Bank of Uganda SWIFT/BIC code

Bank of Uganda SWIFT code: UGBAUGKA

The 8-character code UGBAUGKA and the full code UGBAUGKAXXX refer to one and the same institution: Bank of Uganda. Banks worldwide use these codes to direct international transfers to the right bank. It comes up mostly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

We wrote this page to help anyone who pays into an account at Bank of Uganda and wants to get the details right. A SWIFT code names an institution, never a single account; the IBAN or account number does that.

How up to date is this code?

The codes here come from public sources which we refresh regularly. Still, banks merge or change codes. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory.

Use our data as a reference, rather than as the last word. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Bank of Uganda. Spotted outdated information? Tell us through the contact page and we will look into it.

Is UGBAUGKA still correct? How to check

Ask the recipient to send you the account details straight from their online banking. Check it against UGBAUGKA here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges. An error in the account number is more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else, so check that just as carefully.

Many banking apps validate the format of an IBAN, but that does not prove the account belongs to the right person. If your bank offers it, a name check before sending adds an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first can be worth it for large sums despite the extra fee.

International transfers from Bank of Uganda: the real cost

The price of a payment abroad is made up of more than one component. There is the transfer fee, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the currency changes.

Many banks do not show their exchange rate markup separately – you only notice it if you compare. A simple test: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay compares these services next to each other, showing the amount the recipient gets before you commit. You can still keep your account at Bank of Uganda, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

Incoming international payments to Bank of Uganda

To receive an international payment into your account at Bank of Uganda, the person paying you has to have not just the BIC. That means: your name as registered with Bank of Uganda, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code UGBAUGKAXXX and sometimes your address.

It helps to include Bank of Uganda and its city as well. Double-check each detail before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

An incoming payment does not always land for the full amount. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank; check the price list of Bank of Uganda. On invoices, you can agree how the fees are split.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Criminals often use payment requests with changed bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. The fact that UGBAUGKA exists does not mean that a request mentioning it is legitimate – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Never trust a phone number in the same message that contains the change. Be suspicious of urgent requests, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. When a payment was sent to the wrong account, call your bank right away.

Scams can also target the receiver. Someone claims to have sent more than agreed and asks you to refund the extra. A payment confirmation from the sender is no proof; only your own account shows what has arrived.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Bank of Uganda

Having 2 codes in 1 cities, Bank of Uganda belongs to the banks that use individual codes for branches and departments. The head office code is UGBAUGKAXXX.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, use UGBAUGKAXXX. If you have been given a branch code, use it as it is instead of replacing it with the head office code.

Unsure which code to use? Ask the recipient. Branch codes are more likely to be retired than UGBAUGKAXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

UGBAUGKA or UGBAUGKAXXX – which one to use?

A SWIFT code is built from a few fixed parts: the first four letters stand for the bank, characters five and six give the country and characters seven and eight mark the location. Combined, those parts make up UGBAUGKA, the code most people search for.

Most payment forms accept both lengths. If a form requires eleven characters, enter UGBAUGKAXXX, otherwise UGBAUGKA is fine.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without spaces. Copying the code beats typing it by hand, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Tracking a transfer to or from Bank of Uganda

A SWIFT payment usually takes anywhere from one to several business days. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country add a day or more to the journey. Compliance checks by one of the banks may also add some delay, regardless of the details.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Save the payment confirmation until the money has arrived.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace or a recall. As a recipient, it helps to look at your account for a slightly lower amount because fees can reduce the amount.