Moving to Uganda from Sao Tome and Principe

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Sao Tome and Principe to Uganda? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe 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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Uganda compared to Sao Tome and Principe.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
UG
8.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
11.7
UG
16.0

Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Uganda across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ST
$355
UG
$139
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ST
4.9
UG
1.7

Sao Tome and Principe 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

ST
85.0
UG
60.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
UG
0.2t

Uganda performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ST
2.0
UG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ST
1.9%
UG
5.8%

Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Uganda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ST
14.2%
UG
2.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
UG
$2,800

Uganda generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ST
67.1 yrs
UG
69.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
UG
30.4

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on family life, though Uganda leads in life expectancy.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe 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.

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Uganda

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Uganda.
Uganda passport

Uganda passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Uganda passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe.

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Uganda: 0.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Uganda offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Uganda safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Uganda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Uganda is 8.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

How is healthcare in Uganda compared to Sao Tome and Principe?

Sao Tome and Principe 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 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Uganda scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).

What language do they speak in Uganda?

The official languages in Uganda are English and Swahili. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

ST UG
Population 217,164 46,205,893
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) Ugandan Shilling (UGX)
Languages Portuguese English, Swahili
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +239 +256
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999