How do you import a car from Japan to Uganda, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Uganda charges 25% import duty, 18% VAT, 6% withholding tax and a 1.5% infrastructure levy on an imported car, plus 10% excise on engines above 2,000 cc and an environmental levy once the car is 8 years old. A car under 8 years with an engine up to 2,000 cc pays about 55% of CIF. Cars must be right-hand drive, under 15 years from manufacture and carry a UNBS certificate of conformity.
Worked example: a 2019 Toyota Premio 1.5 L costs about 85,830,000 to 91,840,000 UGX (US$21,100 to US$22,600) delivered to Kampala, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Uganda
Uganda drives on the left and is a right-hand-drive market, so Japanese domestic cars fit the steering rule as built. The country is landlocked: cars from Japan are landed at Mombasa in Kenya and then trucked or driven in transit along the Northern Corridor, normally via the Malaba border, to Kampala. Age matters twice. The Traffic and Road Safety Act bans the import of cars 15 years old or more from the year of manufacture, and an environmental levy is charged on cars from 8 years old. A bill to cut the age limit to 13 years was tabled in Parliament in 2026 and was still at first reading at the time of review. Used vehicles must pass pre-export verification of conformity (PVoC) by a provider approved by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and arrive with a certificate of conformity. The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) assesses all import taxes. Engine size, age and the long overland transit from Mombasa are the main cost drivers.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Uganda?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- 15-year limit; older vehicles pay a steep environmental levy.
- Inspection
- JEVIC/JAAI
- Special rules
- Landlocked — transit via Mombasa adds inland cost and time.
- Entry ports
- Kampala ICD (via Mombasa, Kenya)
How do you import a car from Japan to Uganda, step by step?
Check the car's year of manufacture and engine size
Cars 15 years or older from manufacture cannot be imported, and cars 8 years or older pay the environmental levy. Engines above 2,000 cc also pay excise.
Get a URA TIN
Customs declarations in Uganda need the importer's Taxpayer Identification Number from URA. Register before the car is shipped.
Buy the car and get the Japanese export certificate
After purchase the Japanese registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. Its English translation travels with the shipping documents.
Pass the UNBS pre-export inspection in Japan
A UNBS-approved PVoC provider inspects the car before shipping and issues the certificate of conformity and roadworthiness certificate. Cars without PVoC certification have faced a surcharge of 15% of CIF.
Ship to Mombasa and transit through Kenya
The car is landed at Mombasa and moves under a transit declaration through Kenya to the Ugandan border, usually Malaba or Busia, or by rail or truck to an inland container depot near Kampala.
Lodge the import entry and pay the taxes to URA
A licensed clearing agent lodges the entry. URA assesses import duty, excise, environmental levy, infrastructure levy, VAT and withholding tax on the customs value.
Clear the car and register it in Uganda
After payment the car is released and registered on the national motor vehicle register, which issues number plates and a logbook.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice from the seller in Japan
- Japanese export certificate with English translation
- Original bill of lading (Mombasa)
- UNBS certificate of conformity and certificate of roadworthiness
- Transit declaration through Kenya
- Importer's URA Taxpayer Identification Number
- Import entry lodged by a licensed clearing agent
- Motor vehicle registration application
What import duties and taxes does Uganda charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import Duty | 25% | CIF value |
| Excise Duty | 0%–10% by engine size | CIF value |
| Environmental Levy (8 yr)Applies to vehicles 8–8 years old | 20% | CIF value |
| Environmental Levy (9-15 yr)Applies to vehicles 9–15 years old | 50% | CIF value |
| Infrastructure Levy | 1.5% | CIF value |
| VAT | 18% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
| Withholding Tax (advance income) | 6% | CIF value |
Import Duty
Rate: 25%. Charged on: CIF value.
Excise Duty
Rate: 0% up to 2,000 cc; 10% above 2,000 cc. Charged on: CIF value.
Environmental Levy (8 yr)
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF value. Applies to vehicles 8–8 years old.
Environmental Levy (9-15 yr)
Rate: 50%. Charged on: CIF value. Applies to vehicles 9–15 years old.
Infrastructure Levy
Rate: 1.5%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT
Rate: 18%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Withholding Tax (advance income)
Rate: 6%. Charged on: CIF value.
All charges are based on the customs value, which starts from the CIF price. Import duty is 25% of CIF. Excise is 10% of CIF for engines above 2,000 cc and nothing at or below 2,000 cc. An environmental levy, set by law as a percentage of the customs value, applies to cars 8 years old or more from manufacture; the table shows the rate the calculator applies for the car's age. The infrastructure levy is 1.5% of CIF. VAT of 18% is charged on CIF plus duty, excise, environmental levy and infrastructure levy. A 6% withholding tax, an advance payment of income tax, is charged on CIF. A 2026 bill would lower the age limit to 13 years and revise the environmental levy; until it is passed, the existing rules apply.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Uganda?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Kampala ICD (via Mombasa, Kenya) | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Toyota Premio 1.5 L | US$9,920 | US$13,200 | US$7,28055% of CIF | UGX 85,830,000 – 91,840,000US$21,100 – US$22,600 |
| 2019 Toyota Aqua 1.5 L hybrid | US$8,740 | US$12,000 | US$6,62055% of CIF | UGX 78,380,000 – 84,390,000US$19,300 – US$20,800 |
| 2018 Toyota Harrier 2.0 L | US$20,300 | US$24,100 | US$19,00079% of CIF | UGX 178,370,000 – 184,930,000US$43,900 – US$45,500 |
Assumptions: typical auction price for the model and year plus ¥70,000 export costs (FOB), route freight from −12% to +15%, port and clearing charges from the dataset, inland delivery to Kampala. Customs assesses the final duty, sometimes on its own valuation.
