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The journal

Notes on SEO, design, and shipping software

Practical, no-fluff write-ups from the Marv Web Design team, on what's actually moving the needle for the sites and products we build.

Website security checklist for Ugandan businesses in 2026

Hacked sites, expired SSL certificates, and outdated plugins cost Ugandan businesses customers and Google rankings every year. Here's what to actually check.

July 24, 20266 min read

Five years building websites in Uganda: what we've learned

Marv Web Design started in 2020 as a one-person freelance practice. Here's what six years and 120-plus projects has taught us about what actually works.

July 16, 20266 min read

Case Studies

Case study: building MutindoExpress, an electronics store built for Ugandan shoppers

A behind-the-scenes look at how we built MutindoExpress, an online electronics store, and the decisions that shaped it for the Ugandan market specifically.

July 15, 20266 min read

SEO

Why your website isn't showing up on Google Uganda, and how to fix it

If your business isn't appearing when customers search for it, one of these common issues is almost always the reason. Here's how to check and fix each one.

July 14, 20267 min read

SEO

Google Business Profile setup for Ugandan businesses, step by step

A free, 20-minute setup that meaningfully improves how easily customers find you on Google. Here's exactly how to do it properly.

July 13, 20266 min read

SEO

Local SEO for Uganda: ranking in the map pack without an agency retainer

The Google map pack sends real customers to real businesses. Here's how to actually rank in it, without paying for an ongoing SEO retainer.

July 12, 20267 min read

Locations

Why Wakiso businesses are investing in websites faster than ever

Wakiso District's rapid growth is changing how businesses there think about their online presence. Here's what's driving it.

July 10, 20265 min read

Locations

Web design trends among Kampala businesses in 2026

What's actually changing in how Kampala businesses approach their websites this year, and which trends are worth following versus skipping.

July 8, 20265 min read

Industries

Why SACCOs need a real website, not just a Facebook page

A Facebook page isn't enough to build the trust a financial institution needs. Here's why a proper website matters more for SACCOs than almost any other business type.

July 6, 20265 min read

Industries

Law firm websites that actually convert enquiries into clients

Most law firm websites in Uganda read like a list of credentials. Here's what actually gets a potential client to pick up the phone.

July 4, 20265 min read

Industries

NGO websites: building donor trust online

Donors research an organisation before they give. Here's what a website needs to include to convert that research into an actual donation.

July 2, 20266 min read

Industries

What every clinic website in Uganda needs, beyond a contact page

Patients researching a clinic online want more than an address and a phone number. Here's what actually builds confidence before someone walks through your door.

June 30, 20265 min read

Industries

Why hotels lose bookings to Booking.com, and how a direct-booking website fixes it

Every booking made through an OTA costs 15 to 25% in commission. Here's why a strong direct-booking website pays for itself within a season.

June 28, 20266 min read

Industries

The school website checklist: what Ugandan parents actually look for

Parents researching a school online are looking for specific things, and most Ugandan school websites are missing several of them. Here's the checklist.

June 26, 20266 min read

E-commerce

Mobile Money, delivery, and what actually converts for e-commerce in Uganda

Copying an international e-commerce template doesn't work in Uganda. Here's what actually gets Ugandan shoppers to complete checkout.

June 24, 20266 min read

App Development

Do you need a mobile app, or a mobile-friendly website first?

Most businesses that ask us for an app actually need a fast, mobile-first website first. Here's how to tell which one your business genuinely needs.

June 22, 20265 min read

Guides

Website maintenance in Uganda: what it actually costs, and why sites break without it

A website is not a one-time purchase. Here's what ongoing maintenance actually covers, what it costs, and what happens to sites that skip it.

June 20, 20266 min read

Process

How long should a website redesign actually take?

A realistic week-by-week look at what a website redesign involves in Uganda, and why timelines that sound too fast usually mean something got skipped.

June 18, 20265 min read

Guides

WordPress vs. custom-built: which is right for your Uganda business?

WordPress isn't wrong, and custom isn't automatically better. Here's how to actually decide, based on what your website needs to do, not on which option sounds more impressive.

June 16, 20266 min read

Guides

The best web design companies in Uganda in 2026

Looking for the best web design company in Uganda? Here are six agencies doing real work right now, what each one's good at, what it costs to b

June 13, 20267 min read

Guides

How much does a website cost in Uganda in 2026?

Website prices in Uganda range from UGX 500,000 to over UGX 20,000,000 depending on what you're building. Here's what you get at each price point and what actually drives the cost up.

June 10, 20266 min read

SEO

Why Core Web Vitals still matter for SEO in 2026

Page experience signals didn't disappear from Google's ranking systems. They just got quieter. Here's what the three metrics actually mean and what to fix if you're failing them.

May 18, 20269 min read

Guides

How to sell online in Uganda: a practical guide for 2026

Uganda's e-commerce market is growing, but buying behaviour here is different from what most platforms are built for. Here's what actually works when selling online to Ugandan customers.

May 5, 20268 min read

SEO

The structured data checklist we run before every launch

Schema markup is one of the highest-leverage SEO investments you can make if you implement the right types correctly. Here's exactly what we check before every site goes live.

April 22, 20268 min read

SEO

SEO for Ugandan businesses: how to rank on Google in 2026

Most businesses in Uganda don't have an SEO strategy. That's actually an opportunity. Here's what it takes to rank on Google locally and what actually works in the Ugandan market.

April 5, 20269 min read

App Development

Native or cross-platform? How we scope mobile app projects

For most Ugandan businesses, the native-versus-cross-platform debate is already settled. Here's how we actually make the call and when native still earns its place.

March 30, 20269 min read

Design

Design systems that survive contact with engineering

Most design systems fall apart at handoff. Here's how we structure ours so design and engineering stay in sync long after launch.

March 9, 20267 min read

Engineering

What actually makes a website fast in 2026

Speed is the result of a chain of decisions from server setup to image formats. Most businesses in Uganda have the same five problems. Here's where to focus first.

February 14, 202610 min read

Process

How to run a website project that stays on budget

Most budget overruns trace back to decisions made before a single line of code is written. Here's what causes them and how to prevent them.

January 27, 20267 min read