All persons intending to travel to Uganda for holiday, tourism, business, study, visit, and/or medical are required to apply and obtain a visa online. Applications should be filled at the following link: Click Here https://www.visas.immigration.go.ug/ in the following steps
Steps for Application
A guide on how to apply, renew or replace any immigration facility.
Step 1: Log into the Immigration Portal and select start new application
Step 2: Accept the terms and conditions displayed in the Disclaimer.
Step 3: Select the visa or permit type, category and sub category
Step 4: Complete the application form
Step 5: Upload the required documents; a six-digit application ID eg. (234790123) is automatically generated as the reference number
Step 6: Make payment for applications that require prepayment.
Step 7: Upon approval, for application that don’t require top up payment, an approval letter will be generated and emailed to the applicant on the home page
Step 8: Upon approval, make a top up payment for applications that require a top up payment. After payment an approval letter is generated and emailed to the client
Step 9: Report to the immigration office/ border for biometric capture with all documents uploaded, payment receipts, approval letter and passport
Renewal
The initial period granted at entry may be extended for another 60 days in 2 intervals. This can be done online or manually at the Headquarters and the Regional Immigration offices
Dual citizenship, also known as dual nationality, is the status of being a citizen of two different countries at the same time. A person with dual citizenship holds legal citizenship in two countries, which means they have the rights and obligations associated with citizenship in both places.
All Citizenship applications are submitted online at Citizenship Portal using the following steps.
Steps for Application
A guide on how to apply, renew, or replace any immigration facility.
- Step 1:Log into the Steps for Application Citizenship Portal and select start a new application
- Step 2:Accept the terms and conditions displayed in the
- Step 3:Select the Citizenship type, category (Dual Citizenship), and sub-category (Indigenous Ugandan or Non-Ugandan)
- Step 4:Complete the application form
- Step 5:Upload the required documents; a six-digit application ID e.g. (234790123) is automatically generated as the reference number
- Step 6:Make payment for applications that require prepayment.
- Step 7:Upon approval, for applications that don’t require top-up payment, an approval letter will be generated and emailed to the applicant on the home page
- Step 8:Upon approval, make a top-up payment for applications that require a top-up payment. After payment, an approval letter is generated and emailed to the client
Ministry of Internal Affairs.
PROCEDURE FOR PASSPORT APPLICATION
Please follow the following steps to make an online passport application:
Step 1: Navigate to the passport portal.
Step 2: Click the “Start New Application” link to start a new application.
Step 3: Accept the terms and conditions displayed in the Disclaimer.
Step 4: Answer simple security questions.
Step 5: Complete the passport application form.
Step 6: Print the Passport Application Payment Advice Form.
Step 7: Make payments for the selected type of passport using the selected payment method.
Step 8: Schedule an appointment for a date of your convenience using the “Schedule Appointment” link on the home page.
Step 9: Print the Passport Application Appointment Form.
Step 10: Report to the selected passport center with the passport appointment form and the appropriate application requirements displayed on the website for enrollment.
Renewal/Replacement of Passport
Required Documents, steps and Fees required for Renewal or Replacement of Ugandan Passport.
Steps for Application
- Step 1: Go to the Passport Portal
- Step 2: Accept the terms and conditions displayed in the Disclaimer.
- Step 3: Answer simple security questions
- Step 4: Complete the passport application form
- Step 5: Print Passport Application Payment Advice Form.
- Step 6: Make payment for the selected type of passport using the selected payment method in the selected bank.
- Step 7: Schedule appointment for a date of your convenience using the scheduled appointment link on the home page.
- Step 8: Print Passport Application Appointment Form.
- Step 9: Report to the selected passport Centre with the passport appointment form with the appropriate application requirements displayed on the website, for enrollment.
Requirements for RENEWAL OF UGANDAN PASSPORT
- National ID
- Present your old Passport.
- Recommendation letter from a Ugandan national of good understanding in society who knows your citizenship. The recommender should provide a copy of his/her National ID
- In the event you are making any changes, change of profession, names due to marital status, you will be required to attach the relevant legal proof of changes.
- If you have a profession or making changes in your profession, ensure that you attach a photocopy of your academic transcript or certificate
- The fee is UGX 250,000, Bank Charges exclusive for replacement of your Passport
- Express fee is an extra UGX 150,000, Bank Charges exclusive.
Uganda Registration Services Bureau
Steps to Invest in Uganda
1. Company Incorporation
– The first step in investing in Uganda is company incorporation. Register your company with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to obtain a Certificate of Incorporation. Companies can be registered as local, public, or foreign entities. Company registration services are available at the Investor One Stop Centre (OSC) and will soon be available on the online e-Biz Portal.
