What are the drone regulations in Uganda?

The legal framework

Drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), are regulated in Uganda by the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2022, S.I. 96 of 2022. The regulations apply to anyone who imports, exports, owns, operates, sells, procures, assembles, manufactures, modifies, tests or maintains a UAS registered in Uganda (regulation 2).

Remote pilots also appear in the personnel licensing rules. The 2024 amendment to the Personnel Licensing Regulations (S.I. 2024 No. 105) added definitions for remotely piloted aircraft systems, requires approved training for remote flight crew to be conducted within an Approved Training Organisation, and applies the English language proficiency requirement to remote pilot licences.

The three categories

Every UAS operation is categorised by the risk of what you intend to do (S.I. 96 of 2022, regulation 4):

Category	Name	Pilot qualification	Other key requirements	Source
A	Basic	Valid authorisation in respect of the UAS	UCAA approval; operations application form, UAS user manual, map of the area	Reg 5
B	Standard	Remote pilot authorisation	UCAA approval; line-ministry no-objection letter, Class III medical, third-party insurance, safety risk assessment	Regs 6 and 37
C	Complex	Remote pilot licence	UCAA approval; UOC, operations manual, security programme, safety management system manual, training programme	Regs 7, 18 and 36

Schedule 2 to the regulations sets out the operating conditions for each category, such as height, distance from people and property, visual line of sight and, for standard operations, a maximum take-off mass. If you are unsure which category your work falls into, ask UCAA before you plan the job.

Registration comes first

You may not operate a UAS within Uganda unless it has been registered by UCAA and a certificate of registration issued (regulation 9). The owner applies on the prescribed form with evidence of ownership and proof of payment of the fee (regulation 10). UCAA keeps a UAS register that records, among other things, the registration mark assigned to each UAS and the conditions under which it is registered (regulation 12).

To own a UAS you must be a Ugandan citizen, a foreign citizen lawfully resident in Uganda, a company registered in Uganda, or a Government entity, and individual owners must be at least 18 (regulation 8). Ownership may not be transferred without UCAA’s prior approval.

Importing a drone

Before you import or export a UAS or any of its components, you must notify UCAA and obtain its written authorisation. When the UAS arrives at the port of entry, you declare it to customs and then take it to the Joint Security Office to be inspected and cleared (regulation 16). Sort this out before you ship, not when the parcel lands.

Basic operations (Category A)

A basic operation needs UCAA approval and a valid authorisation for the UAS (regulation 5(1)). You submit the operations application form, the UAS user manual of specifications and the location and map of the area. You must also notify the local authorities in writing, and if you operate on private property that is not yours you need the property owner’s authorisation (regulation 5(4) and (5)).

Standard operations (Category B)

A standard operation needs UCAA approval and a remote pilot authorisation (regulations 6 and 37). Your application includes, among other things, a no-objection letter from the relevant line ministry, a remote pilot training certificate or licence, a Class III medical certificate from a designated medical examiner, third-party insurance and a safety risk assessment. Standard operations also need an operator security programme approved by UCAA (regulation 72).

Complex operations (Category C)

A complex operation needs UCAA approval and a remote pilot licence (regulations 7 and 36). The remote pilot licence is issued under the Personnel Licensing Regulations, not the UAS Regulations. The application file is substantial and includes an operations manual, a security programme, a training programme, a safety management systems manual and, where applicable, a type certificate.

You also need a UAS Operator Certificate (UOC) to operate a Category C UAS (regulation 18). When considering a UOC, UCAA looks at matters such as UAS ownership and registration, a principal place of business in Uganda, an adequate organisation and qualified remote pilots (regulation 20). The UOC application must reach UCAA at least ninety days before the intended operation (regulation 19(3)), so start early.

Remote pilot authorisation versus licence

	Remote pilot authorisation	Remote pilot licence
Needed for	Standard (Category B) operations	Complex (Category C) operations
Issued under	UAS Regulations, regulation 37	Personnel Licensing Regulations, via UAS regulation 36
Training evidence	Remote pilot training certificate or licence with the application (reg 6)	Approved training within an ATO under the 2024 amendment

Recreational flying

Recreational and sports flying has to take place within a registered club that UCAA has authorised (regulations 5(3) and 70). Each club sets minimum training requirements for its members and submits them, along with its operating areas and times, to UCAA for approval (regulations 70 and 71).

After you fly

Owners and operators must record and report incidents and accidents, and must notify UCAA immediately if a UAS or its components are lost or stolen (regulation 42). Operating negligently or recklessly is prohibited (regulation 43).

Common mistakes

• Flying before registering. Registration is a precondition for any operation.
• Importing without authorisation. Written authorisation is needed before import.
• Assuming a paid job is “basic”. The category depends on the risk of the operation and the operating conditions in Schedule 2, not on whether you are paid.
• Confusing the authorisation with the licence. Standard and complex operations need different pilot qualifications.
• Treating a UOC like an AOC. Drones have their own operator certificate.

What Ariguma can help with

Ariguma Aviation Consultants provides aviation consultancy and certification support for organisations planning drone operations, including working out the likely category and preparing application documents and manuals. Approvals, authorisations and licences are issued by UCAA alone. Contact us to discuss your project.