Capital City
Kampala
Currency
Ugandan Shilling
(
USh
)
Timezone
GMT +3
Payroll Frequency
monthly
Tax Year
1 July - 30 June
Employer Tax
10.00%
Languages
Swahili
English
Capital City
Kampala
Currency
Ugandan Shilling
(
USh
)
Timezone
GMT +3
Payroll Frequency
monthly
Tax Year
1 July - 30 June
Employer Tax
10.00%
Languages
Swahili
English
Minimum Wage: There is no minimum wage in Uganda.
Working Hours: According to Ugandan labour laws, the standard working hours are eight hours per day and a total of 48 hours per week.
Payroll Taxes: In Uganda, employers contribute about 10% in payroll taxes, which typically cover social security, health care, and other statutory benefits.
Average Salary: The average salary in Uganda is approximately UGX 2,620,000.
Hiring independent contractors has boomed in popularity because of the cost savings and flexibility they offer. It can be a great option if you require niche skills or short-term project support. Contractors allow businesses to access specialized skills quickly, without the time and cost of setting up a local entity.
However, it’s important to know the limits of this model: contractors are not a substitute for full-time employees. Relying on them for ongoing, long-term roles can create serious compliance risks, including employee misclassification, which can lead to fines, back taxes, and reputational damage.
Playroll’s contractor management solutions make it simple to compliantly engage, onboard, and pay contractors around the world. We provide clear visibility into agreements, streamline payments, and reduce compliance risks – so you can focus on getting the work done. And when you’re ready to take the next step, we can help seamlessly convert contractors into full-time employees through our global Employer of Record service.
From compliant contracts to competitive benefits, Playroll’s EOR services keep you aligned with local labor laws and regulations, safeguarding your business, so you can focus on growth.
Book a DemoBusinesses can only operate smoothly in Uganda if they comply with local labor laws including drafting compliant employment contract agreements and meeting taxation and payroll obligations. Learn more about the employment laws and regulations in Uganda below, to avoid any compliance issues.
Uganda's 1995 Constitution and the 2006 Employment Act define employee protections and workers' rights, ensuring equal pay for equal work and prohibiting discrimination based on age, religion, gender expression, and race. Common hiring process inquiries may include minimum wage, overtime rates, and guaranteed paid leave.
We can help you get a new employee started in Uganda quickly, with a minimum onboarding time of just 1-2 working days. The timeline starts once the employee submits all required information onto the Playroll platform and completes any necessary local authority registrations.
For non-nationals, the Right to Work assessment (if applicable) may add up to three extra days. Additional time may be needed for follow-ups on this assessment. Please note, payroll cut-off dates can impact the actual start date. Playroll's payroll cut-off date is the 10th of each month unless otherwise specified.
According to Ugandan labour laws, the standard working hours are eight hours per day and a total of 48 hours per week.
Employers can ask employees to work overtime, but the combined work hours, including overtime, should not surpass 10 hours per day or 56 hours per week, with exceptions for shift workers. Overtime is compensated at 150% of the regular rate on regular weekdays and at 200% of the regular rate on public holidays.
Probation periods are not mandatory but serve as an opportunity for employers to assess a new employee's performance and suitability for the position. The probation period can last up to six months, providing sufficient time for both parties to evaluate the employment relationship.
The current average monthly salary in Uganda in 2025 is approximately UGX 2,620,000. Salaries vary significantly based on experience, industry, and location - entry-level workers and those in small businesses typically earn less than those in large enterprises or specialized sectors like finance or technology. Urban areas such as Kampala offer higher pay compared to rural regions. Uganda’s economic landscape remains relatively stable, with inflation around 3.8% and steady GDP growth over 6%, which supports modest wage increases and employment opportunities.
Growing your team in Uganda is exciting, but it’s not without challenges. Local labor laws are often nuanced, and hiring without the right legal structure or processes can lead to misclassification, non-compliance penalties, or disputes. An Employer of Record removes that risk by acting as the legal employer on your behalf, taking full responsibility for compliance, contracts, payroll, and employee benefits.
This gives you the freedom to scale at your own pace, whether you're adding one employee or building out an entire function, without the burden of setting up and managing a local entity. You remain in control of day-to-day responsibilities and performance, while the EOR ensures every hire is legally protected and properly supported. It's a strategic way to expand globally without spreading your internal team too thin or exposing your business to legal liabilities in unfamiliar markets.
