hi! Just came from Kabale to Kampala by post bus two days ago. Took us 8,5 hrs... pretty long actually but the going was good with a couple of longer stops when one could get out and stretch the legs. I would definitely recommend it. Did not seem to be a problem to buy the tickets on the spot.
Enjoy Uganda!
Post Bus or not to Post Bus
The Post Bus is generally regarded by travellers as being the safest option of getting form point A to point B when travelling by public means in Uganda. At some stage though you will have make the decision to put your toe into the water and climb into an overloaded shared mini bus taxi or a public bus not operated by The Post Bus to continue your journey to your final destination.
Public buses in Uganda are quite a scary experience and bring some travellers to tears as you would appear to have no control over your destiny. Asking the driver to slow down can incredibly irritate other passengers who are in a hurry to get to their destination even though they are very aware of the number of accidents that happen annually. The bus crews compete for passengers along all routes in an attempt to pick up passengers first. Rash overtaking manoeuvres are common place.
Regardless of the danger the large public buses carry hundreds of passengers daily and many travellers within those hundreds. My recommended position on the bus is about 5 seats back from the driver on the drivers side. Here you do not have to see what is happening ahead of you on the road and you are not sitting above a wheel where hitting a pot hole will get you airbourne out of your seat. My second recommendation would be that if you are two persons travelling together consider paying for 3 seats for the pair of you. The extra seat you buy within what is a row of 3 seats will allow you additional comfort and somewhere to place your day packs for what can often be a 12 hour hell journey.
In central Kampala there really is no shortage of places to find accommodation and as you are considering arriving with Akamba Bus simply walk up what is Dewington Street from their depot towards the National Theatre and ask for City Centre Annex which is a budget accommodation venue. It is close to a great Indian restaurant called Masala Chat House and close enough to the main Post Office to walk there comfortably with a rucksack. If you take a bus from the main bus park it would take some 15 minutes to walk to for City Centre Annex and in a taxi a few dollars before 06.00am. After that it would be quicker to walk such is the madness of Kampala traffic.
I realise you are probably heading to Kabale to chill out at Lake Bunyonyi. Below is a route you might want to consider to maximise your experience. South Western Uganda is so beautiful it really has so much more to offer than a few days at Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 1. Travel to Buhoma in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on 06.00am Gateway bus from Kampala. Stay in budget accommodation in Buhoma.
Day 2. Walk 12km through Bwindi Forest to Nkuringo with Nkuringo Walking Safaris www.nkuringowalkingsafaris.com</a> , 6 hours and stay at Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite. Budget bunkhouse accommodation. Amazing views of the rain forest from 2100m and the Virunga volcanoes.
Day 3. Take a rest day at Nkuringo to experience some community activities. Simple budget accommodation and meals available.
Day 4. Proceed to Kisoro by way of 19km walking (you can do 10km of this by private hire) and 12km in dugout canoe on Lake Mutanda. Stay at Countryside Guesthouse in Kisoro. This is a great budget venue on the outskirts of town. You could decide to stay longer in Kisoro to either trek any of the Virunga in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (15km) or go Golden Monkey tracking. If its market day in Kisoro (Monday and Thursday) the town is very busy with a vibrant atmosphere.
Day 5. Take bus or shared mini bus taxi 88km 3 hours from Kisoro to Kabale. Take private hire vehicle or walk 8km to shore of Lake Bunyonyi. Stay at one of many budget accommodation options. Meals and drinks available at all of the accommodation venues at Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 6+. Relax at Lake Bunyonyi.
Getting away from Lake Bunyonyi.
You should spend the night before you plan to leave Kabale in Kabale itself. Edirssa have a hostel in town close to the post office if you plan to take the Post Bus back to Kampala. There is a direct bus to Fort Portal also from Kabale that leaves at 03.00am and will collect you from the hostel if you advise the Kalita Bus office in Kabale you want to travel. Indeed an early start but the Fort Portal region will offer you something completely different to your experiences in the south west.