Guide
Cinemas in Kampala
Every screen in the city that's showing films right now, what a ticket costs, and which one to pick.
Last checked
A note on prices: cinemas don’t always publish them, and some below are a year or more old. Each section says how old its prices are. Confirm at the box office, and tell us if anything has changed.
The quick pick
- Big opening night: Century Cinemax, Arena Mall. It claims the biggest screen in the country, with 4K laser projection and Dolby Atmos.
- Easiest to get to from town: Century Cinemax, Acacia Mall.
- Cheapest ticket: EMT Cinemas opposite Makerere, from around 10,000 UGX before noon.
- Something you won’t see anywhere else: Aftersun Cinema & Cafe.
Century Cinemax
Kampala’s main chain, with three cinemas. Book seats at centurycinemax.co.ug or at the box office. It takes card, mobile money and cash.
Acacia Mall, Kisementi
Every screen shows 3D, and some have Dolby Atmos. It’s also the main venue for the Ngalabi Shortfilm Festival every June.
| Day | Standard (UGX) |
|---|---|
| Monday | 12,000 |
| Tuesday–Wednesday | 17,000 |
| Thursday | 14,000 |
| Friday–Sunday, holidays | 22,000 |
3D glasses are 8,000 extra. These are the cinema’s 2019 prices. By 2025 the cheapest ticket of the week was 14,000, so expect to pay more now.
Arena Mall, Nsambya
Screen MAX is the big one. Arena GOLD is the premium room.
| Day | Standard (UGX) | Arena GOLD (UGX) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 15,000 | |
| Tuesday–Thursday | 18,000 | |
| Friday–Sunday | 20,000 | 27,000 |
Weekday standard prices aren’t published; ask at the box office.
Metroplex, Naalya
The newest of the three. It was due to open just as COVID closed everything in March 2020.
| Day | Standard (UGX) |
|---|---|
| Monday | 12,000 |
| Tuesday–Wednesday | 15,000 |
| Thursday | 14,000 |
| Friday–Sunday, holidays | 20,000 |
3D glasses are 8,000 extra. These prices come from a 2025 listing.
EMT Cinemas, Ham Towers (opposite Makerere main gate)
The student option, with 2D and 3D screens. Book at emtcinemas.com or by WhatsApp.
| Showing | UGX |
|---|---|
| Early bird | 10,000 |
| Wednesday 2D, with popcorn | 13,000 |
| Wednesday 3D, with popcorn | 16,000 |
| Weekend | 17,000 |
| Prime time | 18,000 |
One online listing marks this address as closed, but EMT was a Uganda Film Festival venue in 2026. Call ahead if you’re unsure.
Aftersun Cinema & Cafe
An independent cinema of 40–50 seats, grown out of the Kampala Film Club. Some nights the film isn’t announced until you’re in your seat. Book at ticket.aftersuncinema.com. It was set to open on 1 May. See its website for the address and what’s on.
Free and cheap screenings
- Goethe-Zentrum Kampala runs regular film nights in its basement, some free and some 10,000 UGX. Watch its monthly programme.
- Alliance Française Kampala lists film nights among its events. Its events page lists upcoming screenings.
- National Theatre has a 377-seat auditorium that hosts film screenings. Watch the theatre’s programme for dates.
Festivals
- Uganda Film Festival. Run by the Uganda Communications Commission and screened across the Century Cinemax cinemas and EMT. Tickets were 10,000–15,000 in 2026.
- Ngalabi Shortfilm Festival. Every June, run by Goethe-Zentrum, with screenings at Acacia Mall.
- Amakula International Film Festival. 30 October–1 November 2026, on Lunkulu Island in Mukono District rather than in Kampala itself.
Not on this list
We found no IMAX or 4DX screen in Kampala, and no working cinema at Forest Mall. If that’s changed, tell us.
Sources
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