Plan
Drone rules: Uganda
Last checked: October 1, 2026
Permit required
You may only fly here with a permit issued by the authorities in advance.
Import only with prior approval from the Ministry of Defence, operation only with clearance from UCAA and the military.
Every drone must be registered with the UCAA; the German registration does not count.
Liability insurance is mandatory for category B and C flights, i.e. already for normal flights above 10 m.
For tourists
Without a prior import permit customs can confiscate the drone; luggage is X-rayed. Under the regulation, recreational flights are only intended within a club registered with the UCAA.
Further rules
- In Uganda every drone must be registered with the aviation authority UCAA. For category B and C flights – i.e. already normal flights above 10 metres – liability insurance is required.
- For tourists the route is particularly laborious: import goes through customs, UCAA and a security check by the general staff; for operation you also need a no-objection letter from the relevant ministry, security clearance from the military and the UCAA approval for a fee. This process should start long before the trip.
- The maximum flight altitude is 120 metres (400 feet).
- Without prior approval the drone can be confiscated on entry – luggage is X-rayed before leaving the airport, imported drones are reported to customs and checked by a joint security unit.
- This makes Uganda effectively impractical for trips planned at short notice without several months of preparation; if you really want to use your own drone, you need to submit your application well before you travel.
Sources
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.