Logo
Verified neighborhood profile

Kawempe, Kampala

Quiet, increasingly popular suburb 8 km north of Kampala CBD. Mix of single-family homes and 2-bedroom rentals at prices that beat Ntinda and Bukoto — with the trade-off of murram backroads that get tough during heavy rain.

78
/ 100
HomSeeq Liveability
Solid choice

Strong on safety & family living. Watch the roads in rainy season.

Top 12% of Kampala suburbs for value
Average rent
UGX 350k–1.8M
per month
Available homes
47 listings
+8 in the last 7 days
Median days to rent
21 days
moderate demand
Best for
Young familiesQuiet livingAffordable city accessFirst-time renters
View 47 available homesCompare similar neighborhoods
See nearby primary schools
Live weather · Kawempe, Kampala
Loading

Quick facts

What you'd want to know in the first 60 seconds.

Rent range
UGX 300k – 18M
per month, all types
Transport
Boda & taxi
~25 min to CBD
Road quality
Mixed
tarmac mains, murram side roads
Water reliability
NWSC piped
occasional dry-season cuts
Internet
4G + fibre
coverage varies by street
Safety
Generally safe
see liveability scores below
Family suitability
Mixed
23% family households
Commute to CBD
25 min
to the city centre

About Kawempe

Kawempe is a large, densely populated division on the Bombo Road in the city's north, a busy mix of trade, light industry and affordable residential living. A major gateway into Kampala from the north, it carries heavy commerce along its arteries and a deep, working residential community throughout.

What Kawempe offers is scale, affordability and access — strong rental demand, busy markets and ready links to the CBD. For investors chasing volume and yield, and families seeking affordable housing on a major route, it is one of the north's enduring workhorses.

A sneak peek at Kawempe

The quick character read — what stands out before you ever visit.

Kampala's busy northern gateway.
The address

Kawempe is big, busy and affordable — a major Bombo Road gateway where trade, industry and a deep residential community meet.

Commerce, industry and dense homes.
What to expect

Heavy trade and light industry along the arteries, with a vast affordable residential community filling the ground behind.

Affordable, connected, energetic.
The lifestyle

Ready access to the CBD on the Bombo Road, with markets and services everywhere and housing that stays within reach.

Scale, demand and yield.
The market

Deep affordable-rental demand and busy commerce make Kawempe a high-volume, high-occupancy market for investors and owner-occupiers.

Available rentals

8 active listings · verified within the last 30 days

Homes for rent in Kawempe

See all rentals →

Rent & property market snapshot

A snapshot of the Kawempe rental market based on recent listings. Median values reflect typical asking rents, not promotional prices.

Rent by property type

UGX, per month
Studio apartment
Self-contained singles
300k – 700k
median 450k
1 bedroom apartment
Compact city living
500k – 1.2M
median 750k
2 bedrooms
Most-rented family unit
900k – 2.2M
median 1.4M
3 bedrooms (apartment)
Larger apartments
1.5M – 3.5M
median 2.2M
3 bedroom villa
Standalone homes
2.5M – 6M
median 3.8M
4 bedroom villa
Gated standalone
4M – 10M
median 6.5M
5 bedroom villa
Premium standalone
7M – 18M
median 11M
Market demand
Moderate
61
Rent trend (YoY)
+3.4%
Gradually rising, in line with greater Kampala.
Availability
Healthy supply
Listings rent in ~39 days on average.
Broker activity
High
Most listings reach the market through brokers.
Negotiation chance
Some flexibility
Longer leases and off-peak timing improve your bargaining position.
🤝

Land for sale — price guide

Typical asking prices for plots in and around Kawempe, by size.

Median price
UGX 776M
Lowest
UGX 503M
Highest
UGX 456M
Avg lot size
43 sqft
Time on market
57 days
Plot size
Cheapest
Average
Highest
50 × 100 ft
UGX 772M
UGX 977M
UGX 960M
100 × 100 ft
UGX 629M
UGX 154M
UGX 499M
Half acre
UGX 111M
UGX 870M
UGX 195M
One acre
UGX 898M
UGX 767M
UGX 78M

Should you buy in Kawempe?

Buy (yield)

Kawempe's scale, affordability and deep rental demand make it a high-volume, high-yield workhorse on the northern gateway.

Buyer guidance
  • Large, densely populated northern division on Bombo Road
  • Major gateway with heavy trade and light industry
  • Deep affordable-rental demand and strong yields
  • Ready access to the CBD
  • Vast residential stock at low entry prices
  • Density rewards careful zone and street selection

Move-in cost estimator

A realistic first-day-of-tenancy figure for a typical 2-bedroom in Kawempe at UGX 1,400,000/month. Numbers vary by landlord and broker.

