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Hiring in Uganda

Hiring employees compliantly in Uganda means doing it yourself or using an Employer of Record like Global Expansion. You should be careful using independent contractor agreements in Uganda so that you don’t run afoul of employment laws. To hire an employee compliantly and offer them mandatory benefits and compliant agreements, you can:

(a) Establish your own new legal entity, banking, accounting and payroll service in Uganda; or

(b) use an Employer of Record like Global Expansion who can handle all of the details for you.

Need assistance hiring in Uganda? Contact us about our International EOR Service

Labor Laws in Uganda

Employee Probation Period

  • Maximum length of probation period is 6 months but it may be extended to 1 year with the consent of a worker.

Annual Leave in Uganda

  • A worker, working weekly for sixteen or more hours, is entitled to 21 working days paid annual leave at the rate of 7 days for each period of continuous 4 months of service on completion of 12 months of continuous service.
  • The time to take annual leave has to be agreed between the parties.
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Holidays in Uganda

Here is the full list of public holidays in Uganda:

New Year’s Day 1st January
NRM Liberation Day 26th January
Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial Day 16th February
International Women's Day 8th March
Good Friday 10th April
Easter Monday 13th April
Labor Day 1st May
Eid al-Fitr  
Uganda Martyrs' Day 3rd June
National Heroes' Day (in Uganda) 9th June
Father's Day 21st June
Eid al-Adha  
Independence Day of Uganda 9th October
Christmas Day 25th December
Boxing Day 26th December

 

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Maternity Leave Uganda

  • The law in Uganda says a female employee is entitled to leave as a consequence of pregnancy.
  • This leave is for a period of 60 working days.
  • At least 4 weeks of the maternity leave shall be for the period after birth or miscarriage.

Paternity Leave Uganda

  • A male employee, after birth of child or miscarriage of a wife, is entitled to fully paid 4 working days of paternity leave in a year.

Sick Leave in Uganda

  • In accordance with the Employment Act 2006, a worker, working at least sixteen hours a week, is entitled to pay sick leave on completion of one month of service with the employer.

Working Hours in Uganda

  • According to the law, your normal working hours per day are 8 hours and these should not be more than 48 hours per week.
  • By including the lunch and prayer time in hours of work, working hours should not be greater than 9 hours a day.

Overtime in Uganda

  • Working hours shall not exceed forty-eight hours per week and any extra hours shall be deemed to be overtime
  • Where hours in excess of eight hours per day or forty-eight hours per week are worked, they shall, in the absence of a written agreement to the contrary, be remunerated at the minimum rate of one and a half (1.5) times of the normal hourly rate if the overtime is on the normal working days, and at two (2) times the hourly rate where the overtime is worked on gazetted public holidays.

Termination of Employment in Uganda

  • Termination of employment is the discharge of a worker from an employment at the initiative of the employer for justifiable reasons other than misconduct.
  • The employment of a worker terminates on expiry of employment contract; or expiry of contract for a fixed term or completion of specific task without renewal.
  • A worker may terminate an employment contract with or without notice in case of misconduct on the part of the employer; and also before expiry of termination notice period
  • The required notice period depends on the worker's length of service as follows:
    • 2 weeks for service of more than 6 months but less than 1 year
    • 1 month for service of more than 12 months but less than 5 years
    • 2 months for service of more than 5 years but less than 10 years
    • 3 months for service of 10 years or more.
  • There is a provision in the law regarding severance pay but this compensation is subject to negotiation between the employer and the worker.
  • Severance pay is entitled to the worker after continuous service (of a particular employer) for at least 6 months.
  • It is due in the following circumstance:
    • unfair dismissal of the worker by the employer
    • death of the worker at work not attributable to any misconduct of the worker
    • termination by the worker due to physical incapacity not attributable to any misconduct of his own
    • termination by reason of the death or insolvency of the employer
    • termination by a labor officer following the inability or the refusal of the employer to pay wages
    • and other cases as provided by the Minister.
  • Amount of severance pay is negotiable between the employer and the worker or the labor union that represents them.

Notice Period in Uganda

  • The required notice period depends on the worker's length of service as follows:
    • 2 weeks for service of more than 6 months but less than 1 year
    • 1 month for service of more than 12 months but less than 5 years
    • 2 months for service of more than 5 years but less than 10 years
    • 3 months for service of 10 years or more.

Severance in Uganda

  • There is a provision in the law regarding severance pay but this compensation is subject to negotiation between the employer and the worker.
  • Severance pay is entitled to the worker after continuous service (of a particular employer) for at least 6 months.
  • It is due in the following circumstance:
    • unfair dismissal of the worker by the employer
    • death of the worker at work not attributable to any misconduct of the worker
    • termination by the worker due to physical incapacity not attributable to any misconduct of his own
    • termination by reason of the death or insolvency of the employer
    • termination by a labor officer following the inability or the refusal of the employer to pay wages
    • and other cases as provided by the Minister.
  • Amount of severance pay is negotiable between the employer and the worker or the labor union that represents them.

