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Regulatory & compliance · International household goods

International: Uganda

A single COMESA Carrier’s License covers commercial goods vehicles across 11 regional member states, and Uganda was the first country to implement harmonized cross-border driver permit standards

Regulated byCOMESA Carrier’s License, introduced in 1991, allows a commercial goods vehicle to operate across all COMESA member states (including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Eritrea, Malawi, and Eswatini) under a single licence; the COMESA Yellow Card Scheme provides third-party motor vehicle insurance recognized across participating member states; Uganda became the first country to implement harmonized driver licensing standards under the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme (TTTFP) in March 2021

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

A Single COMESA Carrier’s License Covers Multiple Countries
Yes
Yes, for the operator of the vehicle. Introduced in 1991, the COMESA Carrier’s License allows a commercial goods vehicle to be licensed once and operate throughout all COMESA member states currently implementing the scheme (11 mainland countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Eritrea, Malawi, and Eswatini), the same regional licence structure found for Kenya and Tanzania. Where a mover subcontracts the cross-border road transport, the carrier’s own licences cover the transport it performs, and the mover uses carriers that hold them.
A Distinct Regional Insurance Product (Yellow Card) Applies
Yes, for vehicles operating across borders. The COMESA Yellow Card Scheme provides third-party motor vehicle insurance recognized across the scheme’s participating countries (13, per the source found), distinct from Uganda’s domestic Third Party Insurance Certificate requirement.
Uganda Leads in Harmonized Driver Permit Standards
Uganda became the first country to implement harmonized driver licensing under the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme (TTTFP), starting to issue ISO-compliant driving licence cards and Professional Driving Permits (PrDP) in March 2021. This licence format is designed to allow a driver to operate across COMESA, EAC, and SADC member countries with fewer restrictions, though the local road safety and traffic rules of each country still apply.
A COMESA Sticker Is Required for Vehicle Identification at Borders
Yes, for vehicles crossing the border. A vehicle crossing from Uganda into a neighboring country should display a COMESA sticker identifying it as a foreign vehicle when operating in that other country.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A mover operating its own goods vehicles for road transport into fellow COMESA member states can obtain a single Carrier’s License covering the vehicle across the entire participating bloc, the same structure found for Kenya and Tanzania. Carriers should also hold COMESA Yellow Card insurance, a distinct regional third-party product. Uganda holds a leading position in regional harmonization efforts: it was the first country to roll out ISO-compliant driving licences and Professional Driving Permits under the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme, intended to let a driver operate across all three regional blocs with fewer restrictions. Vehicles crossing Uganda’s borders should also display the appropriate COMESA identification sticker. These requirements attach to the company operating the vehicles; where a mover subcontracts the cross-border road transport, the carrier’s own licences and documents cover it.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that carry goods across Uganda’s borders by road in their own vehicles must:

  1. Obtain a COMESA Carrier’s License for a commercial goods vehicle intended to operate across fellow COMESA member states.
  2. Obtain COMESA Yellow Card insurance, distinct from Uganda’s domestic Third Party Insurance Certificate.
  3. Ensure drivers hold the current TTTFP-compliant Professional Driving Permit.
  4. Display the appropriate COMESA identification sticker on vehicles crossing international borders.

Movers that subcontract the cross-border road transport must:

  1. Use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

  • COMESA Carrier’s License held for regional cross-border road transportWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles into COMESA member states)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

  • Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

  • COMESA Yellow Card insurance in forceWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across the border)Verified by DocumentRequired
  • Each cross-border driver holds a current TTTFP-compliant Professional Driving PermitWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across the border)Verified by DocumentRequired
  • COMESA identification sticker displayed on each cross-border vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across the border)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Last updated
October 15, 2026

Licensing & Compliance · Uganda

Other move types

Within Uganda
A Class ‘G’ Licence from the Transport Licensing Board for the operator of goods vehicles, processed through URA, requiring vehicle registration, roadworthiness, and insurance.
See the requirements →
International
A single COMESA Carrier’s License covers commercial goods vehicles across 11 regional member states, and Uganda was the first country to implement harmonized cross-border driver permit standards.
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