Company Incorporation Process & Costs:
1. Search and Reserve a Business Name – UGX 24,000
2. Submit Company Incorporation Documents:
Local Limited Company by Shares: (cost depends on share capital)
After reserving the name, file the following documents with the Registrar of Companies:
– Form S18 – Registration of Company
– Memorandum and Articles of Association (if any)
– Additional Company Forms:
– Form A1 – Statement of Nominal Capital
– Form 20 – Notification of Appointment of Director and Secretary of Company
Costs:
– Registration fees of nominal capital between UGX 1,000,000 and UGX 5,000,000: UGX 50,000
– Registration fees of nominal capital exceeding UGX 5,000,000: 1% of Share Capital
– Stamp Duty: 0.5% of share capital for new companies with share capital above UGX 5,000,000
Local Company Limited by Guarantee: UGX 115,000
Incorporation of a Foreign Company: US$ 470
2. Tax Registration
– The second step is to register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN) with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). TIN applications can be processed physically at any URA office, including the Investor One Stop Centre, or online through the URA website. This service will soon be available on the e-Biz Portal as well.
Documents Required for TIN Registration:
– Non-Individual TIN Registration Form for companies.
3. Investment License
– The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) issues investment licenses to both domestic and foreign companies. Acquiring an investment license from UIA is a mandatory requirement for foreign investors, as it legalizes the investment in Uganda.
Requirements:
– Minimum investment threshold:
– US$ 50,000 for domestic investors
– US$ 250,000 for foreign investors
– Note: Some sectors require additional regulatory licenses (e.g., mining, drug manufacturing) before applying for an investment license.
Additional Information:
– Companies intending to engage in trade do not need a UIA license but must prove access to operating capital of US$ 100,000 before trading licenses and work permits can be issued by local authorities.
– The investment license is free and is issued within 48 hours if the application meets the criteria. Applications are made online via the e-Biz portal.
4. Secondary Licenses
– Companies operating in certain sectors or jurisdictions may require additional secondary licenses (e.g., electricity, health, education, mining, financial services).
5. Work Permits
– All foreign nationals intending to work in Uganda must obtain the relevant work permit. The comprehensive list of requirements for the different categories or classes of work permits can be found on the Directorate of Citizenship & Immigration website.
Relevant Work Permit Classes and Requirements:
– Class E: Manufacturers
– Requirements:
– Completed work permit form
– 2 passport-sized photos
– Photocopies of passport
– Cover letter from the company
– Security bond
– Company documents: Articles, memorandum, and certificate of incorporation
– Investment license
– Bank statement
– Trading license
– Income tax clearance
– Letter of good conduct from the home country or Interpol in the country of origin
Acquire Land
1. APPLICATION
1(a) An application for investment land shall be on Form UIA 2 and shall give:
i. A detailed project proposal showing the project business activity and the main products
or services to be produced on the land applied for.
ii. The proposed total amount of investment in US dollars.
iii. Documented evidence of the investor’s ability to raise funds to implement the project
iv. Expected Project Impact on the Economy in terms of job creation, capital investment, turnover, and export revenue where applicable, as well as other benefits to the community.
v. The amount and nature of land (amount of acreage) that shall be required for the project, including the necessary infrastructure facilities.
vi. Evidence of the investor’s track record in terms of experience in implementing similar or related investment projects in the past.
vii. The anticipated implementation period for the project (in months).
viii. The anticipated impact of the project on the environment and whether an EIA shall be necessary.
1(b) The application for investment land shall be accompanied with:
i. The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the investment entity.
ii. A copy of the Certificate of Registration or certification of incorporation.
iii. The company’s investment license issued by UIA.
iv. A business plan articulating in detail items in subsection 1(a) above
v. preliminary architectural layout of the proposed facilities (giving details of proposed land utilization).
2. LAND ALLOCATION PROCEDURE:
i. Application on Form UIA 2 for land by an investor company submitted to UIA Offices along with all required attachments as in 1(b) above.
ii. Evaluation of the application by an Evaluation Committee comprising of the Executive
Director and at least three Heads of Divisions of UIA. (10 Working Days)
iii. Consideration of the application by the relevant Subcommittee of the UIA Board.
(3 Months)
iv. Consideration and final allocation of land by the UIA Board. (2 Weeks)
v. Lease offers shall be valid for strictly 14 days within which written acceptance of the offer must be given to UIA. (1 week after board approval)
vi. Submission of the draft lease agreement to the Solicitor General for clearance.
vii. Legal documentation (signing of lease agreement with UIA subject to approved terms and conditions and processing of leasehold certificate of title)—1 month, including Solution Ground Approvals.
