How to apply for or renew a driving licence in Uganda
In brief
You must hold a valid driving licence to drive on a public road in Uganda. The Traffic and Road Safety Act, Cap. 361 (which now uses 'driving licence' in place of the former 'driving permit') prohibits driving without one, and the Traffic and Road Safety (Driving Licences) Regulations, 2021 set the classes of licence (by vehicle type), their validity periods, provisional/temporary licences, and the recognition of foreign licences. You apply (and renew) through the designated licensing system after the required test, and you must carry the licence (and a copy of the registration book) when driving.
1. Governing law
Driving is regulated by the Traffic and Road Safety Act, Cap. 361 and the Traffic and Road Safety (Driving Licences) Regulations, 2021. A person may not drive a class of motor vehicle on a public road without holding a valid driving licence for that class — the Act, as amended, substitutes 'driving licence' for the former 'driving permit' — and a driver must also be in possession of a copy of the registration book of the vehicle (s.30(1a)). The 2021 Regulations provide the detail: the classes of driving licence by vehicle category, the validity periods of licences (including professional driving permits), temporary and provisional licences, renewal and class extension, the medical examination requirement, and the conditions on which a foreign driving licence may be used in Uganda for a period. Driving without a valid licence, or otherwise contravening the Act, is an offence (and many such offences fall under the Express Penalty Scheme — see that note). Application, testing, issue and renewal are handled through the designated licensing system; fees are prescribed and should be confirmed currently. Statutory text verified against the consolidated Laws of Uganda as at 31 December 2023. Sourced from the Uganda Legal Information Institute (ulii.org).
2. Key statutes & rules
- Traffic and Road Safety Act, Cap. 361 — a valid driving licence is required to drive on a public road (the Act substitutes 'driving licence' for 'driving permit'); s.30(1a) (a driver must carry a copy of the vehicle's registration book).
- Traffic and Road Safety (Driving Licences) Regulations, 2021 — classes of driving licence; validity periods; professional driving permits; temporary and provisional licences; renewal and class extension; medical examination; use of a foreign driving licence in Uganda.
3. Practical guidance
Confirm the class you need by the vehicle you will drive (Driving Licences Regulations, 2021).
Do the required driving test and medical examination, then apply through the designated licensing system and pay the prescribed fee.
Carry your driving licence and a copy of the vehicle's registration book whenever you drive (s.30(1a)).
Renew before expiry and apply for a class extension if you will drive a different category; note the validity period on the licence.
If you hold a foreign licence, check the conditions and period for which it may be used in Uganda before driving.
This note is a practitioner orientation, not legal advice, and does not create an advocate–client relationship. Ugandan law changes and chapter and section numbers were revised in the 2023 Laws of Uganda. Verify every statute, rule and authority against the current primary source — and the specific facts of your matter — before filing or relying on it.