Moving to Uganda from Netherlands

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Netherlands to Uganda — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Netherlands to Uganda, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Swahili. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kampala averages 82°F vs 56°F in Amsterdam, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Netherlands to Uganda, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
178 ↓ 7% vs 2015

people born in Netherlands 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

How Netherlands and Uganda stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.8
UG
8.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
UG
16.0

Netherlands performs better than Uganda across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NL
$8,195
UG
$139
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
UG
1.7

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uganda leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NL
13.0
UG
60.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
UG
0.2t

Netherlands 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

NL
44.4
UG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
UG
5.8%

Netherlands 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

NL
3.6%
UG
2.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
UG
$2,800

Uganda generally does better on employment & economy, though Netherlands leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NL
82.2 yrs
UG
69.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
UG
30.4

Netherlands performs better than Uganda across all family life metrics.

Data: Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Kampala
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 84°/64°F (29°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 81°/64°F (27°/18°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 82°/64°F (28°/17°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Kampala
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.7°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 85°/64°F (29.3°/18.0°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 84°/65°F (28.7°/18.1°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 81°/64°F (27.3°/17.9°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.6°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.1°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.1°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.2°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.4°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 81°/64°F (27.4°/17.5°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.5°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Netherlands 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.

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Uganda

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

Uganda passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Required
Uganda passport holders need a visa to enter Netherlands.

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?

With 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Uganda can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Netherlands and Uganda.

Is Uganda safe for expats?

Netherlands performs better than Uganda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Uganda is 8.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.

How is healthcare in Uganda compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uganda leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Uganda, compared to 39.1 in Netherlands. Uganda scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Kampala is 82°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Kampala receives around 49.8 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Uganda?

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

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At a Glance

NL UG
Population 17,400,824 46,205,893
Currency Euro (€) Ugandan Shilling (UGX)
Languages Dutch English, Swahili
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +31 +256
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 999