3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF LAND ALLOCATION
Land shall be allocated to investors on the following conditions:
i. Only entities recognized under the Companies Act of Uganda and qualifying
Government agencies for purposes of doing business or similar activities shall be eligible for UIA land allocation.
ii. An initial lease offer of 5 years, within which the investor would have undertaken substantial development on the land. This term is to be extended to a full term of 49 years (or as may be determined by the UIA Board) upon satisfactory development of the allocated land.
iii. Those allocated investment land shall pay a premium and ground rent as shall be determined by the UIA Board (see notes in 4 below), unless the land is subsidized in line with the government policy on prioritized investment sectors.
iv (a) Investors allocated fully subsidized land (for government-prioritized investment sectors) to provide a performance security in the form of a bank or insurance bond equivalent to 10% of the value of the leased land valid for 18 months, within which period the conditions in subsection (iv) below should have been achieved.
iv (b) Within 18 months from the date of allocation, the investor should have started development of the land in terms of approved building plans, approved EIA, and commenced physical construction; failure of which the lease shall automatically lapse and land shall revert back to UIA, and the performance bond will be cashed and the proceeds forfeited to the state.
vi. The investor company allocated UIA Investment land shall not change the Shareholders for the first five (5) years.
vii. Priority will be given to the priority sectors as guided by the government’s priority listing of investments.
4. WAIVER OF PREMIUM
i. Priority sectors
The following are currently the priority sectors in line with the government policy that will be eligible for fully subsidized land.
a. Agro‐processing
b. Mineral beneficiation
c. Information and Communication Technology
d. Tourism
ii. Government departments and agencies that have qualified for allocation of land for purposes of doing business or similar activities will be eligible for fully subsidized land.
iii. Exceptional cases.
An investor who does not fall within the sectors in 4 above but applies for a waiver of premium shall be considered in exceptional circumstances. The exceptional circumstances will include cases where the applicant;
a. Has invested or plans to invest more than USD 25 million.
b. intends to create more than 500 jobs and,
c. Is likely to incur over USD 400,000 on backfilling of the land.
iv. An investor who had already paid part or the whole of the premium shall not be entitled to a refund after they have been granted a waiver.
ii. Important Notes
Payments for Leased Land:
Payments for Leased Investment Land shall be as follows and/or as amended by the UIA Board from time to time:
i. Ground rent to enable UIA to manage the land shall be USD 10 per acre per annum for
Greater Kampala Area and USD5 per acre per annum for other parks.
ii. The Total Payable Lease Premium as shall be indicated in the Lease Agreement shall be payable in the following installments:
l 1st installment of 10% of the total payable lease premium prior to signing of the lease agreement.
l 2nd installment of 30% of the total payable lease premium within 6 months from the date of signing the lease agreement.
l 3rd installment of 30% of the total payable lease premium within 18 months from the date of signing the lease agreement.
l 4th and last installment of 30% of the total payable lease premium within 36 months from the date of signing the lease agreement.
Failure to pay on time shall attract an interest equivalent to the Bank of Uganda inter-bank lending rate payable to UIA and shall render the lease agreement subject to revocation at the exclusive option of the UIA Board.
Land remains a huge component for the growth of an individual, group, or country.
This is why Uganda allocates land to investors (local and international) for free. This land is found in gazetted areas (industrial parks) for investment. Currently, the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) operates eight industrial and business parks in Uganda. These are: Namanve, Bweyogerere, Luzira, Kasese, Mbarara, Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, and Karamoja. UIA, the chief investment promotion agency of the Government of Uganda, is laser-focused on the robust development of industrial and business parks in Uganda. Specifically, this mandate falls under the ambit of the Industrial Parks Development Division (IPDD).
The Division’s mandate includes acquiring, developing, and managing serviced land for investment through the development and management of industrial and business parks; assisting investors access land for investment purposes; managing UIA-owned agricultural lands; and advising the government on national industrial land policies. UIA establishes public industrial parks as well as supports the development of private industrial parks.
Any investor intending to acquire land in Uganda’s industrial park must have a registered company, an investment license, a comprehensive business plan, solid proof of financing, and a sketch map of land utilization.
UIA Director for Industrial Parks Development Hamza Galiwango says that fulfilling the above conditions leads to an investor getting an initial lease of five years extendable to 49 years after completion of physical development.
