Essentials
- City
- Kampala, Central Region, Uganda
- Population
- Approximately 1.7 million (Greater Kampala 6.7 million)
- Internet Speed
- Fiber 20-50 Mbps in Kololo/Nakasero via Liquid Intelligent Technologies; 4G/5G mobile speeds 25 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 3,900 UGX, 1 EUR ≈ 4,200 UGX (March 2026 rates)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water (e.g., Rwenzori 1.5L for 2,500 UGX) or filtered water
- Power
- 240V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G sockets (British style); frequent load shedding in peripheral areas
- SIM Card
- MTN Uganda or Airtel Uganda; 10GB data bundle approx. 50,000 UGX ($13)
- Banking for Expats
- Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered, and ABSA; Wise and Revolut work for ATM withdrawals
- Accommodation
- Modern apartments in Kololo or Nakasero via Airbnb or local agents like Knight Frank
- Cashless Friendly
- Growing; Mobile Money (M-Pesa/Airtel Money) and cards accepted in malls; cash needed for markets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (avg. $40-70/night), Millennium Terrace Apartments in Kamwokya
- Budget Accommodation
- Fat Cat Backpackers (Kisementi), Bushpig Backpackers (Kololo) approx. $15-20/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Nakasero (central, safe, near museums) and Entebbe (near airport/lake)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Kololo (upscale, quiet) or Muyenga (expat-heavy, views of Lake Victoria)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Design Hub Kampala (Industrial Area) - Daily desk approx. 40,000 UGX ($10)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Endiro Coffee (Kisementi) or Kaffe Kaffe (Nakasero); excellent WiFi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Innovation Village (Ntinda) hosts monthly tech and entrepreneur mixers
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Kampala Facebook Group; Friday nights at Que Pasa (Kisementi)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and SafeBoda (for motorcycle taxis/Boda Bodas); Bolt is also active
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Limited commercial rentals; Boda Bodas are the primary mode of transit (2,000-10,000 UGX per trip)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Lido Beach or Spennah Beach in Entebbe (approx. 1 hour drive via Express Way)
- Top Regional Airline
- Uganda Airlines (Regional hubs to Nairobi, Kigali, Johannesburg)
- Top International Airline
- Emirates, Qatar Airways, and KLM (via Entebbe International Airport)
- Highway Access
- Entebbe-Kampala Expressway (Toll road: 5,000 UGX for small cars)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Kampala Railway Station (limited passenger service to Namanve); Pioneer Bus Terminal
- Public Transport Passes
- No unified pass; pay per trip in Matatus (1,000-3,000 UGX)
- Regional Travel
- Link Bus or Mash Poa for travel to Fort Portal or Mombasa/Nairobi
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- International Hospital Kampala (IHK) in Namuwongo or Nakasero Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga House (Lubowa) and Acacia Wellness Centre (Kololo)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Roots Health Club (Kololo) or Kabira Country Club (Bukoto)
- Laundry Services
- Sparkles Dry Cleaners (locations in Garden City and Acacia Mall)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and Jumia Food (available city-wide)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Luwombo (stew steamed in banana leaves) or a Rolex (rolled eggs in chapati)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Govinda's (Dewinton Road) - Hare Krishna vegetarian restaurant
- Best Dessert Spots
- Holy Crêpe (Kololo) for pancakes and views; Le Château for French pastries
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Nakasero Market for fresh produce; Owino Market for second-hand items
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Jumia Uganda (electronics, home goods)
- Grocery Delivery
- Jumia Food Mart or Carrefour Uganda App
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Acacia Avenue (Kololo) and Kabalagala (lively, gritty, open 24/7)
- Local Brewery
- Banange Brewing Company (Craft beer/IPAs available at various bars)
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Garage (Muyenga) or Mediterraneo (Kololo)
- Street Food Stalls
- Wandegeya Market (famous for Rolex and grilled chicken)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Khana Khazana (Indian/Kololo), Izumi (Japanese/Thai/Acacia Ave)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Uganda Museum (Kira Road) and the Gaddafi National Mosque (Old Kampala)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Nommo Gallery and Afriart Gallery (Industrial Area)
- Historical Sites
- Kasubi Tombs (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Kabaka's Palace (Mengo)
- Religious Sites
- Namugongo Martyrs Shrine and Baha'i Temple (the only one in Africa)
- Annual Events
- Nyege Nyege Festival (usually near Jinja/Itanda Falls in September)
- Cultural Districts
- Mengo (The seat of the Buganda Kingdom)
- Theater Venues
- National Theatre (near Parliament) for live performances and jam sessions
- Local Markets
- Buganda Road Craft Market for souvenirs and handmade jewelry
- Music Scene
- Live jazz at Fez Wala; Afrobeats and Dancehall at Club Guvnor
- Street Art
- Murals around the Industrial Area and Design Hub Kampala
- Cooking Classes
- Local flavors workshops arranged via 'Uganda Food Tours' in Kalerwe Market
- Art Galleries
- Umoja Art Gallery (Kira Road)
- Historic Buildings
- Bulange (Parliament of Buganda Kingdom)
- Local Heritage
- The Crane bird (National symbol) and Barkcloth weaving
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Entebbe Botanical Gardens and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
- National Parks Nearby
- Lake Mburo National Park (approx. 4 hours drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Lubowa Estate (private roads) and Entebbe lakeside trails
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The top of Gaddafi Mosque minaret (360-degree city view)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Mabamba Swamp (home to the prehistoric Shoebill Stork)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Backpackers hostels and campsites along the Nile in nearby Jinja
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Express (Acacia Mall) and Aramex
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Mania (Acacia Mall) for laptops/phones
- Table Tennis Spots
- MTN Arena (Lugogo)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française Kampala (Lugogo Bypass) for French/Luganda
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Uganda National Library (Buganda Road) and Makerere University Library
- Community Centers
- Ndere Cultural Centre (Kisaasi) for dance and community heritage
- Gaming Lounges
- Gamers Lounge (Garden City Mall)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Mayfair Casino (Nakasero) and Kampala Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,200 per m² ($48,000 for 40 m² in Nakasero/Kololo)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $700 per m² ($28,000 for 40 m² in Kira/Namugongo)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,100 per m² ($66,000 for 60 m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $600 per m² ($36,000 for 60 m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $550 per m² ($44,000 for 80 m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 30% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% (can be reduced by double tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Source-based for non-residents; Residency-based for residents (183 days rule)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 40% (for income exceeding 120 million UGX per year)
- VAT
- 18% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Uganda has introduced transfer pricing and anti-avoidance rules
- Property Tax
- Rental tax of 12% on income above a threshold for individuals
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty of 1% and registration fees approx. 1%
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet; most work on business visas or under the radar
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,050 per m² ($84,000 for 80 m²)