Moving to Uganda from Kenya

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Kenya to Uganda.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
34,241 ↓ 10% vs 2015

people born in Kenya 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 Kenya to Uganda.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KE
4.9
UG
8.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KE
28.2
UG
16.0

Kenya generally does better on safety, though Uganda leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KE
$274
UG
$139
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

KE
1.0
UG
1.7

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KE
33.0
UG
60.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KE
0.4t
UG
0.2t

Kenya generally does better on environment, though Uganda leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KE
1.9
UG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KE
33.2%
UG
5.8%

Kenya generally does better on infrastructure, though Uganda leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KE
5.7%
UG
2.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KE
$5,700
UG
$2,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KE
69.7 yrs
UG
69.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KE
27.9
UG
30.4

Kenya performs better than Uganda across all family life metrics.

Data: Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Nairobi Rain: 40.3 in/yr (1024 mm)
74° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nairobi Kampala
Jan–Mar 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 84°/64°F (29°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 81°/64°F (27°/18°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 82°/64°F (28°/17°C)
View all months
Month Nairobi Kampala
Jan 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.7°C)
Feb 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) 85°/64°F (29.3°/18.0°C)
Mar 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) 84°/65°F (28.7°/18.1°C)
Apr 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C)
May 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) 81°/64°F (27.3°/17.9°C)
Jun 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.6°C)
Jul 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.1°C)
Aug 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.1°C)
Sep 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.2°C)
Oct 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.4°C)
Nov 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) 81°/64°F (27.4°/17.5°C)
Dec 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.5°C)

Data: Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kenya 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.

Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting Uganda

Visa Free
Kenya passport holders can enter Uganda without a visa.
Uganda passport

Uganda passport holder visiting Kenya

Visa Free
Uganda passport holders can enter Kenya without a visa.

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Uganda has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Uganda safe for expats?

Kenya generally does better on safety, though Uganda leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Uganda is 8.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.

How is healthcare in Uganda compared to Kenya?

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in health coverage index. There are 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Uganda, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. Uganda scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Kampala is 82°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Kampala receives around 49.8 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.

What language do they speak in Uganda?

Both Kenya and Uganda share the same official languages: English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

KE UG
Population 55,864,655 46,205,893
Currency Kenyan Shilling (KES) Ugandan Shilling (UGX)
Languages English, Swahili English, Swahili
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +254 +256
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 999