Because the two countries, Uganda and Rwanda, are members of the East African community, moving from one to the other is relatively simple.

 

Nonetheless, moving from Uganda to Rwanda is not without its technicalities. In this article, we will try to give you all the information you may need should you find yourself needing to make a move from Uganda to Rwanda. 

 

But, before we get into the details, did you know that Rwanda is also known as “The Land of a Thousand Hills?” This is due to the fact that the little East African country is hilly and mountainous by nature. 

 

Rwanda also has Africa’s cleanest city, making it one of the greatest cities to live and work in, especially for those concerned about the environment.

 

The little East African country is also infamous for perpetrating one of the world’s largest genocides. Rwanda, despite this, is a popular tourist destination and a relatively safe place to reside.

 

The following are some of Rwanda’s most popular tourist attractions:

• Lake Kivu is a stunning sight.
• Memorial to the Genocide in Kigali
• To observe gorillas, visit the Volcanoes National Park.

 

 

• King’s Palace Museum, just to mention a few.

 

That said, if you’re moving from Uganda to Rwanda now or in the future, here are ten things to remember to make the transition as smooth as possible:

 

1. Language

Unlike other countries with only one official language, Rwanda has four: Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili.

 

Kinyarwanda is the native language of the majority of Rwandese, and it is primarily used to address elementary themes.

 

On the other hand, French is primarily used by educated Rwandans, whereas English is now the primary language used to communicate with outsiders.

 

As part of Rwanda’s commitment to the East African community, Swahili was just made an official language in 2017. Rwandese schools now teach Swahili as a subject.

 

With this in mind, travelling from Uganda to Rwanda should be relatively simple due to the wide range of communication languages that are permitted.

 

2. The Rwandese Culture

Rwanda is a clean and organized country, as you’ve probably heard or seen. This is mostly due to tight adherence to laws and regulations. You should receive a list of dos and don’ts from your individual embassies, but remember not to trash or smoke in public.

 

The Rwandese also dedicate every month’s last Saturday to community service. On this day, everyone is required to participate in whatever way they can, such as cleaning up a local place, assisting a neighbour with a gardening need, fixing public buildings, and building schools, among other things. 

 

 

Rwanda holds a car-free day to encourage people to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. There are several car-free zones in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, where walkers and cyclists can freely travel. Rwanda also holds a car-free day once a month to encourage inhabitants to exercise and focus on a healthy lifestyle.

 

3.  The cost of moving from Uganda to Rwanda

Sea freight is the most cost-effective method of transporting household goods to a new country. However, because both Uganda and Rwanda are landlocked, there are only two ways to get from Uganda to Rwanda: by plane or by road. On top of other costs, this can significantly increase the cost of moving.

 

The size of the move, the moving company you hire, custom costs, the route taken, mode of transportation, and other factors can all affect the cost of moving from Uganda to Rwanda.

 

4. List of documents you require

There are some documents that are too vital to neglect or ignore while transferring from one country to another. In fact, without these, crossing the border from Uganda to Rwanda may be nearly impossible, thus it’s critical to have these with you:

 

• Work visa/permit

It is necessary to get a work permit or a visa to live and work in Rwanda. All nationals of all countries now receive a visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and all land borders as of January 1, 2018.

 

However, if you intend to reside and/or work in Rwanda, you will need to obtain a work permit.

 

Work permits are issued from the offices of the Director-General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE), and they are renewed every two years.

 

During the validity duration of their work permits, permit holders have the freedom to change employers. When renewing your license, you must notify the DGIE in writing and produce a resignation or termination letter from your prior employer.

 

On a related point, Rwanda requires diplomatic visa holders who wish to work in the local economy to surrender their diplomatic immunity and apply for work permits using their regular passports.

 

• Yellow fever certificate

A Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for everyone travelling or moving to Rwanda. This is especially a must for people arriving from Yellow fever endemic countries, Uganda included.

 

5. Moving with your household items

Only household items and personal things acquired and used for at least one year before the move can enter Rwanda duty-free from Uganda. To be eligible for a duty exemption, you must have lived outside of Rwanda for a year prior to the migration.

 

Furthermore, if you decide to go to Rwanda without your belongings and then import them later, you must do it within six months or face paying duty.

 

 

If duty relief is granted, you will be prohibited from selling, lending, or disposing of these items while in the country.

 

You must show the following paperwork to customs when importing your used household goods:

• Your passport, 
• A full packing list 
• Letter of employment 
• A detailed inventory that includes the monetary value of the products and is signed and dated in either French or English.
• A valid long-term visa or work permit is required.
• If you work for an NGO, you should bring your Work Contract or their Registration Certificate.
• You must also receive a taxpayer identification number from the Rwanda Revenue Authority.

 

Additionally, your paperwork must be received by the destination agent at least three weeks before the arrival of your products. 

 

6. Automobile relocation

If you’re moving your car from Uganda to Rwanda, you’ll need proof of ownership. You must also have driven the car for at least 12 months prior to the relocation.

 

All automobiles imported into Rwanda are subject to taxes based on their age, horsepower, model, engine displacement, and value. As a result, the chassis number, engine number, cubic capacity, year of manufacture, brand, and model must all be listed on the Original Bill of Lading (OBL).

 

When transporting your automobile into Rwanda, you must show the following documents:

• Registration card in its original state
• A copy of your passport
• Purchase invoice 
• Proof of ownership/insurance certificate

 

7. Dutiable Items

When entering Rwanda from Uganda, customs will levy a tariff on several household products. Firearms and ammunition, beer and spirits, local money, and cigarettes are among them.

 

 

Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with these dutiable items:

• Authorization to import firearms and ammunition is required from the territorial administration.
• Only “Fond de Cave” is acceptable (less than 15 bottles). Otherwise, the Line Ministry must be contacted for a certificate of free admission for alcohol and spirits.
• If the value of the dutiable items exceeds $5000, the owner must apply for an import license and a pre-shipment inspection must be performed at the point of origin; alcohol should be shipped separately from domestic goods.
• Importing local currency is only allowed to a maximum of 5,000 Rwandese Francs
• Two cartons of cigarettes and 2 alcoholic beverages may be imported duty-free by persons 16 years and older.

 

8. Prohibited Items

Certain things are prohibited from being imported into Rwanda, therefore if you’re moving from Uganda, here’s a list:

• Drugs that are not legal
• Transmission devices
• Live or dead animals, as well as foodstuffs, from countries where an outbreak has occurred and has been classified as a health hazard by Rwandan officials (contact nearest embassy for specific information)
• Pornography
• Copyright-infringing items

 

9. Where to find your country’s Embassy in Rwanda

It is critical to know where your country’s embassy is located in any foreign country to which you relocate. Your embassy will assist you in a variety of situations, including emergency evacuations, providing short-term protection in the event of a life-threatening situation, and dealing with an arrest, to name a few.

 

As is the case with most countries, all foreign embassies in Rwanda are situated in Kigali, the country’s capital.

 

10. You’ll require the services of an international moving firm

Although hundreds of moving companies are online, you don’t have to feel stranded when picking one for your move from Uganda to Rwanda. We’ve handled a lot of international and cross-border relocations at Nellions, so we know what it takes to pull it off. 

 

Is your transfer from Uganda to Rwanda going to require the services of a seasoned and expert moving company? Call us at +256 753 000 100 or +256 783 294 229 for further information. You may also email us at MOVE@NELLIONS.CO.UG.