Living in Uganda
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-08)

Information for British citizens moving to Uganda, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.

Introduction

This guide sets out essential information on Uganda for British citizens. Read about how the British High Commission Kampala (https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-kampala) can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Ugandan authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Support for British nationals abroad (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/support-for-british-nationals-abroad) sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/moving-or-retiring-abroad).

To stay up to date, follow the British High Commission Kampala on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ukinuganda) and X (https://twitter.com/ukinuganda) and also sign up for email alerts (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uganda/email-signup).

Before you go

See our travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uganda) for Uganda for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies. You can also see our Overseas Business Risk (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-uganda).

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Uganda in our travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uganda/).

You will need a visa to enter Uganda. You should apply online for an e-visa (https://visas.immigration.go.ug).

The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control handles all visa applications. You can visit the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (https://www.immigration.go.ug/).

It is illegal to give a false statement in support of a visa application. Do not violate your Uganda visa conditions by overstaying. You will be arrested and deported.

For more information on how to apply for a work permit, apply for a residence permit or renew a residence permit, visit the Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs website (https://www.mia.go.ug/).

Uganda recognises dual citizenship, but you must apply for it. There are restrictions on children under 18 having dual citizenship.

Family members of a British national need a valid relevant visa to live in Uganda. This is not required if the family members hold Ugandan nationality.

Passport and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Uganda (https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports).

Check the Uganda travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uganda/) for passport validity requirements.

Healthcare in Uganda

Uganda and the UK do not have reciprocal healthcare agreements. You should buy comprehensive travel and medical insurance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance) before you enter the country.

There are private medical facilities, especially in Kampala, which provide adequate healthcare but these come at a cost and so you will need to ensure you have appropriate private healthcare cover. State-owned hospitals are free but may be overcrowded and sometimes have shortages of basic medicine. Medical help at the scene of an accident is likely to be limited. In the case of a serious accident, you will need to be evacuated by a private ambulance.

You should also make sure you are covered by health insurance for treatment in the UK, as the NHS could charge you for any care received in the UK.

The NHS (https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/moving-abroad/planning-your-healthcare/) has information for people moving abroad.

See list of some medical hospitals in Uganda (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uganda-list-of-medical-facilitiespractitioners).

See our travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uganda/) sections on health (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uganda/health), safety and security (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uganda/safety-and-security).

UK travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.

Medicine

If you use prescription medication you should ensure you have a supply of it or are able to obtain it when in Uganda. Certain medicines may not be available in Uganda (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to Uganda to find out about any alternative medication.

Contact the Ministry of Health (https://www.health.go.ug/) for details on which medicines can be brought into Uganda.

Read NHS guidance if you need to travel with medicine (https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/can-i-take-my-medicine-abroad/).

Working in Uganda

If you are planning to move to Uganda and work, you will need a visa.

Your prospective employer should be able to assist you with your visa application.

You may be required to provide police clearance or disclosure documentation from the country where you are resident and/or from the Ugandan Police Force before receiving a work permit. The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (https://www.immigration.go.ug/) handles all work permit applications. Arrangements for applying for work permits should be made prior to entering Uganda.

The Uganda Police Force can issue a Certificate of Good Conduct fees adjusted (https://www.upf.go.ug/certificate-of-good-conduct-fees-adjusted/).

Studying in Uganda

If you plan to study in Uganda, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel as per immigration services (https://www.immigration.go.ug/services/student-pass).

Uganda has a number of good private and state schools. The majority of international schools are located in Kampala. Some of these offer the British educational curriculum while others offer the American curriculum. You should contact the relevant education provider in Uganda to check what fees you have to pay.

Universal free education is only available for Ugandan nationals aged 6 to 16 years. For more information on education in Uganda, see the Ministry of Education website (http://www.education.go.ug/).

Tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Uganda (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uganda-tax-treaties) so you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Uganda. See list of English-speaking lawyers in Uganda (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uganda-list-of-lawyers) and more information on the Uganda Revenue Authority website (https://www.ura.go.ug).

Read guidance on:
- tax if you leave the UK to live abroad or get a pension and live abroad (https://www.gov.uk/tax-right-retire-abroad-return-to-uk)
- tax on your UK income if you live abroad (https://www.gov.uk/tax-uk-income-live-abroad)
- paying National Insurance while abroad (https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-if-you-go-abroad) to protect your state pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances
Benefits

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad (https://www.gov.uk/uk-benefits-abroad).

Many income-related benefits such as a pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

There is no benefit system in Uganda. British nationals do not get benefits and cannot access UK benefits through the Ugandan authorities. See UK benefits (https://www.gov.uk/benefits-if-you-are-abroad) and advice on retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/moving-or-retiring-abroad).

