Complete guide

How to find software developers in Kampala

Kampala
March 1, 2023
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Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda. Located in the south-central part of the country, it is the political and administrative center of the nation. Kampala is situated in the fertile lands of the Albertine Rift Valley, at an altitude of about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). It is a bustling city of 1.5 million people, with a diverse range of cultures, religions, and economic activities. It is a major tourist destination with numerous attractions, including its vibrant nightlife, lovely lakes and parks, and the historic Kasubi Tombs. Kampala is also home to numerous universities, and a hub of business and cultural activities. Kampala is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Kampala are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Kampala you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Kampala, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Kampala is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Kampala

The statistics on tech talent in Kampala show that the city has a vibrant and growing tech sector. The tech industry in Kampala has grown by an average of 18.3% in the last five years and the city is now home to over 1,200 tech startups. Kampala is known for its diverse and innovative tech talent, with a number of world-class coding bootcamps, universities, and tech hubs providing a wealth of opportunities for tech professionals. The city is also home to a variety of tech-focused startups, from software development and hardware design to artificial intelligence and blockchain. In addition, Kampala has a strong network of venture capitalists and angel investors who are eager to invest in tech startups. Overall, the future of tech talent in Kampala looks bright.

The tech ecosystem in Kampala

Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda, and is a thriving tech hub in East Africa. The city is home to an impressive and growing tech ecosystem, with a variety of tech startups, incubators, accelerators, investors, and other organizations working together to create innovative solutions for the region. The tech ecosystem in Kampala includes a number of venture capital funds and angel investors, as well as a number of incubators and accelerators, such as Outbox, Hive Colab, and the Innovation Village. The city also has a thriving startup community, with a number of successful startups, such as BBOXX, Bridge, and Eco-Fuel Africa, that are making a real impact on the region. Additionally, Kampala is home to a number of tech events, such as the Kampala Digital Summit, and it also has a vibrant coworking and maker space scene.

Best tech meetups in Kampala

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. Kampala Startup Club
2. Kampala Ruby User Group
3. Kampala Artificial Intelligence Meetup
4. Kampala DevOps Meetup
5. Kampala Fintech Meetup
6. Kampala Blockchain Meetup
7. Kampala Women in Tech Meetup
8. Kampala Python User Group
9. Kampala Data Science Meetup
10. Kampala Machine Learning Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Kampala

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Utilize professional network sites such as LinkedIn and AngelList to find software development talent in Kampala.

2. Ask for referrals from your current employees or contacts in the software development industry in Kampala.

3. Utilize online job boards and job sites such as Indeed and Upwork to find software developers in Kampala.

4. Utilize local job fairs and networking events to find software developers in Kampala.

5. Post an advertisement for open software development positions in local newspapers, radio, or television.

6. Reach out to computer science departments at universities in Kampala and inquire about potential software development talent.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Kampala is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Kampala

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Indeed
3. Glassdoor
4. Facebook
5. Craigslist
6. Local Job Boards
7. Jobstreet
8. KampalaJobs.com
9. Reed.co.uk
10. CareerBuilder

Best remote job boards to find developers in Kampala

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. Upwork
2. Fiverr
3. Freelancer
4. Hubstaff Talent
5. WeWorkRemotely
6. Indeed
7. FlexJobs
8. Remotive
9. PeoplePerHour
10. AngelList

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Kampala

The average salary for a junior developer in Kampala is around $30,000 USD per year. This figure can vary depending on the experience and skills of the individual, as well as the company they are working for. Junior developers in Kampala are typically responsible for developing and maintaining web and mobile applications, providing technical support, and designing user interfaces. They may also be required to debug existing code and develop software solutions to meet customer needs.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Kampala

The average salary for a Senior Developer in Kampala, Uganda is approximately 8,000,000 UGX per month, which is equivalent to 2,140 USD. This salary includes base salary and any performance-based bonuses. Senior Developers are generally experienced professionals who have advanced skills in coding, software development, and system design. They are typically responsible for managing development projects and leading teams of developers. They often work with clients to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Kampala. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Kampala. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Kampala.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party provider that acts as the legal employer of a worker. This allows companies to hire employees in Kampala without having to establish a legal entity in Uganda.

Using an EOR can provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for companies who want to hire employees in Kampala without having to set up a legal entity. Here are the steps to follow when using an EOR in Kampala:

1. Research and select an EOR:

Research and select an EOR provider in Kampala who is able to provide the services you need. Make sure that they have the required licenses and permits in Uganda to act as an employer.

2. Hire the employees:

Once you have chosen an EOR, you can start the process of hiring employees in Kampala. The EOR will take care of the recruitment process and any other paperwork that is required.

3. Sign the agreement:

Once you have chosen your employee, the EOR will provide a contract that you will need to sign. This contract will outline the terms and conditions of the employment relationship between you and the employee, as well as any obligations of the EOR.

4. Payroll:

The EOR will take care of the payroll process, including calculating and paying all taxes, deductions, and contributions required by the Ugandan government.

5. Monitor compliance:

The EOR will also be responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in Uganda. This includes ensuring that the employee’s work permit, residence permit, and other documents are up to date.

Using an EOR in Kampala can provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for companies who want to hire employees without having to set up a legal entity. However, it is important to ensure that the EOR you choose is reliable and has the necessary licenses and permits in Uganda.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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