Moving to Uganda from California

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from California to Uganda — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from California to Uganda. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from California to Uganda, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
806 ↓ 6% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Uganda · UN DESA

Who's moving to Uganda?

Top countries of origin for Uganda's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from California to Uganda.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

CA
28.4%
UG
5.3%

Uganda performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

CA
92.6%
UG
10.0%

California performs better than Uganda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CA
5.1%
UG
2.8%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

CA
$84,028
UG
$2,800

California generally does better on employment & economy, though Uganda leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

CA
79.0 yrs
UG
69.0 yrs

California performs better than Uganda across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Sacramento Rain: 18.5 in/yr (470 mm)
74° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

Kampala Rain: 49.8 in/yr (1264 mm)
82° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Sacramento Kampala
Jan–Mar 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) 84°/64°F (29°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) 81°/64°F (27°/18°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) 82°/64°F (28°/17°C)
View all months
Month Sacramento Kampala
Jan 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.7°C)
Feb 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) 85°/64°F (29.3°/18.0°C)
Mar 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) 84°/65°F (28.7°/18.1°C)
Apr 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C)
May 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) 81°/64°F (27.3°/17.9°C)
Jun 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.6°C)
Jul 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.1°C)
Aug 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.1°C)
Sep 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.2°C)
Oct 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.4°C)
Nov 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) 81°/64°F (27.4°/17.5°C)
Dec 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.5°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Uganda. To live, work, or study long-term in Uganda, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Uganda's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Uganda

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Uganda.
Uganda passport

Uganda passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Uganda passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Uganda?

Usually fine from major cities in Uganda. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Uganda compared to California?

Uganda performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Uganda compared to California?

The average high temperature in Kampala is 82°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Kampala receives around 49.8 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.

What language do they speak in Uganda?

The official languages in Uganda are English and Swahili. In California, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

UG
Population 37,253,956 46,205,893
Currency United States Dollar ($) Ugandan Shilling (UGX)
Languages English English, Swahili
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +256
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 999