Pensions

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/state-pension-if-youve-lived-in-australia-canada-or-new-zealand) and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Uganda, you can claim your UK State Pension (https://www.gov.uk/tax-right-retire-abroad-return-to-uk) or new UK State Pension (https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension). Contact the International Pension Centre (https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre) for further information.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a life certificate from the UK Pension Service (https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad/report-a-change-in-your-circumstances), you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.

Provident Fund

In Uganda, there are other provident funds available such as social security for locals and foreign nationals who have made contributions to the National Social Security Fund and meet certain requirements. For more information, please visit the National Social Security Fund website (https://www.nssfug.org/).

Money and banking

The primary legal tender in Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling. Traveller’s cheques, international credit cards and debit cards are acceptable but not widely used especially outside of Kampala. Do check with lodges and restaurants in advance, if you plan to pay by credit card. You may need to have some cash.

US Dollar, British Pound Sterling and euros are easy to change through foreign exchange bureaus throughout the country.

Accommodation and buying property

See buying a property abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-buying-property-abroad).

Foreign nationals cannot own property in Uganda. They can only lease property under certain circumstances. You should get legal advice. See list of English-speaking lawyers in Uganda (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uganda-list-of-lawyers).

For more information on ownership of property see Uganda Land Act (https://ulii.org/akn/ug/act/1998/16/eng@2010-02-12#part_II_sec_2), Trademark Act (https://ulii.org/akn/ug/act/2010/17/eng@2010-09-03) and Contract Act (https://ulii.org/akn/ug/act/2010/7/eng@2010-05-28).

Driving in Uganda

Read guidance on what actions you must take to drive legally in Uganda (https://udls.co.ug) and driving outside Uganda (https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad).

If you’re asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office e.g. the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, DVLA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency).

For guidance on travelling by road in Uganda, see Safety and Security section of the Uganda travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uganda/safety-and-security).

If you wish to take your vehicle with you, see guidance on taking your vehicle out of UK (https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk).

You can drive in Uganda using a UK driving license for up to 3 months, after which you will need to get a Ugandan driving licence (https://udls.co.ug/).

The British High Commission cannot issue or renew a UK driving license. Contact the DVLA (https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence) for information about renewing or applying for a new license.

In Uganda, driving is on the left and the traffic code and laws are mostly the same as in the UK. Care should be taken as driving standards are not the same as in the UK. In some areas, poorly lit roads can cause accidents. Some people can drive carelessly and sometimes do not respect the speed limits.

Disabled drivers

If you have a UK Blue Badge (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/blue-badge-scheme) and live in Uganda, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
- check if you are eligible to vote (https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/overseas-voters)
- register as an overseas voter (https://www.gov.uk/voting-when-abroad)
Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership

Births

If your child is born in Uganda you should register the birth with the local authorities. To obtain a list of documents you will need to produce to register a birth, contact:

National Identification and Registration Authority, NIRA (https://www.nira.go.ug/home/)

PO Box 26529KampalaUganda

Telephone xx-xxxx-xxxx

Toll Free xx-xxxx-xxxx

Reception xx-xxxx-xxxx

You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate (https://www.gov.uk/register-a-birth).

If your child has British nationality (https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british-parent), you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport (https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport/first-child-passport).

Deaths

If someone dies in Uganda read our guidance on:
- what to do if someone dies abroad (https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/death-abroad)
- bereavement guidance for Uganda (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-uganda)
- English-speaking funeral directors in Uganda (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?country=uganda&serviceType=funeral-directors)
To obtain a list of documents you will need to produce to register a death in Uganda, refer to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) website (https://www.nira.go.ug/home) and contact them directly.

Marriage and civil partnership

Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad (https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad).

Consular section does not issue Certificates of No Impediment (CNI). You need to obtain a No Trace Marriage Letter from the General Register Office (https://www.gov.uk/general-register-office) in the UK in order to have a civil marriage in Uganda.

Pets

If you would like to bring a pet to Uganda, you will need to organise an import permit through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries in advance of the pet travelling. Contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (https://www.agriculture.go.ug).

Emergencies

Dial the Uganda Emergency Number 999/112 for the police, ambulance or fire brigade.

If you have been a victim of rape or sexual assault in Uganda, read this guidance: Uganda: information for survivors of rape and sexual assault (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uganda-information-for-survivors-of-rape-and-sexual-assault).

See also Victim of rape and sexual assault abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/victim-of-rape-and-sexual-assault-abroad).

If you need to contact a lawyer in Uganda, refer to this list of lawyers (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?country=uganda&serviceType=lawyers).

If you are the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British High Commission Kampala (https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-kampala#contact-us).

Read the guidance on international parental child abduction (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-parental-child-abduction) if your child may be at risk of this.

Returning to the UK

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/returning-to-the-uk) which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the High Commission by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. The FCDO and the British High Commission will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.