Moving to South Africa from Uganda
What to Expect
Considering a move from Uganda to South Africa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Uganda to South Africa.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to South Africa
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Uganda to South Africa.
Who's moving to South Africa?
Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.
- 690,243
- 350,463
- 192,008
- 94,119
- 67,382
- 63,892
- · · ·
-
38.5,852
Uganda
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Africa compared to Uganda.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Uganda performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Uganda generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Uganda leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Uganda generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Kampala | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 84°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 82°/64°F (28°/17°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kampala | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.7°C) | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) |
| Feb | 85°/64°F (29.3°/18.0°C) | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) |
| Mar | 84°/65°F (28.7°/18.1°C) | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C) | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) |
| May | 81°/64°F (27.3°/17.9°C) | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.6°C) | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) |
| Jul | 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.1°C) | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) |
| Aug | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.1°C) | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.2°C) | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.4°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) |
| Nov | 81°/64°F (27.4°/17.5°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Dec | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.5°C) | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) |
South African Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Uganda and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.
Uganda passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Online (e-Visa)
South Africa passport holder visiting Uganda
Visa Online (e-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 South Africa?
Connectivity is usually fine (South Africa: 3.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Africa offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is South Africa safe for expats?
Uganda performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 45.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.8 in Uganda.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Uganda?
Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 1.7 in Uganda. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Uganda: 49).
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Uganda?
The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 82°F in Kampala. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Kampala gets 49.8 in.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Uganda, the official languages are English and Swahili.
Compare further: Uganda vs. South Africa
More relocation comparisons
At a Glance
UG
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,205,893 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | Ugandan Shilling (UGX) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | English, Swahili | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Left | Left |
| Calling code | +256 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 999 | 10111 |