International health insurance in Uganda
Health insurance for expats & foreigners
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Why get private health insurance in Uganda?
Uganda's public healthcare is chronically underfunded, with very few doctors per person, and even the main public hospital, Mulago, adds a 25% surcharge for non-citizens on its specialized wards. Most expats end up at private hospitals in Kampala instead.
That makes private cover essential. Without it, a GP visit runs about UGX 85,000 (€20), and a hospital day around UGX 665,000 (€153). For anything serious, you're flown to Nairobi, which is far more expensive.
Plus, the Student Pass and most residence permits require private medical insurance.
How does the healthcare system work in Uganda?
The public system
Uganda has no working national health insurance. A law to create one was passed in 2021, but was never signed, and Social Security funds only provide pensions. Public hospitals like Mulago are free at the point of use but face long queues, frequent stockouts, and a 25% surcharge for non-citizens in specialized wards. So expats default to the private hospitals in Kampala.
Ugandan pharmacies & medication
Kampala is well served by licensed chains such as Guardian Health, Fame, First Pharmacy, Friecca, and Rocket Health (which offers 24/7 telehealth), though rural coverage is sparse. Rules are looser than in Europe, and most medicines, including antibiotics, are sold without a prescription. Counterfeits do circulate, so it's worth sticking to the licensed chains.
Emergency services in Uganda
Dial 999 for police, or 112 from a mobile. For an ambulance in Kampala, call the city authority (KCCA) or the Red Cross on their toll-free lines. Dispatch is in English, but the rural response is poor. For anything serious, the standard is a private ER in Kampala with medevac cover (via AMREF). That's exactly what good cover is for.
What expats need health insurance?
Retirees
A five-day stay at a private hospital like IHK runs around UGX 3.7 million (€850), and complex care means flying out. Feather covers you, evacuation included, and travels with you.
Gap year & job seekers
No work permit means no employer cover. The East African Tourist Visa is the most flexible status — pair it with a Feather plan and medevac so you're covered from day one.
Students
The Student Pass is the one visa that explicitly requires private health insurance. Feather meets the requirement from day one, with instant English documents.
Visa applicants
Work Permits and the Dependant Pass need a medical report with an HIV test (not insurance) but given the cost of private care and medevac, cover is worth having.
Get global health insurance that works in Uganda
Plans from €42/month. Sign up online in minutes.
How much is health insurance in Uganda?
Kampala's private hospitals add up fast. Without cover, a GP visit costs about UGX 85,000 (€20), a specialist visit about UGX 168,000 (€39), and a hospital day about UGX 665,000 (€153). The big one to plan for: a medevac to Nairobi, which can run into the tens of thousands of euros.
Public healthcare in Uganda
There's no national health insurance to pay into. Public care at Mulago is free at the point of use, funded from taxation, but that means queues, stockouts, and a 25% surcharge for non-citizens on the specialized wards. Social security goes to pensions only.
Private medical insurance
Feather's international plans start at €42/month for Essential and €63/month for Plus with outpatient, dental, mental health, maternity, and full medical evacuation coverage.
How does Feather's international health insurance work?
Choose your plan
Compare Essential and Plus, pick your deductible, and sign up in under 5 minutes. No paperwork, no medical exams.
Get your documents instantly
Your confirmation and visa-ready proof-of-coverage documents land in your account straight away.
Visit any doctor
See any licensed doctor, specialist, or hospital. No referrals, no network restrictions, no pre-approval.
Upload your bill in the app
Already paid? Open the Feather app, snap a photo of your invoice, and submit your claim in under a minute.
Get reimbursed to your account
We review your claim and reimburse you directly to your bank account. Most claims are processed within two weeks.
Cancel anytime after year one
There's a one-year minimum term. After that, cancel whenever you want. No penalties.
Join 200,000+ expats covered with Feather
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Why choose Feather?
200,000+ happy customers
Experience insurance crafted by expats, for expats.
100,000+ claims processed
Paid out in three weeks on average.
4.8 Star rating
On over 2,500 reviews.
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Our team speaks your language.
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Sign up, file claims, and manage your policy in our app.
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Michal
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“The representative answered my questions clearly and helped me make sure I was aware of my options! This was the perfect fit for my situation as an expat looking for a job in Spain and needing temporary coverage.”
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