International Education in Kampala

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Uganda’s capital, Kampala, is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. Having recovered from the country’s civil war in the 1980s, Kampala is now an attractive city to live and work in. With English widely spoken and a stable economy, it’s no wonder that its expat community is growing fast too.

While the choice of international schools in Kampala might be small, most of the schools are long-established and have great reputations. Thanks to Uganda’s colonial past, British curriculum schools dominate here. However if you’d prefer an alternative, some schools teach the American, French, and Indian curricula. There are of course a selection of schools teaching the International Baccalaureate as well.

Kampala is divided into 5 boroughs; Kampala Central, Kawenpe to the north, Nakawa to the east, Makindye to the south, and Rubaga to the west. Most of the city’s international schools are located in Nakawa and Makindye, with a small number in other districts and further afield. Makindye and Nakawa have some of the more prosperous neighbourhoods in Kampala, and both are considered good areas to live in.

While it may have a healthy economy and growing population, Uganda is still a developing nation. Even in the capital Kampala, the infrastructure and facilities don’t compare to countries in Europe or other developed regions. Traffic is chaotic and school bus services are not a standard offering (although many do include it), so it’s worth researching your school commute and transport options before deciding.

Extracurricular activities in Kampala’s international schools are often focused on sports. Most school campuses have great sports facilities including basketball courts, football pitches and sometimes swimming pools. Music and arts are also commonly offered.

Like many international schools around the world, Kampala’s schools keep class sizes small. Around 20 students per class is the norm here. Expat students are usually in the majority - in some schools the student body can be up to 85% expats. International school fees are often too high for most Ugandans to afford, although those who can pay for private education will almost always do so.

That said, international school fees in Kampala are actually among the lowest in the world. Native English-speaking teachers are very common, facilities are as good as anywhere. So if you were thinking of making a big move to Uganda, Kampala’s international schools can offer very good value for money.

Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Kampala according to our users. However, there are another 16 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Kampala based on your requirements.