This market taxes by engine size, age or fuel. Enter all three for a tighter figure.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kampala ICD (via Mombasa, Kenya) | RoRo or container | 35–55 | US$3,200 |
| Mombasa + inland to Kampala | RoRo or container | 31–48 | US$2,250 |
Cars for Uganda are landed at Mombasa, Kenya and continue overland.
The Northern Corridor road from Mombasa via Malaba to Kampala is about 1,170 km; the alternative runs via Kisumu and Busia.
Which Japanese cars are popular in Uganda?
- Models and prices
Toyota Premio
A 1.5 or 1.8-litre sedan that pays no excise because its engine is under 2,000 cc. Parts and mechanics are available across Kampala.
- Models and prices
Toyota Harrier
A mid-size SUV. The 2.0-litre petrol version avoids the 10% excise that the 2.4 and 3.5-litre versions pay.
- Models and prices
Toyota Noah
A 2.0-litre seven or eight-seat minivan used by families and for hire. It stays at or below 2,000 cc.
- Models and prices
Toyota Aqua
A 1.5-litre hybrid hatchback with low fuel use in Kampala traffic. It pays no excise.
- Models and prices
Subaru Forester
A 2.0-litre all-wheel-drive SUV for upcountry roads. The 2.0-litre engine sits exactly at the excise threshold.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Uganda?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kampala | mombasa | US$740 | US$920 | 7 |
| Mbarara | mombasa | US$810 | US$1,010 | 7 |
| Entebbe | mombasa | US$730 | US$910 | 7 |
| Jinja | mombasa | US$710 | US$890 | 7 |
| Gulu | mombasa | US$830 | US$1,040 | 7 |
| Mbale | mombasa | US$690 | US$860 | 7 |
How do you avoid scams when buying a car from Japan?
- Check that the exporter is a registered Japanese company: look up its corporate number and address, and prefer members of the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association.
- Ask for the original auction sheet and, after purchase, the export certificate. Both name the chassis number, which should match the invoice.
- Pay only to a company bank account in the exporter's name, never to a personal account or a money-transfer agent.
AVON INTERNATIONAL company and licence details are on the About page, and the JUMVEA member list is public. JUMVEA (exporters association) · About AVON INTERNATIONAL · Is buying a car from Japan safe?
Frequently asked questions
- Can I import a 15-year-old car to Uganda?
- No. Uganda bans cars 15 years old or more from the year of manufacture, so in 2026 a car built in 2011 or earlier cannot be imported. A 2026 bill proposes 13 years but had not passed at the time of review.
- How much tax do I pay to import a car from Japan to Uganda?
- 25% import duty, 18% VAT, 6% withholding tax and 1.5% infrastructure levy, plus 10% excise above 2,000 cc and an environmental levy from 8 years. A small car under 8 years pays about 55% of CIF.
- What is the environmental levy on used cars in Uganda?
- A levy on imported cars 8 years old or more from manufacture, charged on the customs value. It makes an 8-year-old car noticeably more expensive to clear than a 7-year-old one.
- Do cars under 2,000 cc pay excise in Uganda?
- No. Excise of 10% of CIF applies only to engines above 2,000 cc. A 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre car pays no excise.
- Does Uganda allow left-hand-drive cars?
- No for ordinary imports. Uganda is a right-hand-drive market because traffic keeps left. Japanese domestic cars are right-hand drive and meet the rule.
- How do cars from Japan reach Kampala?
- By sea to Mombasa in Kenya, then in transit by road or rail along the Northern Corridor, usually crossing at Malaba or Busia. Allow about 35 to 55 days in total.
- Is pre-shipment inspection required for Uganda?
- Yes. Used vehicles need PVoC inspection by a UNBS-approved provider and a certificate of conformity. Cars arriving without it have faced a surcharge of 15% of CIF.
- Who assesses import tax on cars in Uganda?
- The Uganda Revenue Authority. A licensed clearing agent lodges the entry, and URA assesses the taxes on the customs value, which can differ from the invoice price.
- What documents do I need to clear a car in Uganda?
- The invoice, Japanese export certificate with translation, bill of lading, UNBS certificate of conformity, transit documents through Kenya and your URA TIN.
- Where do Japanese used cars for sale in Uganda come from?
- Most are bought at auctions in Japan and shipped to Mombasa and then by road to Uganda, by local dealers or by buyers importing directly. A buyer who imports directly pays the duty, excise, environmental levy, infrastructure levy, VAT and withholding tax shown on this page.
- Is there a car import tax calculator for Uganda?
- Yes. The calculator at the end of this page applies the URA duty, excise, environmental levy, infrastructure levy, VAT and withholding tax to the car, year, engine size and city you choose, using the same rates as the tables above.
Sources
- Parliament of Uganda — Traffic and Road Safety (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (bill progress) — checked 15 October 2026
- Uganda Revenue Authority — checked 15 October 2026
- Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority — Road network — checked 15 October 2026
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Uganda, Other taxes (environmental levy) — checked 15 October 2026
- Daily Monitor — UNBS PVoC rules for used vehicles (2023) — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Uganda
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Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.