Moving to Botswana from Uganda

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Uganda to Botswana.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Uganda to Botswana.

Living there in 2020
324 ↑ 6% vs 2015

people born in Uganda live in Botswana · UN DESA

Who's moving to Botswana?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Botswana compared to Uganda.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

UG
8.8
BW
10.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UG
16.0
BW
16.5

Uganda performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

UG
$139
BW
$1,310
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

UG
1.7
BW
3.8

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

UG
60.0
BW
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UG
0.2t
BW
2.7t

Uganda generally does better on environment, though Botswana leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

UG
0.1
BW
4.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UG
5.8%
BW
2.4%

Botswana performs significantly 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

UG
2.8%
BW
23.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UG
$2,800
BW
$17,500

Botswana 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

UG
69.0 yrs
BW
65.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UG
30.4
BW
25.2

Botswana generally does better on family life, though Uganda leads in life expectancy.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Gaborone Rain: 21.7 in/yr (552 mm)
83° / 56°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kampala Gaborone
Jan–Mar 84°/64°F (29°/18°C) 88°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) 77°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 79°/47°F (26°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/64°F (28°/17°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
View all months
Month Kampala Gaborone
Jan 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.7°C) 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C)
Feb 85°/64°F (29.3°/18.0°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C)
Mar 84°/65°F (28.7°/18.1°C) 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C)
Apr 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C) 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C)
May 81°/64°F (27.3°/17.9°C) 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C)
Jun 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.6°C) 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C)
Jul 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.1°C) 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C)
Aug 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.1°C) 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C)
Sep 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.2°C) 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C)
Oct 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.4°C) 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C)
Nov 81°/64°F (27.4°/17.5°C) 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C)
Dec 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.5°C) 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Uganda passport

Uganda passport holder visiting Botswana

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

Botswana passport holder visiting Uganda

Visa Free
Botswana passport holders can enter Uganda 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 Botswana?

Connectivity is usually fine (Botswana: 4.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Botswana offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Botswana safe for expats?

Uganda performs better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Botswana is 10.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.8 in Uganda.

How is healthcare in Botswana compared to Uganda?

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Botswana, compared to 1.7 in Uganda. Botswana scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Uganda: 49).

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

The average high temperature in Gaborone is 83°F, compared to 82°F in Kampala. Gaborone receives around 21.7 in of rainfall per year, while Kampala gets 49.8 in.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

The official languages in Botswana are English and Tswana. In Uganda, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

UG BW
Population 46,205,893 2,384,246
Currency Ugandan Shilling (UGX) Botswanan Pula (BWP)
Languages English, Swahili English, Tswana
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +256 +267
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 999