Last updated on January 16, 2024.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Uganda

Vacation (Annual Leave) Quota

21 days

Employees and workers in Uganda receive 21 days of paid vacation every year. They accrue vacation days at a standard rate of 7 days for every four months of continuous employment.

Collective agreements mandate that employees accrue at least one day of paid vacation for every 17 days they work or any days that they receive compensation. It’s also possible for collective bargaining agreements to provide provisions for more vacation days.

Eligibility

Employees, according to Uganda leave laws, become eligible for vacation leave after working continuously for 6 months in the company. Along with this condition, they must have worked a specified minimum number of hours per week - 16 or more hours. Employees get a full 21 days of vacation leave (accruing 7 days per 4-month period) after 12 months of continuous employment.

Scheduling a Vacation

Vacation days are given when the employee makes a leave request. Days of vacation may be taken at any point within the calendar year, keeping in mind any pre-arranged agreements with their employer. This means that the dates for taking leave must be mutually agreed upon by both parties. Also, employers are not allowed to force employees to go on leave.

Carry Over

If an employee doesn’t request their vacation time within the year it’s earned, they might lose those days.

However, the employer can also choose to move the employee’s leave to the following year instead. In this case, employees can carry over their unused paid vacation days to the following year and even the year after that, for a maximum of two years in total. However, any vacation days not taken within these two years will be forever lost.

Cashing Out

Employees may not exchange their vacation days for cash. They are required to take their vacation leave, for which they are entitled.

PTO Payout at the Termination

If an employee’s job ends, he or she must be paid for all vacation days they haven’t taken. This payment is based on how long they’ve worked and how many days they’ve accrued up to that point.

Sick Leave in Uganda

Up to 2 months per year (the first month of sick leave is paid, the second month is unpaid).

The law requires employers to provide employees with job-protected leave in case of illness, injury, or any other incapacity to work due to health issues.  Employees can take up to two months of sick leave in a single year.

Eligibility

If an employee works at least 16 hours per week, they request paid sick leave after one continuous month on the job.

Duration of Paid Sick Leave

If they can’t work due to illness or injury, they’ll receive their full pay during the first month they are sick. During this period, the employee and their family will also continue to receive any other benefit that is outlined in the contract of employment.

The following second month of leave is not paid.

Notifying the Employer

To be excused from work and have an authorized sick leave, employees should tell their employer about the cause for their absence as soon as possible. The employer has the right to demand a medical certificate from a qualified doctor stating that an employee is not able to work and how long the anticipated period of rest could last.

Job Protection

An employer is now allowed to fire an employee within their first two months of being sick or because they have a disability. If an employee remains on sick leave from work after this second month, the employer is permitted by Ugandan leave laws to dismiss such an employee from work.

Payout 

This sick leave in Uganda is reimbursed fully by the employer. Employees receive 100% of their regular salary. 

The 2nd month of sick leave is unpaid.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Uganda

At least 60 working days of fully paid leave.

Expectant mothers who work in Uganda are entitled to 60 working days of fully paid maternity leave. Pay attention to the fact that it is 60 working days, not calendar days. This means that the maternity leave is actually 10 to 12 weeks long, approximately; this depends on the number of regular working days per week.

Prenatal and Postnatal Leave

Uganda leave laws state that an employee must take at least 4 full weeks of leave (28 days) after the birth of a baby (postnatal). This leave is compulsory. The rest of the maternity leave days can be split into two separate periods, before and after the childbirth.

Additional Maternity Leave

The duration of maternity leave may be extended by up to four full additional weeks (which is 20 working days) if the expectant mother experiences illness or complications related to childbirth or pregnancy.

Leave Notice Requirements

Employees must give their employer written notice at least seven days’ prior to the start of their desired leave. They also need to provide at least seven days’ written notice before they plan to return to work after their leave.

Protection During Work for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Employees

Pregnant and breastfeeding employees are protected from any kind of work that could be harmful to their or their baby’s health.

Job Protection

Uganda leave laws prevent an employer from dismissing employees during their initial two months of leave due to pregnancy.

Payout

Paid by the employer. Employees receive full salary while on maternity leave.

Paternity Leave in Uganda

4 days

An employee in Uganda who becomes a father is allowed by law to take 4 days of paid paternity leave.

Payout

Paternity leave, same as maternity leave, is paid by the employer. An employee continues to receive a full salary while on paternity leave.

Bereavement Leave in Uganda

Up to 6 days

Employees in Uganda are entitled to up to 6 days of paid bereavement leave per year (in some cases, up to 14 days) due to the demise of a close family member.

In certain cases, an employee may take short paid leave to provide care for a family member who is seriously ill.

Jury Duty Leave in Uganda

Jury duty leave is not specified by law.

Military Leave in Uganda

Military leave is not specified by law.

Voting Leave in Uganda

Voting leave is not specified by Uganda leave laws.

Public Holidays in Uganda for 2024

Sources

1. Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/uganda

2. Payroll and Benefits Guide Uganda, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/uganda/

3. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Uganda, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/Uganda

4. Uganda: Laws of Uganda - Employment Act 1977 (Ch 219), https://osall.org.za/docs/2011/03/Uganda-Employment-Act-1977-Ch-219.pdf

5. Labour Laws of Uganda, https://africapay.org/uganda/labour-laws/

Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about laws in various countries.