“A performance bond of 12 months is issued to enable the investor’s to take possession of the site,” Galiwango says in an article first published on the UIA website on February 2, 2021.
The Authority does not allow mortgaging without consent, nor does it allow change of shareholders at initial lease term and transfer without UIA consent,” he further explains.
The Authority is also undertaking steps to acquire land for industrial park development in Nakasongola, Gulu, Katosi, Kazo, Arua, and Tororo areas.
The President of Uganda, H. E. Yoweri Museveni, has directed UIA to establish 25 industrial parks, regionally and equitably distributed throughout Uganda, during the current presidential term (2021-2026).
Aquire A Loan
Credit is one of the major necessities in the life of anyone, yet it can be a challenge getting one easily and affordably.
Credit may be in form of supplies or services not paid for immediately or paid for in installments, or money borrowed to cater for an immediate need.
The best or most convenient form of credit either for personal and business purposes is one which will be the easiest for one to pay off.
But where and how can one get such a loan, that will provide adequate or fair repayment period, the most affordable interest rate, a good relationship officer and a friendly repayment demand process?
The lowest interest rate loans or credit facilities are those that are provided by the government, either through government financial institutions or in partnership with an identified private lender.
The most readily available source of credit today are the moneylenders, both licensed and unlicensed, who can provide the loan within hours of applying for it.
The others are the mobile phone-based micro loans.
There are at about 1,500 moneylenders and microfinance Institutions, that are registered by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and licensed to do business by the Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority (UMRA).
These lenders offer loans at interest rates of between 120 and 240 percent per year. These rates are usually divided into monthly rates becoming 10 to 20 percent per month, or even daily rates of 1 percent.
Unfortunately, they hardly tell the prospective customer that the rate is either daily or monthly, making it sound attractive.
One of the reasons behind these high interest rates is to compel the borrower to pay back as soon as possible, preferably within a month.
This also goes for mobile loans, which are almost instant but carry an interest rate of between 9 and 10 percent, with all transactions done via the mobile phone.
The other alternative are the savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCOs), which lend to their members. Their interest rates are more affordable and competitive with commercial banks mainly because they usually lend from their own savings.
The Microfinance Support Centre gives benefiting SACCOs lines of credit at interest rates of between eight and 10 percent, making it easy for them to lend at relatively low rates to their members.
Credit can also be got from the Microfinance Deposit-taking Institutions (MDI) which are licensed and regulated by the Bank of Uganda.
The three lenders under the Tier 3 financial institutions category are FINCA Uganda Limited, Pride Microfinance Limited and UGAFODE Microfinance Limited, whose loans carry interest rates of between 24 and 60 percent per annum.
The interest rates, which reduce with the reduction in the loan balances, also depend on the size of the loan and whether it is individual or group.
Commercial Banks are more affordable than the above alternatives, save for SACCOs, and account for more than 80 percent of all the loan values of formal lenders.
They also offer longer repayment plans depending on the amount and the terms agreed with the borrower.
Their interest rates range from 15.5 to 24 percent per annum, depending on the size of the loan. Larger and prime borrowers, and credit for long-term assets like a mortgage, carry lower rates than those for personal and trade financing.
While they have more friendly demand terms, failure to pay may lead to confiscation of the collateral.
As mentioned before, government credit facilities are the most friendly, whether managed by private or public institutions.
These include the Agriculture Credit Facility (ACF) and the Small Business Recovery Fund (SBRF) both funded by the government through the Bank of Uganda, and the money given out to beneficiaries through the commercial banks.
The ACF carries an interest rate of 12 percent per year, save for a recent addition of the Grain Facility, which offers loans at 15 percent for grain processors and traders.
The SBRF, which was launched to help small businesses recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, is meant for loans to micro and small businesses.
Loans under this Fund are given out at 10 percent per annum, and for as long as six years, with a grace period of three years.
At the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), which lends only to development or income-generating projects, has the lowest rates as an institution, of between 10 and 12 percent, depending on the kind of project.
UDB prioritises projects that have the capacity to expand, create jobs and contribute to the national development program, with more focus on women, youth and SMEs.
With the exception of the SME Business Accelerator, which is a one-year facility, the other loan types have tenures of up to six years and a grace period of three years.
NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY FUND
The NSSF Voluntary Contribution Plan gives a member of the Fund the freedom to save more than the law mandates them.
By law, a person in formal employment, other than in public service, is expected to make mandatory savings periodically with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) or any approved retirement savings scheme.
Five percent (5%) of the gross wage is deducted by the employer as compulsory NSSF saving. The employer then adds another 10 percent (10%) equivalent of the gross wage to make the employee’s total savings.
