THE INVESTMENT PROCESS
Company Incorporation
Tax Registration
Investment License
Secondary Licenses
Work Permits
Ease of doing business in Uganda.
In order to make it easier to do business in the country, Uganda has reduced the amount of bureaucracy needed to secure licenses and permits.
The establishment of the One-Stop Centre by the Uganda Investment Authority through the amendment of the Investment Act, 2019 created a single access point for information and service transactions for investors. It also houses Government and private sector institutions that are responsible for investment facilitation.
Steps to Invest in Uganda
Company Incorporation
Company incorporation is the first stage of investing in Uganda. Register your company with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to acquire a Certificate of Incorporation.
Companies can be registered as local, public, or foreign.
Tax Registration
The second step is to register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN) with the Uganda Revenue Authority.
TIN applications can be processed physically at any URA office or online at the URA website
Investment License
Uganda Investment Authority issues the Investment Licence to both domestic and foreign companies. Acquiring an Investment licence from the Uganda Investment Agency is a mandatory requirement for foreign investors as it is the instrument that legalises the investment in Uganda.
Companies need to meet the threshold i.e. US$ 50,000 for domestic investors and US$ 250,000 for foreign investors. Please note that some sectors require regulatory licenses e.g. mining, manufacture of drugs, before applying for an investment license.
Persons intending to engage in trade do not require a licence from UIA but must prove they have access to operating capital of US$100,000 before trading licences and the recommendations for work permits can be issued by local authorities
The Investment license is free of charge and issued in 48 hours if the applications meets criteria.
Secondary Licenses
Companies operating in some sectors and jurisdictions may require additional secondary licenses such as electricity, Health, Education, Mining, Financial Services, etc. .
of charge and issued in 48 hours if the applications meets criteria.
Work Permits
All foreign nationals intending to work in Uganda must ensure that they are in possession of the relevant work permit. The comprehensive list of requirements for the different categories or classes of work permits is listed on the Directorate of Citizenship & Immigration website.