+256 is the country code for Uganda.
Every phone number in Uganda starts with +256 when you call it from another country. From the US, dial 011 256, then the number without its first 0.
- Time there
- Kampala timeEast Africa Time, UTC+3, no daylight saving
- From the US or Canada
- 011 256 712 345678
- From the UK and most of Europe
- 00 256 712 345678
- From Australia
- 0011 256 712 345678
- From any mobile phone
- +256 712 345678
- Inside Uganda
- 0712 345678
- Mobile numbers
- 9 digits after +256, starting 7
- Landlines
- 9 digits after +256, such as +256 41 XXXXXXX in Kampala
- Toll-free numbers
- Start with 0800
Check a +256 number to see whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Pick the country, enter the number without the +256, and the free check shows whether it is valid and whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
13 landline areas cover Uganda, from 041 in Kampala to 0486 in Kabale/Rukungiri/Kisoro.
| At home | From abroad | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 041 | +256 41 | Kampala |
| 043 | +256 43 | Jinja |
| 045 | +256 45 | Mbale |
| 046 | +256 46 | Mityana |
| 0464 | +256 464 | Mubende |
| 0465 | +256 465 | Masindi |
| 0471 | +256 471 | Gulu |
| 0473 | +256 473 | Lira |
| 0476 | +256 476 | Arua |
| 0481 | +256 481 | Masaka |
| 0483 | +256 483 | Fort Portal |
| 0485 | +256 485 | Mbarara |
| 0486 | +256 486 | Kabale/Rukungiri/Kisoro |
In Uganda, the phone number format for apps and SMS gateways is +256 followed by the number without its 0.
| Written | Example | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| At home | 0712 345678 | Business cards, local ads |
| International | +256 712 345678 | Websites, email signatures |
| E.164 | +256712345678 | APIs, SMS gateways, CRMs |
A missed call from a +256 number you don't know can be a one-ring scam, so check it before calling back.
One-ring scams call once and hang up, hoping you call back a line that bills you international or premium rates.
- Don't call back an international number you don't know. A real caller leaves a message or sends a text.
- Check the number in the box above. A number that is not a working mobile or landline in Uganda is a warning sign.
- Hang up on anyone who wants gift cards, crypto or a wire transfer, or asks you to read out a code that was just texted to you.
- Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and see the FCC's guide to one-ring scams.
The codes next to +256 belong to other countries, so one wrong digit reaches a different place.
These are the questions people ask most about +256.
Which country uses the +256 country code?
Uganda. Every phone number there starts with +256 when it is dialed from abroad.
How do I call Uganda from the US?
Dial 011, then 256, then the number without its first 0. A mobile number written 0712 345678 at home is dialed 011 256 712 345678 from the US, or +256 712 345678 from any mobile phone.
Is +256 the same as 00256?
Yes. 00 is the exit code used in most of the world, and the + on a mobile phone stands in for whatever exit code your network uses. From the US and Canada the exit code is 011 instead.
How many digits is a phone number in Uganda?
A mobile number has 9 digits after +256, written 0712 345678 at home. A landline has 9 digits, written 041 XXXXXXX at home.
What time is it in Uganda?
Uganda is on East Africa Time, UTC+3, all year. It does not use daylight saving time.
How do I check a +256 number that called me?
Enter it in the box above. The free check shows whether it is a valid number from Uganda and whether it is a mobile, a landline or a VoIP line, which helps you spot a one-ring scam before you call back.
Sources: Google's libphonenumber numbering data for lengths, mobile starts, area code places, first-issuing networks and time zones, as of September 24, 2026; the ITU list of country codes.