Teach English in Uganda

Uganda, traditionally viewed a poor country with a rampant HIV problem, has seen its fortunes completely change. The percentage of people with HIV has been reduced by about 80% and the economy is now growing at a robust rate thanks to reforms.

This makes Uganda an exciting place to teach abroad. With the tourism industry increasing at a booming rate, the need for English speaking Ugandans is at an all time high. So what are you waiting for? Come teach abroad in Uganda!

In order to teach English in Uganda, most teachers will require a native English proficiency and university degree and/or TEFL certification. In some cases, prior teaching experience is preferred. The average salary for teaching in Uganda is several hundred dollars per month.

At Go Overseas, we strive to provide the most comprehensive program and teaching abroad listings available. At this time, we are only able to find a few teaching opportunities in Uganda, listed below. You can read this full guide to teaching in Uganda, or use the Search page to explore other teaching opportunities.

Opportunities to teach exist in not only public and private schools, but also as private tutors and volunteers. This variety of options means you are sure to find the program that is right for you.

Public Schools:

While many families in rural cannot afford to send their kids to school due to the high costs of materials, attendance is strong in urban areas. These schools need to teach English as Uganda’s tourism industry continues to boom and the need for conversational English speakers is becoming more and more valuable.

Private Schools:

Wealthier families will send their children to private schools and there is an expectation that they learn English. For that reason, private schools are always going to have a need for English speaking teachers. Private schools will also be able to pay higher salaries (in comparison to public schools) and are more likely to provide housing.

Private Tutoring:

Once again, wealthier families will be willing to pay for private tutors to teach their children English. While these tutoring jobs will be very difficult to find online, they will be easier to find once you are actually in Uganda. The pay for private tutoring should also be very good.

Volunteering:

Lastly, one could always volunteer as a teacher in Uganda. There are many organizations that arrange for teachers to go to rural villages and teach children who normally wouldn’t be able to get schooling. While this would provide no salary, the satisfaction of helping children will be invaluable.

When and Where to Look for Jobs:

There is not one ideal time to look for a job in Uganda. Different programs start at different times so you should be able to find a job at any given time. Jobs are most abundant near the capital of Kampala and Kira, so start searching in those areas. While it is fairly difficult to find jobs on the Internet, it is not impossible.

Qualifications:

Qualifications for teaching jobs are pretty lax in Uganda. The need for teachers is high so any person with English skills should be able to get a job. However, some schools will give preference to those who have had teaching experience before. In addition, it may be a good idea to become familiar with Ugandan culture so you are able to better connect with students.

Salary & Cost of Living:

While Uganda’s economy has been rapidly improving, the salaries for most teaching jobs is still pretty low. At most, you should expect to make a few hundred dollars a month. That being said, the cost of living in Uganda is low so breaking even, while still hard, can be done. Airfare is not usually included, while housing is sometimes a part of teacher benefits. If it is not included, officials from the school might be a good resource to find housing, as they will probably know of suitable places for foreigners to live. Typically rent runs around $300-500 per month in a large city.

Classroom & Work Culture:

Collared shirts, skirts, pants are all acceptable forms of dress. Greeting with a handshake is an acceptable and expected.