Uganda Salary and Wages

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13 / 14th Month Salary in Uganda

  • No
  • There is no statutory requirement to pay the 13th or the 14th month salary.
  • Employees are entitled to 21 days of holiday pay.
  • There is no evidence that bonuses are common.
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Income Tax in Uganda

  • Residents are subject to tax on worldwide income.
  • Nonresidents are taxable on Ugandan-source income only.
  • The gross income of a resident person includes income derived from all geographical sources.
  • The gross income of a non-resident person includes only income derived from sources within Uganda.
  • Tax is charged on the gross income of an individual for the year less any allowed deductions granted by the ITA.

Resident Individuals

Annual chargeable income (UGX)

Tax on column 1 (UGX)

 

 

Tax on excess (%)

 

 

Over

Not over

0

2,820,000

-

0

2,820,001

4,020,000

-

10

4,020,001

4,920,000

120,000

20

4,920,001

120,000,000

300,000

30

120,000,001

 

34,824,000

40

Non- Resident Individuals

Annual chargeable income (UGX)

 

Tax on column 1 (UGX)

 

 

Tax on excess (%)

 

 

Over

Not over

0

4,020,000

-

10

4,020,001

4,920,000

402,000

20

4,920,001

120,000,000

582,000

30

120,000,001

 

35,106,000

40

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Social Security in Uganda

  • An individual in employment is obligated to make a contribution of 5% of one’s gross earnings to the national social security fund.
  • An individual who is an employer is also obligated to make contributions to the national social security fund for each employee, amounting to 10% of their gross pay.

Contribution

Group 1083

Social Security Contribution

Employer

Group 1083

10%

Employee Group 1083 5%

Immigration Uganda

  • Only special passes and work permits allow foreign nationals to undertake employment in Uganda.
  • Temporary work permits, called special passes, are valid for three months and may be extended for up to a maximum of five months.
  • A work permit or entry permit is issued for up to three years and may be renewed every three years.
  • Work permits are divided into seven classes (Classes A through G)
  • Class F permits, which are issued to practicing professionals (for example, lawyers and accountants), require the submission of the following:
    • Qualifications and references or résumés
    • Copy of the passport (bio-data page)
    • Copy of a recent passport-size photograph
    • Clearance letter from Interpol or home country
    • Registration certificate with relevant professional body in Uganda
    • Cover letter from the organization
    • Copy of nonrefundable prepayment receipt or a copy of identification from nationals of Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda
    • Security bond
  • Class G has two sub-classifications of work permits, which are Class G1 and Class G2.
  • They are issued to employees.
  • Applicants for Class G1 permits (missionaries, volunteers and workers for nongovernmental organizations [NGOs]) are required to produce the following documents:
    • Certified copy of qualifications
    • Appointment letter from the organization
    • Copy of the passport (bio-data page)
    • Copy of a recent passport-size photograph
    • Cover letter from the organization
    • Clearance letter from the Interpol or home country
    • An employment contract
    • Recommendation from the National Bureau for NGOs
  • Applicants for Class G2 (expatriates) are required to produce the following documents:
    • Appointment letter from the organization
    • Copy of the passport (bio-data page)
    • Certified copy of qualifications
    • Copy of a recent passport-size photograph
    • Cover letter from the organization
    • Copy of nonrefundable prepayment receipt
    • Copy of security bond payment letter from Interpol or home country
    • Income tax clearance for the organization
  • Foreign nationals may change employers after they have obtained work permits.
  • However, they must apply for new work permits under their new employers.
Need assistance hiring in Uganda? Contact us about our International EOR Service

Type of Visa/Permit

Documentation

Validity

Eligibility

Class F

  • Qualifications and references or résumés 
  • Copy of the passport (bio-data page) 
  • Copy of a recent passport-size photograph 
  • Clearance letter from Interpol or home country 
  • Registration certificate with relevant professional body in Uganda 
  • Cover letter from the organization 
  • Copy of nonrefundable prepayment receipt or a copy of identification from nationals of Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda 
  • Security bond 

3 years (renewable)

  • Class F permits are issued to practicing professionals (for example, lawyers and accountants),

Class G1

  • Certified copy of qualifications 
  • Appointment letter from the organization 
  • Copy of the passport (bio-data page) 
  • Copy of a recent passport-size photograph 
  • Cover letter from the organization 
  • Clearance letter from the Interpol or home country 
  • An employment contract 
  • Recommendation from the National Bureau for NGOs 

3 years (renewable)

  • G1 permits are issued to missionaries, volunteers and workers for nongovernmental organizations [NGOs])

Class G2

  • Appointment letter from the organization 
  • Copy of the passport (bio-data page) 
  • Certified copy of qualifications 
  • Copy of a recent passport-size photograph 
  • Cover letter from the organization 
  • Copy of nonrefundable prepayment receipt 
  • Copy of security bond payment letter from Interpol or home country 
  • Income tax clearance for the organization

3 years (renewable)

  • G2 permits are issued to expatriates
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Value Added Tax (VAT) in Uganda

  • VAT is charged on taxable supplies made by taxable persons, the importation of goods other than in cases of exempt imports, and imported services by any person.
  • The standard VAT rate is 18%; some items are zero rated and others are exempt.

