Kampala’s Main Bus Terminals and Taxi Parks: A Complete Guide to Where Every Route Begins

Kampala has distinct transport hubs for long-distance buses and 14-seater taxis, each serving different regions of Uganda.

Bus companies increasingly operate from private terminals around Old Kampala and Namirembe Road following changes in city transport management.

Knowing the correct terminal can save travelers time and help them choose the right bus or taxi for their destination.

Kampala serves as Uganda’s principal transport hub, with thousands of passengers departing daily for every region of the country and neighboring East African states. While many visitors assume the city has one central bus station, Kampala’s long-distance transport system is spread across several dedicated bus terminals and taxi parks, each serving specific destinations and transport companies.

Understanding where each terminal is located—and the routes it serves—can save travelers both time and unnecessary transport costs.

Namayiba Bus Terminal

Located along Rashid Khamis Road in Old Kampala, Namayiba Bus Terminal is one of Uganda’s busiest long-distance coach terminals.

It primarily serves:

Northern Uganda

Eastern Uganda

International destinations across East Africa

Passengers can board buses to Gulu, Lira, Kitgum, Mbale, Soroti, Arua, and other northern and eastern towns.

The terminal also hosts international coaches traveling to Nairobi, Mombasa, Kigali, Juba, Dar es Salaam and Bujumbura.

Adjacent to the bus section is Namayiba Taxi Park, where 14-seater taxis mainly serve destinations such as Luwero and Nakaseke.

Kisenyi Bus Terminal

Situated along Kafumbe Mukasa Road off Namirembe Road, Kisenyi Bus Terminal remains one of Kampala’s major gateways to Western and Southwestern Uganda.

Unlike Namayiba, Kisenyi functions as a hybrid terminal accommodating both large coaches and regional taxis.

Popular destinations include:

Mbarara

Bushenyi

Kabale

Kisoro

Kanungu

Kasese

Ishaka

Several transport companies have relocated in and out of Kisenyi over recent years as Kampala’s transport sector continues to evolve.

Bakuli Bus Terminals

The Bakuli–Old Kampala corridor along Namirembe Road has developed into one of Kampala’s most important bus transport zones.

Unlike traditional public bus parks, this area consists largely of privately owned company terminals.

Among the major operators are Global Coaches, Gateway Bus Services, Tausi Coaches and several regional transport companies serving Western Uganda.

Most buses departing from this corridor head toward:

Mbarara

Fort Portal

Kabale

Kasese

Other western districts

Freedom Coaches Terminal

Freedom Coaches now operates from its own dedicated terminal on Namirembe Road in the Bakuli/Old Kampala area.

The company shares its parking yard and booking offices with Perfect Coaches near the Bakuli traffic lights, directly opposite the TotalEnergies service station.

This marks a significant shift from previous years.

Freedom Coaches previously operated from Qualicel Bus Terminal before temporarily relocating to Kisenyi Bus Terminal following Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) directives. The company has since established its own standalone terminal on Namirembe Road.

Freedom Coaches primarily serves Uganda’s western cattle corridor, including:

Ibanda

Kazo

Kiruhura

Lyantonde

Perfect Coaches, which shares the same terminal, mainly serves the Rukungiri route.

Link Bus Terminal

Another prominent operator around Old Kampala is Link Bus Services.

The company operates from its own independent terminal within the Namirembe Road corridor and is widely known for routes to:

Fort Portal

Kasese

Bundibugyo

Link Bus has built a strong reputation among travelers heading to Uganda’s tourism destinations in the Rwenzori region.

YY Coaches

YY Coaches also maintains an independent terminal around Old Kampala.

Its buses mainly serve eastern Uganda, connecting Kampala to destinations including:

Mbale

Soroti

Tororo

Other eastern districts

The company remains one of the country’s longest-established intercity bus operators.

New Taxi Park

Located along Mackay Road in Kampala’s central business district, New Taxi Park is dedicated almost entirely to Uganda’s famous 14-seater commuter taxis, locally known as matatus or drones.

Routes include:

Hoima

Masindi

Fort Portal

Mubende

Mityana

The park also serves numerous Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area destinations such as Wakiso, Bulenga, Nsangi, Kasubi and Busega.

Old Taxi Park

Old Taxi Park, located between Burton Street and Market Street in Kampala’s city centre, remains one of the busiest taxi parks in East Africa.

It mainly serves:

Jinja

Lugazi

Iganga

Tororo

Mbale

It is also the primary departure point for taxis heading to Entebbe, Mukono, Gayaza, Kira and several eastern suburbs of Kampala.

Understanding Kampala’s Transport Network

Kampala’s transport infrastructure has changed considerably over the past decade. Rather than relying on a single central bus park, many long-distance operators now use privately owned terminals, particularly around Namirembe Road and Old Kampala.

Meanwhile, the city’s taxi parks continue to handle the majority of regional commuter traffic using 14-seater minibuses.

For travelers, knowing which terminal serves a particular destination can significantly reduce travel time and make journeys much easier.

Whether heading to the Rwenzori Mountains, the cattle corridor of Ankole, the eastern plains, northern Uganda or neighboring countries, Kampala’s network of bus terminals remains the starting point for millions of journeys every year.