Living costs in Kampala, Uganda
National benchmark · not city-specific
🇺🇬 Plan your fellowship stay in UGX and compare it in your preferred currency.
Kampala, Uganda
City photography pending — no substitute city image used.View 9 program listings for Kampala ↗Fellowship Directory count imported 2026-10-12; availability can change.
Monthly cost evidence
Makerere’s 2023/2024 joining instructions list personal allowance UGX 1,212,000 and medical allowance UGX 606,000 (each shown for both fee columns) under “Allowances (payable as sponsors may deem necessary)”. Converted to monthly by dividing by 4.5 (half academic year). These are official planning figures for sponsors, not a restated current government LOA circular—2025/26–2026/27 joining instructions confirm LOA exists but omit amounts. Private-sponsored fellows fund their own housing. Source period: Makerere University Freshers Joining Instructions 2023/2024 — allowances sponsors may deem necessary. Checked 2026-10-12.
Source monthly budget: UGX 269,333 – UGX 404,000. Source ↗ This may include a different basket; it is not the sum of the planner categories.
| Category | Monthly figure (UGX) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Research pending | A comparable sourced figure has not been added. |
| Food & daily needs | Research pending | A comparable sourced figure has not been added. |
| Transport | Research pending | A comparable sourced figure has not been added. |
| Utilities & phone | Research pending | A comparable sourced figure has not been added. |
| Personal & leisure | UGX 269,333 · point estimatePersonal allowance UGX 1,212,000 ÷ 4.5 | Source ↗Makerere University Freshers Joining Instructions 2023/2024 — allowances sponsors may deem necessary · checked 2026-10-12 |
| Health insurance | UGX 134,667 · point estimateMedical allowance UGX 606,000 ÷ 4.5 | Source ↗Makerere University Freshers Joining Instructions 2023/2024 — allowances sponsors may deem necessary · checked 2026-10-12 |
Point estimates are single published allowances, not ranges. Minimums have no researched upper bound. National and regional benchmarks do not establish local prices. Partial categories need additional quotes.
Before accepting a fellowship in Kampala
This location is listed in The Fellowship Directory. Living-cost research has not been completed here. Enter your own quotes in local currency; no default city prices are supplied. Confirm the exact hospital/site, especially for broad or combined location labels.
Ask your host about accommodation eligibility, health coverage and visa requirements. Confirm whether your stipend is gross or net, when the first payment arrives, and which costs are paid directly. Budget separately for deposits, travel and one-off arrival costs.
Check local services and requirements
Official links and search starting points are labelled separately. Resource links do not substantiate a cost unless cited in the evidence table.
Housing
- Booking.com · Kampala ↗Short stays · select dates and check the exact location
- Airbnb · Kampala ↗Rooms & furnished stays · check lease terms and total price
- Find host or university housing guidance ↗Web search · results not vetted
- Find longer-term room rentals ↗Web search · results not vetted
Food & daily needs
- Find supermarkets & grocery prices ↗Web search · results not vetted
Transport
- Find local operators & monthly passes ↗Web search · results not vetted
Utilities & phone
- Compare mobile & internet plans ↗Web search · results not vetted
- Check electricity & water costs ↗Web search · results not vetted
Personal & leisure
- Check activities & membership prices ↗Web search · results not vetted
Health insurance
- Find visiting-fellow insurance guidance ↗Web search · results not vetted
Build your own budget
The planner supports six expense categories, stipend and funding gaps, arrival cash, saved budgets and city comparisons. Missing amounts must be entered before calculating a complete personal budget.
Plan your Kampala stay in any supported currency →