The seasons in Jinja
Jinja's city page describes the main rains from March to May and a second rainy season from September to November. The drier stretches fall in December to February and June to August. That is a rough pattern, not a promise of dry days. Rain can fall in any month.
There is no single best month for all of Uganda. The right time depends on what you plan: rafting and boat trips on the Nile, a hike at Sipi Falls, or a long safari drive. This page gives the weather facts so you can choose.
Uganda weather by month
These figures are for Entebbe, used as a stand-in. They are not measured in Jinja. They come from the WMO and Uganda's meteorological authority and cover the period 1961 to 1990, so they are old averages, not weather for 2026.
| Month | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) | Rain (mm) | Jinja city page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.3 | 18.0 | 86.7 | Drier |
| February | 27.3 | 18.3 | 84.4 | Drier |
| March | 26.7 | 18.5 | 184.5 | Main rains |
| April | 26.0 | 18.4 | 264.4 | Main rains |
| May | 25.4 | 18.0 | 253.8 | Main rains |
| June | 25.2 | 17.8 | 116.2 | Drier |
| July | 25.3 | 17.2 | 72.1 | Drier |
| August | 25.9 | 17.4 | 77.8 | Drier |
| September | 26.5 | 17.4 | 79.0 | Second rains |
| October | 26.5 | 17.7 | 127.6 | Second rains |
| November | 26.0 | 17.9 | 171.7 | Second rains |
| December | 26.5 | 17.8 | 120.6 | Drier |
Highs and lows are monthly means of the daily highest and lowest temperatures, not records. Rain is the average monthly total. The table shows rain even in the drier months, and it lists September as one of the lower-rainfall months, although the city page counts it in the second rainy season. Treat the month boundaries as loose.
Our pick: a full day outdoors
Our take: This day combines a forest hike, a market and a boat ride, so check the forecast for your date; in the rainy seasons on this page, allow extra time for the forest and the road.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours for any season
Rafting, boat trips and day trips from Jinja, with live prices and availability.
What the weather means for your plans
Match the activity to the season.
Rafting and kayaking
No month brings guaranteed dry days or a fixed water level on the Nile. Ask the operator how current conditions change your trip. The Class 5 run takes 4 to 5 hours on the river.
Rafting on the Nile →Sunset and midday cruises
One operator runs a sunset cruise from 17:00 to 19:00 and a midday cruise from 12:30 to 14:30, both with required reservations. The sunset time itself is not guaranteed. Cloud and rain can change what you see.
Boat trips on the Nile →Sipi Falls and the east
The UK government warns of landslides in the east in heavy rain, especially around Bududa and Bulucheke near Mount Elgon. Flooding is a risk in the northeast in the rainy seasons. Check the regional weather before a Sipi hike. The Entebbe table does not describe the Mount Elgon area.
Sipi Falls →Mabira Forest and safaris
Allow extra time for forest visits and long drives in the rainy seasons. Gorilla and park trips are separate multi-day journeys, so check the weather where you go rather than in Jinja.
Mabira Forest →Season by season
What the Entebbe table shows for each stretch of the year.
December to February
The city page calls this a drier stretch. The Entebbe table shows highs of 26.3 to 27.3 °C and rain of 84.4 to 120.6 mm per month, so showers remain possible.
March to May
The main rains. April has the most rain in the table, at 264.4 mm, followed by May at 253.8 mm. Allow extra time for travel, and look at the landslide warning for the east.
June to August
A drier stretch. July is the lowest month for rain, at 72.1 mm, and its average night temperature of 17.2 °C is the lowest in the table.
September to November
The second rainy season on the city page. The table shows 79.0 mm in September, 127.6 mm in October and 171.7 mm in November.
How to read the table
Entebbe is a different place from Jinja, so its figures are only a guide. The pattern in the table is 17 to 18 °C at night and 25 to 27 °C by day. Sipi lies on Mount Elgon, so do not take its temperatures from the Entebbe table.
The table is a long-term average from 1961 to 1990. It says nothing about the weather in a given week of 2026. A current local forecast before a trip is the better tool for day-to-day choices.
Best time to visit Jinja: frequently asked questions
When are the rainy seasons in Jinja?
The city page describes the main rains from March to May and a second rainy season from September to November.
When is it driest?
The city page names December to February and June to August as the drier stretches. The Entebbe table shows July as the month with the lowest average rain, at 72.1 mm. Even then, rain is possible.
Is Entebbe weather the same as Jinja weather?
No. The table uses Entebbe as a stand-in, and the figures come from 1961 to 1990. Use them as a guide only.
What is the best month for rafting?
There is no single best month. Ask the operator about conditions for your dates.
How warm is Jinja?
In the Entebbe table, average daily highs range from 25.2 to 27.3 °C and average lows from 17.2 to 18.5 °C across the year.