However, in 2017, the fund launched a Voluntary Contribution Plan to serve two categories of people who might feel left one i.e. those who would like to save more than the mandatory rates offer, those who are left out either as self-employed or retiree employees, and those whose employers employ less than five people.
The consequent amendment to the NSSF Act, I. 2021 enabled these developments to be operational:
- A member of the fund may make voluntary contributions to the fund over and above his/her standard contributions – Section 13A (1).
- Therefore, members of the Fund who wish to make voluntary contributions over and above their standard contributions may authorise their employers in writing to deduct an agreed rate from their wages and remit the same to the Fund.
- Self-employed persons may apply for membership and make voluntary contributions to the Fund – Section 13A (4).
- Any other person not provided for above may apply for membership and make voluntary contributions to the fund – Section 13A (5).
The NSSF Voluntary Membership Plan provides employees and workers not compelled by the mandatory provisions of the NSSF Act the opportunity to save voluntarily for their retirement.
Individual Voluntary Contributors
According to Section 13A of the NSSF (Amendment Act), there are 3 types of Voluntary Members:
- Existing Members– who wish, may make voluntary contributions to the fund over and above his or her standard contributions.
Such a member may authorise his or her employer in writing to deduct an agreed rate from the employee’s wage payment and remit the voluntary contribution to the Fund.
The Act provides that an employer authorised by an employee shall, for every month during which he or she pays wages for the member, pay to the fund, within fifteen days next following the last day of the month for which the relevant wages are paid, the voluntary contribution of the sum agreed.
- Self-Employed Person– A person who is self-employed may apply for membership in the Fund and shall make voluntary contributions to the Fund.
- Any Other– Any other person may apply for membership and make voluntary contributions to the Fund, according to Section 13A (5).
Features of the NSSF Voluntary Membership Plan
- Choice:you decide how much you contribute based on your income and life aspirations
- Flexibility:Contributions can be fixed or varying; made daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually
- Peace of mind:You will take pride and satisfaction in knowing that you have a secure retirement plan for yourself and your family
- Return:You get a good return on your savings like ordinary savers.
Self-employed
A person who is self-employed may apply for membership in the Fund and shall make voluntary contributions to the Fund.
Enrolling
You can register from anywhere, anytime by downloading the NSSFGo App on their smartphone or visiting https://nssfgo.app.
You can also walk to any NSSF branch or download and fill out a form available on the NSSF website and submit the form via e-mail to voluntary@nssfug.org.
Minimum amount
The minimum amount of money a voluntary member can contribute is 5,000 shillings.
Voluntary members can also contribute anytime and as often as they can.
The Fund is very flexible regarding the amount a voluntary member can remit because the contribution is voluntary.
Mode of payment
Voluntary members can pay using mobile money via the USSD code *254# accessible to the MTN and Airtel subscribers.
The service is also available via the standard codes *165*5# on MTN or *185*7# on Airtel.
It is a seamless process and there is instant confirmation to the contributor through an automated SMS each time a payment is received.
Companies can pay via mobile money but will need to first obtain a reference number through the NSSF Employer e-payment portal at https://ecollection.nssfug.org/ecollections/auth/login.
This because of the need to attach a contributions schedule for their respective employees.
Both employers and individuals can pay through their banks by first registering the payment on the NSSF E-portal via this link https://ecollection.nssfug.org/ecollections/auth/login
You can pay using VISA, MasterCard or American Express via this link https://shop.directpay.online/paymybills/nssf
Diaspora voluntary contribution.
For workers abroad, one can use the Diaspora Connect service which requires one to contribute using their VISA, Mastercard, PayPal or American Express at any time of their convenience and their money will immediately reflect on their NSSF account.
Quitting
- Age Benefit: You save and get a lump sum payout or annuity upon making the age of 50 years
- Invalidity Benefit: if you are terminally sick and need your money or part of it, NSSF pays you instantly
- Emigration Grant: if you are an expatriate and you wish to go back home, you may seek your savings to help you settle back home
- Survivor’s Benefit: This gives a peaceful rest if you die, knowing that your family will be well taken care of.
- Exempted employment Benefit: Are you a civil servant and have a target to achieve in 4 years, save your money with NSSF
More information
You may visit any NSSF branch nearest to you.
You may also reach the Fund via e-mail voluntary@nssfug.org or call our toll-free line 0800286773.
There is also a dedicated team to assist employers and individuals who may require assistance.
Customer services can also be got via the NSSF Facebook, LinkedIn, and X accounts.