Confirm every charge before paying

Always view the unit in person, ask for a written breakdown of fees, and confirm refund terms for the deposit. Never pay brokers before viewing.

Estimated total to move in
UGX 6,100,000
Based on a typical 2-bedroom @ 1.4M/mo
First month's rent
Paid up-front on signing
UGX 1,400,000
Security deposit
Typically 2 months · refundable
UGX 2,800,000
Broker / agent fee
Standard: 1 month's rent (one-time)
UGX 1,400,000
Utility set-up
Yaka top-up, water connection, home internet
UGX 300,000
Moving transport
Pick-up truck within Kampala
UGX 200,000
Total estimate
UGX 6,100,000

Quality of life

Signals built from field visits, public data, and resident feedback. Scored 0–10.

Air quality
6.0
Busy and built-up, with traffic and trade dust common along the main roads.
Noise level
5.5
Energetic and densely active, especially along the Bombo Road and markets.
Walkability
1.3
Walk score 13/100.
Public transport
0.6
Transit score 6/100.
Cycling
7.2
Bike score 72/100.
Commute to CBD
7.5
About 25 minutes to the city centre.

Who lives in Kawempe

Residents, households, and the housing mix — a feel for the community you'd be joining.

Kawempe's large, mixed population spans workers, traders and families drawn by affordable housing, deep rental demand and northern-gateway access.

Population
28,659
Median age
29.6 yrs
Households
3,175
Avg household
2.6 people
Long-term residents
41%
Age groups
Under 2023%
20–391%
40–5926%
60+42%
Housing stock
Apartments67%
Villas6%
Houses15%
Other71%
Who rents & owns
Renters37%
Owners18%
Household types
Families23%
Singles38%
Single parents24%
Couples9%

What's around you

A walk through the things you'll actually use day-to-day — grouped by life zone.

🛒
Daily essentials
Groceries, food, errands
  • Kyanja Market2 min
  • Capital Shoppers Ntinda15 min
  • Local supermarkets & kioskswalking
  • Restaurants & pork joints5+ near main road
👨‍👩‍👧
Family needs
Schools, parks, kid stuff
  • Kyanja Primary School5 min
  • Hilltop College Kyanja8 min
  • Kungu Playgroundwalking
  • Daycare options3 nearby
☕
Lifestyle
Cafés, gyms, weekends
  • Lugogo Mall (Acacia)15 min
  • Body's Gym Kyanja5 min
  • Cafés near Kyanja-Kungu3 known
  • Football pitches2 nearby
⚕️
Health
Clinics & pharmacies
  • Kyanja Health Centre III5 min
  • Case Clinic (Kololo)25 min
  • Pharmacies on main road4+ open late
  • Mulago Hospital22 min
🛵
Transport
Getting around
  • Boda stagesevery corner
  • Minivan Taxi (Kyanja–Kalerwe)UGX 1,500
  • SafeBoda & Uber Boda5–8 min ETA
  • Bombo Road linkdrive to CBD
🏦
Financial services
Banks, mobile money, ATMs
  • Centenary Bank (Ntinda)15 min
  • Equity Bank branch10 min
  • MTN Mobile Money agents20+ in Kyanja
  • Airtel Money kioskswalking

Primary schools in and around Kawempe

Life in Kawempe

The texture of day-to-day living — who thrives here, and why.

Everyday convenience
Everyday convenience

Shops, markets, and services within easy reach in Kawempe.

Getting around
Getting around

Boda stages, taxi routes, and main-road access from Kawempe.

Community & weekends
Community & weekends

Places to eat, meet, and unwind around Kawempe.

Parks & recreation

Green space and gentle outdoor play within reach of Kawempe — the spots families with babies and toddlers actually use on a weekend, including school pools, swings and courts opened to the community. Pick a category to see places, pricing and the practical details.

Swings, slides and soft landings — including school playgrounds opened to the community.

Kungu Community PlaygroundFree

Kungu Community Playground

Fenced toddler swings, a small slide and a sandpit on soft, shaded ground.

6 min walkDaily · daylight hours
  • Toddler swings
  • Fenced
  • Shaded
Greenhill Academy — Community SwingsSchool facilityFrom UGX 3,000 / child

Greenhill Academy — Community Swings

The school opens its playground and swings to neighbourhood families on weekends.

10 min driveSat–Sun · 9am–5pm
  • Swings & climbers
  • Supervised
  • Weekend hours
Lions Gardens Play CornerFrom UGX 5,000 / child

Lions Gardens Play Corner

Supervised soft-play and messy-play sessions for under-5s, with a parents’ café.