VAT

Standard Rate

Group 1083

18%

Zero Rate Group 1083 0%
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Mandatory Benefits in Uganda

  • These are mandatory benefits as postulated by law
  • These include probationary period, annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, maternity leave, paternity overtime pay, notice period, and severance pay
  • Mandatory benefits also include social security benefits.
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Mandatory Benefits Overview

  • Probationary period

  • Annual Leave

  • Public Holidays

  • Maternity Leave

  • Paternity Leave

  • Sick Leave

  • Overtime Pay

  • Notice period

  • Severance Pay

  • Social Security Benefits

Payments And Invoicing

  • All taxpayers are obligated to file a return within six months of the end of the year of income.
  • Where an individual is in business, one is expected to file the return accompanied by a statement of income and expenditure and a statement of assets and liabilities.
  • However, no return of income is required from a non-resident or resident individual where their income consists exclusively of income derived from a single employer from which tax has been withheld by the employer as required by the law.
  • A return is also not required for a non-resident individual whose tax obligation has fully been satisfied through the withholding of tax by withholding agents.
  • A return is also not required from a resident individual whose chargeable income falls in the zero rated threshold of tax.
  • Taxpayers receiving or expecting to receive income in a year of income that is not subject to any WHT at source are expected to pay provisional tax.
  • Individuals that are obligated to pay provisional tax as explained above are expected to pay four instalments of tax before the last day of the third month, sixth month, ninth month, and 12th month of the year of income.
  • Each instalment is 25% of the individual's estimate of tax due for that year.

Payroll Accrual in Uganda

Country Accruals Additional Information

NSSF 10.00%
Sick leave 30 days
maternity leave 8 weeks
Vacations 7.67%
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Description

An individual who is an employer is also obligated to make contributions to the national social security fund for each employee, amounting to 10% of their gross pay. The maternity leave is granted with full pay. It includes at least four weeks after childbirth or miscarriage andmay be extended by 20 working days under special circumstances. The pay during leave period is financed by the employer.

Payroll Accruals Additional Information

      Employment Accruals
Annual Leave A worker, working weekly for sixteen or more hours, is entitled to 21 working days paid annual leave at the rate of 7 days for each period of continuous 4 months of service on completion of 12 months of continuous service.   This equals 5.75% (21/365 days) of annual income
Maternity Leave The law in Uganda says a female employee is entitled to leave as a consequence of pregnancy.
This leave is for a period of 60 working days.
  This equals 16.4% (60/365 days) of annual income
Paternity Leave A male employee, after birth of child or miscarriage of a wife, is entitled to fully paid 4 working days of paternity leave in a year.   This equals 1.09% (4/365 days) of annual income
Sick Leave In accordance with the Employment Act 2006, a worker, working at least sixteen hours a week, is entitled to pay sick leave on completion of one month of service with the employer.   This equals 8.33% (1/12 months) of annual income
Overtime Pay Where hours in excess of eight hours per day or forty-eight hours per week are worked, they shall, in the absence of a written agreement to the contrary, be remunerated at the minimum rate of one and a half (1.5) times of the normal hourly rate if the overtime is on the normal working days, and at two (2) times the hourly rate where the overtime is worked on gazetted public holidays.   Depends on the number of overtime hours worked
Severance  There is a provision in the law regarding severance pay but this compensation is subject to negotiation between the employer and the worker.
Severance pay is entitled to the worker after continuous service (of a particular employer) for at least 6 months.
  Subjective
Social Security Contribution An individual who is an employer is also obligated to make contributions to the national social security fund for each employee, amounting to 10% of their gross pay.   This equals 10% of annual income

Accrued Benefits in Uganda

Christmas Bonus % 0%
Christmas Bonus Over Vacations % 0%
Severance per Year% Subject to contract
Vacations %

Employees are entitled to 21 days of paid annual leave (5.76% of annual salary)

5.76%
Of annual
salary
Notice %

Employees are entitled to a 1 month of notice period for one year of service or more (8.33%)

8.33%
Christmas Bonus Over Notifications % 0%
Vacations Plus % 0%

Total percentage of Salary (yearly)

The total employment accruals as a percentage of salary per anum are equal to 14.09%

14.09%

Why use Global Expansion to hire in Uganda

Establishing a branch office or subsidiary in Uganda can be time-consuming, expensive and complex. With such a robust labor market in place, one must pay great attention to detail when structuring employment because Uganda labor laws are complex.

The company also has a responsibility to comply with specific employment practices dictated by Uganda law to maintain its good standing as an equal opportunity employer.

Global Expansion makes it easy for you to expand into Uganda. We'll help you hire your candidate of choice, handle HR matters and payroll, and ensure that you comply with local laws without the burden of setting up a foreign branch office or subsidiary. In addition, you'll have complete control and direction over your employees.

We enable you to stay in control of everything. Our Uganda Global Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and Employer of Record (EOR) solution provides you with peace of mind to focus on running your company and the security to enter new markets.

 

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