You must be a competent driver before you qualify to receive a driving licence. To acquire that competence, you will go through several steps to qualify to drive the class of motor vehicle you intend to drive.
The steps include learning how to drive from a licenced driving school, a test of driving competence from the Police Inspectorate of Vehicles, and tests to ensure that you meet the minimum eyesight and medical standards.
To acquire a full driving licence, you must complete the following steps:
- Meet the legal age requirement. You must be 18 years or older to drive legally on Uganda’s public roads.
- Get a licence that allows you to learn how to drive. This is known as a learner licence, is valid for three months and renewable at a cost. The learner licence is required while you receive instruction from a driving school.Download the application form for the learner licence from our website and complete it; the form has a section called the medical examination report that must be filled by a registered medical practitioner. The fee for a learner licence is Shs60,000 and is paid through the Uganda Revenue Authority website.
- Attend a licenced driving school and undertake driving lessons. The driving school should issue you with a certificate of completion once you complete the lessons; this certificate will be required when you apply for the driving licence.
- After you have learned how to drive, visit the URA website and pay Shs25,000 for a driving test at the Inspectorate of Vehicles. The IOV will issue you with a certificate of competence once you complete the test (or tests if you are applying to be licenced for more than one class) successfully. The certificate of competence is also sent to UDLS.
- Apply for a full driving licence at least 30 days after receiving your learner licence. Download the application form from our website and complete it.
- Go to the URA website and pay the designated fee, which depends on the validity of the permit you need; UDLS issues licences valid for one, three, and five years. Payments can be made at any bank, via PayWay, or mobile money. You will be issued with a payment registration number (PRN) once the payment is finalised.
- Visit any UDLS branch with the completed application form; proof of payment/PRN from the URA; valid national ID (we also allow a duplicate copy of the ID, a photocopy, or a NIRA verification letter if you don’t have the previous documents)/valid passport for foreigners (original copy)/refugee card for refugees (original copy). The full list of requirements can be found here.At UDLS, we shall check your documents, capture your biometrics, and then issue you with a driving licence.
Note: UDLS does not accept cash at its branches. Payments for services are made via the URA website.
