At a glance

Public sources list 35 named free zones and sites. Some private licensees appear only in budget papers; their location or status is marked as not verified.

Aggregate figures as of end FY2023/24. UIA’s plan provides for 26 industrial and business parks, 4 science parks, and private parks.

All ratings

Regional and continental rules

Issues to watch

Summaries for information only; consult the gazetted texts and qualified advisers.

Getting a free zone licence

Documents for a developer licence

• Proof of payment of application fee
• Agreement establishing the zone (if several developers)
• Feasibility study or business plan
• Master plan incl. marketing plan
• Environmental Impact Assessment clearance
• Project plan with indicators and timelines
• Memorandum and Articles of Association
• Certificate of incorporation/registration
• For existing companies: resolution amending the Memorandum to allow free zone development
• Tax clearance certificate (where applicable)
• Other documents required by the Authority

Incentives

Registering a business and an investment licence

Minimum investment for incentives under the Investment Code: US$250,000 (foreign) and US$50,000 (local). Channel: the UIA one-stop centre and eBiz portal.

Work permits

Key agencies

Lake Victoria

Lake freight costs about US$18–22 a tonne against about US$50 by road, but the lake now carries about 1% of Uganda’s cargo, down from about 30% in the early 2000s. Bukasa port is planned to complement Port Bell, and a roll-on, roll-off service began in January 2025.

Targets

Uganda in the region

Exchange rate: the shilling traded around UGX 4,480 per US dollar on 27 October 2026; check the Bank of Uganda for current rates.

Frequently asked questions

Glossary

Information compiled from public sources as of October 2026, including UFZEPA and UIA publications, Ministry of Finance budget papers, URA guides, UBOS statistics, the US State Department’s 2026 Investment Climate Statement, and reputable press. Coordinates are approximate. Ratings are independent opinions based on public information and are not investment advice.

Sources

• https://freezones.go.ug
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=3333
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=3608
• https://freezones.go.ug/2018
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=1966
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=1972
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=15799
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=3805
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=4315
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=4345
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=2103
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=17178
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=17189
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=17010
• https://freezones.go.ug/?p=16620
• https://itpo-tokyo.unido.org/files/1535-UFZA-PRESENTATION-AT-THE-UGANDA-JAPAN-BUSINESS-FORUM-FINAL.pdf
• https://www.mediacentre.go.ug/sites/default/files/media/UFZA%20Annual%20Performance%202020-21.pdf
• https://budget.finance.go.ug/sites/default/files/Sector%20Spending%20Agency%20Budgets%20and%20Performance/Uganda%20Freezones%20Authority_0.pdf
• https://budget.finance.go.ug/sites/default/files/Sector%20Spending%20Agency%20Budgets%20and%20Performance/Uganda%20Free%20Zones%20Authority_4.pdf
• https://budget.finance.go.ug/sites/default/files/Sector%20Spending%20Agency%20Budgets%20and%20Performance/Uganda%20Free%20Zones%20Authority.pdf
• https://development.finance.go.ug/knowledge-centre-reports/uganda-free-zones-authority-annual-report-fy202122
• https://development.finance.go.ug/knowledge-centre-reports/inauguration-uganda-free-zones-and-export-promotion-authority-ufzepa-board
• https://bills.parliament.ug/attachments/CFI for the Free Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2024.pdf
• https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/business/finance/government-issues-two-free-zone-licences-1701658
• https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/business/markets/free-zone-exports-grow-to-shs4-2t-from-shs542b-report-3686696
• https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/business/markets/93-percent-of-free-zones-exports-is-gold-says-report-3663162
• https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/business/prosper/we-can-generate-shs25-trillion-in-exports-ufza-boss-4088988
• https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-pledges-fast-track-approvals-to-operationalise-entebbe-airport-free-zone-5557842
• https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/business/markets/will-free-zones-help-turn-uganda-into-an-export-hub--5113286
• https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/business/ufzepa-pushes-for-export-growth-NV_224678_052026
• https://www.independent.co.ug/uganda-free-zones-scheme-boost-exports/
• https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/701264_2026-Uganda-Investment-Climate-Statement.pdf
• https://businesstimesug.com/63-years-of-steady-growth-of-trade-industry-and-cooperatives/
• https://fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/shree-modern-textiles-to-develop-free-trade-zone-in-uganda-252064-newsdetails.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahathi_Fuel_Transport_and_Storage_Depot
• https://www.ugandainvest.go.ug/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Industrial-and-business-parks-in-Uganda-July-2021.pdf
• https://businesstimesug.com/how-ugandas-industrial-parks-are-powering-economic-growth-and-regional-transformation/
• https://www.pulse.ug/story/namanve-industrial-park-infrastructure-project-reaches-80percent-completion-2026071107123074860
• https://allafrica.com/stories/202512290033.html
• https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/polluted-water-power-outages-cripple-mbale-industrial-park-5577114

1. About these terms

These Terms of Service govern your use of the Uganda Free Zones Guide website (the “Website”), operated by [Operator legal name], [registered address] (“we”, “us”, or “our”). By using the Website you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Website.

2. What the Website is

The Website is an independent information resource on free zones, industrial parks, and investment in Uganda. It aggregates information from public sources and presents maps, data, indices, and ratings produced by our own published methodology.

The Website is not affiliated with, and does not speak for, any government, zone authority, regulator, operator, or international organisation, unless we expressly say so.

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Nothing on the Website is investment, legal, tax, accounting, or other professional advice, and nothing is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security, interest, or property, or to invest in any zone, country, or project.

You should make your own enquiries and take independent professional advice before making any decision. Always confirm laws, incentives, fees, and procedures with the relevant authority.

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Historical scores for earlier years are retrospective estimates: they apply today’s methodology to the best data we could find for those years. They are not ratings that were published at the time, and they carry a stated confidence level.

Third-party rankings, such as the Global Financial Centres Index, are reproduced with attribution and remain the work of their publishers.

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