Uganda has hundreds of people calling themselves web designers. But quality varies enormously — from stunning, performant, SEO-optimised sites to basic templates that embarrass your brand. Here is how to tell the difference before you pay.

1. Look at Their Actual Portfolio

Ask for live links to websites they have built — not just screenshots. Visit the sites on mobile. Do they load fast? Do they look professional on a phone screen? Are the links working? A strong portfolio of live, functional websites is the single most important signal of a competent web designer.

2. Ask About Mobile-First Design

Over 85% of Ugandan internet users access the web primarily via mobile. A website that looks great on desktop but is cramped or broken on mobile is a failure. Ask explicitly: "Do you design mobile-first or desktop-first?" The correct answer for Uganda's market is mobile-first.

3. Clarify What "Complete Website" Means

Many designers quote a low price but exclude hosting, domain, SSL certificate, email setup, content, and post-launch support. A 200,000 UGX website quote that excludes everything is not a bargain. Get a full itemized scope in writing before agreeing.

4. Ask About Page Speed

Slow websites lose visitors — especially on Uganda's mobile networks. Ask the designer to show you Google PageSpeed scores for their previous work. Anything below 70/100 on mobile is concerning.

5. Check for SEO Fundamentals

A website that nobody can find is just an expensive brochure. Your designer should include basic on-page SEO: proper heading structure (H1/H2/H3), meta descriptions, image alt tags, XML sitemap, and mobile responsiveness (which Google requires for ranking).

6. Post-Launch Support

Websites need maintenance — updates, bug fixes, new content, security patches. Ask what happens after launch. Is there a support retainer option? Can you call them when something breaks?

What Thirdsan Includes as Standard

Every Thirdsan website includes: mobile-first responsive design, SSL setup, on-page SEO, Google Analytics, contact form, browser compatibility testing, and 30 days of post-launch support. Websites start from 350,000 UGX. Contact us for a quote.