Boda boda rules in Uganda 2026 – permits, helmets, stages and costs

Quick answer

Get a Class A riding permit (learner's UGX 40,000, test 25,000, 5-year permit 250,000). Rider and passenger must wear helmets. In Kampala, work only from a registered stage.

Checked 4 November 2026
Jump to a section
  1. 1. Get a riding permit (Class A)
  2. 2. Wear helmets: both rider and passenger
  3. 3. In Kampala: register and use a gazetted stage
  4. 4. Number plates and insurance
  5. Frequently asked questions

Riding a boda boda for business in Uganda needs the right permit, safety gear and (in Kampala) registration with KCCA. Rules tightened in 2026, so here's what applies now.

1. Get a riding permit (Class A)

Motorcycle permits are issued by the Uganda Driver Licensing System (UDLS). Pay every fee with a URA PRN.

Item Fee (UGX)
Learner's permit (3 months), Class A 40,000
Riding test 25,000
Full permit, 5 years, Class A 250,000
Adding a class to an existing permit 121,000

Steps:

  1. Pay for and collect a learner's permit at a UDLS office (bring your National ID).
  2. Train, ideally with a registered riding school.
  3. Pass the riding test.
  4. Pay for the full permit and collect it.

Full guide: How to get a driving permit.

2. Wear helmets: both rider and passenger

The law requires helmets for both the rider and the passenger. Police can fine or arrest riders without them. A reflector jacket is also expected for commercial riders.

3. In Kampala: register and use a gazetted stage

  • From 19 February 2026, the government abolished illegal boda stages in Kampala's CBD. Riders found operating unregistered risk having their motorcycles impounded.
  • KCCA is gazetting official stages (929 planned, with registered riders capped at about 27,870).
  • To register you'll typically need your National ID, a riding permit and your motorcycle's details. Ask at your KCCA division office or your stage leadership.

A new Kampala public transport law (with a rider database, QR-coded jackets and limits per stage) was still a draft as of November 2026.

4. Number plates and insurance

  • New motorcycles get digital number plates (ITMS). Replacing a motorcycle plate is listed at UGX 75,000 by the Ministry of Works. There is no fixed deadline yet for swapping old plates. Read: Digital number plates.
  • Third-party insurance is compulsory. It covers injury to other people, not you or your motorcycle. Prices vary by insurer, so compare a few.

Tip: keep your permit, insurance sticker and logbook copy with you. Missing documents are the most common reason motorcycles get impounded.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a boda boda riding permit in Uganda?

A learner's permit is UGX 40,000, the test is UGX 25,000 and a 5-year Class A permit is UGX 250,000 (UDLS fees, 2026).

Is a helmet required for boda boda passengers?

Yes. Both rider and passenger must wear helmets.

Can boda bodas operate in Kampala's city centre?

Only from registered, gazetted stages. Illegal stages in the CBD were abolished in February 2026.

Fees and codes change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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