12 min driveTue–Sun · 9am–6pm
  • Soft-play
  • Baby-changing
  • Café

Transport & commute

Door-to-door estimates from a typical address in Kawempe. Peak hours (7–9am, 5–7pm) add 10–20 minutes.

Destination
Car
Boda
Minivan Taxi
Kampala CBD
city centre
25–40 min
20–25 min
35–50 min
Nearest shopping mall
groceries & dining
10–20 min
8–15 min
20–30 min
Entebbe Airport
via the expressway
60–90 min
—
90–120 min
Peak-hour traffic on main roadsSafeBoda & Uber available

Safety & trust

Kawempe is a residential area of greater Kampala. Most incidents are opportunistic — protect yourself by knowing what to watch for.

🛡️
General safety

Day to day, Kawempe feels lively. Main roads are busier and better lit; side streets are quieter and dimmer after dark. Most reported incidents are opportunistic — petty theft rather than violent crime.

⚠️
Common rental scams in Kampala
  • Brokers asking for "viewing fees" before showing the property — refuse.
  • Photos that don't match the actual unit — always view in person before paying.
  • Pressure to pay the deposit by mobile money the same day — sleep on it first.
  • No written tenancy agreement — insist on one before any payment.
HomSeeq Trust System

How we mark a listing as trustworthy

Every listing on HomSeeq earns up to five badges. Only listings with at least 3 are visible without filters.

✓
Verified Listing
Address & landlord confirmed.
📷
Verified Photos
Taken by our team on-site.
💰
Price Checked
Within the area's fair range.
🆔
Landlord Verified
ID + ownership confirmed.
🔄
Recently Updated
Confirmed available in the last 14 days.

Honest pros & cons

Both sides of the picture. Kawempe is a strong choice for many — but no neighborhood is right for everyone.

Pros
  • Transparent rent levels — median around UGX 1,400,000/month.
  • Active rental market — a steady supply of homes across price points in Kawempe.
  • Workable commute — around 25 minutes to the CBD.
  • Growing amenities — new shops, cafés, and services opening over time.
Cons
  • Can get noisy — Energetic and densely active, especially along the Bombo Road and markets.
  • Infrastructure varies — road and drainage quality differs street to street.
  • Confirm utilities — check water and power reliability before signing.

Projects shaping Kawempe

Roads, malls, and developments changing the area — and what they mean for value.

Road upgrades around Kawempe
Road upgrades around Kawempe

Resurfacing and drainage works improving access in and around Kawempe.

Infrastructure12th Mar 2026
New apartments coming to Kawempe
New apartments coming to Kawempe

Fresh residential stock adding rental options across price points.

Housing28th Feb 2026
Retail & services expanding in Kawempe
Retail & services expanding in Kawempe

New shops, markets, and amenities opening to serve residents.

Commercial15th Jan 2026

News & articles about Kawempe

Stories, guides, and updates from around the neighborhood.

A renter's guide to Kawempe
A renter's guide to Kawempe

What to know about prices, transport, and amenities before moving to Kawempe.

Guide02nd Apr 2026
Cost of living in Kawempe
Cost of living in Kawempe

A breakdown of rent, utilities, and getting-around costs in Kawempe.

Renting21st Mar 2026
Kawempe and its neighbours
Kawempe and its neighbours

How Kawempe compares nearby on price, calm, and convenience.

Comparison08th Mar 2026
How we know

Where this profile's data comes from.

We blend several sources and label every metric by confidence. Where data is weak, we say so.

📋
High confidence
Verified listings

Listings verified against landlord ID and ownership documents.

Tracked over the last 90 days
📍
Medium confidence
Field visits

Our team walks Kawempe to verify roads, amenities, and ground conditions.

Refreshed each season
💬
Medium confidence
Resident feedback

Surveys from people who currently rent or own in Kawempe.

Ongoing collection
🏢
Medium confidence
Agent reports

Pricing, demand, and negotiation insights from active brokers.

Cross-checked against asking rents
🗺️
High confidence
Public map data

OpenStreetMap, KCCA road records, and UEDCL coverage baselines.

Refreshed quarterly
📊
Medium confidence
Census & demographics

Population, age, and household composition baselines.

~28,659 residents
Before you sign — viewing checklist
  • Visit during the day and at night
  • Check the access road right after rain
  • Confirm water pressure — open the tap yourself
  • Check the electricity meter — Yaka prepaid or post-paid?
  • Confirm deposit refund terms in writing
  • Test mobile network inside every room (MTN & Airtel)
  • Never pay any money before viewing the unit in person
Spotted something off in this profile?

Send us a correction — verified locals can earn HomSeeq trust points.

Similar neighborhoods

If Kawempe's price or vibe doesn't quite fit, browse other areas close by.

View 47 homesCompare areas