  Children

  Children may be crossing or near the road, often by a school.

  W45
• 
  Agricultural vehicles

  Slow farm vehicles may be on the road.

  W47
• 
  Wild animals

  Wild animals may cross the road.

  W49
• 
  Chevron

  Marks the outside of a sharp bend and shows the direction it turns.

  W61
• 
  Roadworks

  Roadworks ahead. Slow down and follow any temporary signs.

  W81
• 
  Traffic control ahead

  People or signals are controlling traffic ahead, often at roadworks.

  W85

Practise these 33 warning signs in the app

Prohibitory signs

Circles with a red border. They tell you what you must not do. A sign showing a vehicle bans that vehicle.

• 
  No entry

  No vehicle may enter, usually the wrong end of a one-way road.

  R01
• 
  No motor vehicles

  Motor vehicles may not enter.

  R02
• 
  No motor vehicles except motorcycles

  Motor vehicles may not enter, but motorcycles may.

  R03
• 
  No trucks

  Goods vehicles may not enter.

  R04
• 
  No buses

  Buses may not enter.

  R05
• 
  No motorcycles

  Motorcycles, including boda bodas, may not enter.

  R06
• 
  No tractors or slow vehicles

  Tractors and other slow-moving vehicles may not enter.

  R07
• 
  No bicycles

  Bicycles may not enter.

  R08
• 
  No pedestrians

  People on foot may not enter.

  R09
• 
  No animal-drawn vehicles

  Carts pulled by animals may not enter.

  R10
• 
  Length limit

  No vehicle longer than the length shown.

  R21
• 
  Height limit

  No vehicle taller than the height shown.

  R22
• 
  Width limit

  No vehicle wider than the width shown.

  R23
• 
  Gross weight limit

  No vehicle heavier than the weight shown.

  R24
• 
  Axle weight limit

  No vehicle with more weight on one axle than shown.

  R25
• 
  No left turn

  You may not turn left here. A mirrored sign bans right turns.

  R41
• 
  No U-turns

  You may not turn around here.

  R42
• 
  No overtaking

  You may not overtake other motor vehicles.

  R43
• 
  No overtaking by goods vehicles

  Goods vehicles may not overtake.

  R44
• 
  No parking or waiting

  You may not park or wait here.

  R47
• 
  No stopping or standing

  You may not stop here at all, even briefly.

  R48
• 
  Speed limit

  Do not drive faster than the number shown, in kilometres per hour.

  R49
• 
  End of speed limit

  The speed limit shown no longer applies from here.

  R52

Practise these 23 prohibitory signs in the app

Priority signs

These decide who goes first at a junction or a controlled point.

• 
  Stop

  Stop completely at the line, then go only when it is safe.

  R61
• 
  Give way

  Let traffic on the main road go first. Slow down, and stop if you need to.

  R62
• 
  Temporary control: stop

  Held by a person controlling traffic, often at roadworks. Stop.

  R63
• 
  Temporary control: go

  Held by a person controlling traffic. You may proceed with care.

  R64

Practise these 4 priority signs in the app

Mandatory signs

Blue circles. They tell you what you must do.

• 
  Go straight ahead

  You must go straight on.

  R71
• 
  Turn left

  You must turn left. A mirrored sign means turn right.

  R72
• 
  Turn left ahead

  You must turn left ahead.

  R73
• 
  Go straight or turn left

  You must go straight on or turn left.

  R74
• 
  Pass on the left

  Keep to the left of the obstruction or island.

  R75
• 
  Pass either side

  You may pass the obstruction on either side.

  R76
• 
  Roundabout

  Follow the roundabout in the direction of the arrows.

  R77
• 
  Buses only

  Only buses may use this lane or road.

  R81
• 
  Bicycles only

  Only bicycles may use this path.

  R82
• 
  Pedestrians only

  Only people on foot may use this path.

  R83

Practise these 10 mandatory signs in the app

Information signs

Rectangles that tell you about the road or the services nearby.

• 
  Pedestrian crossing

  Marks the crossing itself. Give way to people on it.

  I01
• 
  Hump

  Marks a speed hump.

  I02
• 
  No through road

  The road is a dead end.

  I03
• 
  Parking

  Parking is allowed here.

  I04
• 
  Bus stop

  A place for buses to stop.

  I05
• 
  Priority over oncoming traffic

  On a narrow stretch, you have priority over vehicles coming the other way.

  I06
• 
  One-way traffic

  Traffic on this road flows only in the direction of the arrow.

  I07
• 
  Police control

  Police are controlling traffic ahead.

  I08
• 
  Start of extra lane

  An extra lane begins.

  I09
• 
  End of extra lane

  The extra lane ends. Merge with care.

  I10
• 
  Hospital

  A hospital nearby. Drive quietly and watch for emergency vehicles.

  I21
• 
  First aid

  A first aid point.

  I22
• 
  Filling station

  Fuel is available.

  I25
• 
  Workshop

  A vehicle repair workshop.

  I26
• 
  Rest area

  A place to stop and rest.

  I30

Practise these 15 information signs in the app

Guidance signs

Direction signs that help you choose a route. Uganda uses different versions for primary roads and other roads.

• 
  Advance direction: roundabout

  Shows the exits of the roundabout ahead and where each one goes.

  G01
• 
  Lane preselection

  Shows which lane to be in for each destination.

  G05
• 
  Direction sign

  Points the way to a place at the junction.

  G11
• 
  Confirmatory sign

  Confirms the road you are on and the distances to places ahead.

  G21
• 
  Place identification

  Marks where you enter a town or place.

  G22
• 
  Diversion ahead

  The usual route is closed ahead. Follow the diversion.

  G31

Practise these 6 guidance signs in the app

Supplementary plates

Small plates under a main sign that add detail to it.

• 
  Distance plate

  How far ahead the hazard or rule starts.

  S01
• 
  Extension plate

  How far the hazard or rule continues.

  S02
• 
  Direction plate

  The sign above applies in the direction of the arrow.

  S03
• 
  Vehicle category plate

  The sign above applies only to the vehicle shown, here motorcycles.

  S14

Practise these 4 supplementary plates in the app

Test yourself on these signs

Reading a list is not the same as knowing it on test day. Uganda Driving Permit Practice quizzes you on these signs and the rest of the theory test, and keeps bringing back the ones you get wrong until they stick.

Practise road signs

Prefer paper? Download the chart of all 95 signs and print it.

Common questions

• What are the types of road signs in Uganda?

  Uganda's Traffic Signs Manual groups them into warning signs, regulatory signs (prohibitory, priority and mandatory), guidance signs, information signs and supplementary plates. The shape and colour tell you the group before you can read the symbol.

• Are Uganda road signs the same as in the UK?

  They are very close, because the system dates from the colonial era, but Uganda uses metric units: speeds in kilometres per hour and distances in metres and kilometres. Uganda acceded to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals in August 2022, the same standard most of Europe and Africa follows. Uganda drives on the left.

• Which road signs come up in the driving permit test?

  Road signs are one of the main topics in the theory test. Expect to name a sign from its picture and to say what you should do when you see it. Stop, Give way, No entry, speed limits, the pedestrian signs and the junction warnings are the ones to know cold.

• Is there a PDF of Uganda road signs and their meanings?

  Yes. The printable chart on this page has all 95 signs with their pictures and meanings on four A4 pages, free to download and print.

• What is the difference between a red circle and a blue circle?

  A red circle forbids something (no entry, no overtaking, a speed limit). A blue circle orders something (turn left, keep left, buses only).

Getting your permit too? Read how to get a driving permit in Uganda.