1 July - 30 June is the 12-month accounting period that businesses in Uganda use for financial and tax reporting purposes.
The payroll cycle in Uganda is usually monthly, with employees being paid at the end of the month.
There is no minimum wage in Uganda.
In Uganda, there is no mandatory requirement for employers to provide bonuses or 13th month salaries. In fact, bonuses are not widely offered in Ugandan workplaces.
Employer payroll contributions are generally estimated at an additional 10% on top of the employee salary in Uganda.
In Uganda , the typical estimation for employee payroll contributions cost is around 5%.
In Uganda, the individual income tax ranges from 0% to 40%. Income tax is calculated according to progressive rates.
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is Uganda's main source of public pensions, funded through contributions from both employers and employees. Employers are mandated to contribute 10% of their employees' salaries, while employees themselves contribute 5% of their earnings.
Employees expect to be paid accurately, on time, and in full compliance with local standards. When you're hiring in Uganda, providing a smooth payroll experience is critical to retention and trust. An Employer of Record ensures that employees receive what they’re owed, without errors, delays, or confusion about taxes or benefits.
Key Ways an EOR Supports Payroll in Uganda:
Make better business decisions by consolidating global payroll data, while seamlessly syncing your existing payroll operations.
Book a DemoIn Uganda, employers hiring international workers must navigate the application process for various work permits like Class D for professionals or Class G for investors. Processing times typically range from 4 to 6 weeks, and employers must provide comprehensive documentation to ensure compliance with immigration regulations.
The annual leave entitlement in Uganda is 21 days for a full time worker. These can include public holidays on top of that or within those days, which would otherwise be unpaid.
Public holidays in Uganda may vary each year, but some of the major and recurring public holidays typically observed in the country include:
Employees become eligible for annual leave after six months of employment, and those working at least 16 hours a week are entitled to 21 working days of paid leave. This entitlement accrues at a rate of seven days for every continuous four-month period of service, once they complete 12 months of continuous employment.
Female employees are granted 60 working days (equal to eight and a half weeks) of fully paid maternity leave, with the first four weeks being compulsory following childbirth or miscarriage.
Male employees are entitled to four fully paid working days of paternity leave in a year following the birth of their child or the miscarriage of their spouse, covered by the employer.
An employee working a minimum of 16 hours per week becomes eligible for sick leave after one month of service. During the first month of illness or injury, they are entitled to receive full pay for their sick leave.
Uganda's labor laws do not provide a shared parental leave policy.
In Uganda, failing to provide the correct employee benefits can have serious consequences. Mistakes in benefits administration may result in fines and harm your reputation as an employer. An Employer of Record ensures statutory benefits and leave are handled correctly, every time, and provides comprehensive options for extra perks to reward your team.
Beyond just avoiding legal issues, a well-managed benefits program builds trust with your employees. An EOR ensures benefits are set up quickly during onboarding, updated when employee status changes, and fully compliant with national regulations. They also manage communication with employees, so there’s no confusion around what’s offered and how to access it. This combination of legal compliance and positive employee experience is hard to replicate without local infrastructure. With an EOR, you can offer peace of mind to your team (and to yourself) knowing that your benefits program in Uganda is running as it should.
Terminations in Uganda are not straightforward. Unlike in some countries, employers in Uganda are not permitted to terminate employment at will. Instead, terminations must be justified by valid grounds.
In Uganda, the minimum notice period for termination is 2 weeks, and it will increase according to the length of employment as follows:
Ugandan employment law outlines a broad spectrum of circumstances under which an employee is eligible for severance pay, including:
Disclaimer
THIS CONTENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE. You should always consult with and rely on your own legal and/or tax advisor(s). Playroll does not provide legal or tax advice. The information is general and not tailored to a specific company or workforce and does not reflect Playroll’s product delivery in any given jurisdiction. Playroll makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information and shall have no liability arising out of or in connection with it, including any loss caused by use of, or reliance on, the information.
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The average salary in Uganda in 2025 is about UGX 2.62 million per month, with higher earnings in urban areas and skilled professions, and lower pay in rural and entry-level roles.
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