A hospital is a healthcare facility built, staffed, and equipped to provide medical and nursing care as well as medical supplies to patients.
Uganda’s health system comprises of government/public health facilities, mission founded and privately-owned providers as well as complementary medicine practitioners.
This is a large health-care facility that provides medical and surgical care to its clients
A clinic is a healthcare facility that is established to provide first hand medical treatment or advice to outpatients. A clinic can either be independent or affiliated to a hospital.
All businesses in the health sector in Uganda are required to be registered with
Please note
Upon registration, players in the health sector are required to comply with the requirements of relevant authorities like:
After filing a return, you’re required to pay the resultant tax using available payment platforms e.g. banks, EFT, RTGS, mobile money, VISA, Mastercard and USSD Code (*285#).
Please note: the due date for payment of tax is the same as that of return filing.
Incentives |
Condition for the tax incentives |
Shadow less lamps for use in operating theaters |
Exempted from all taxes under the 5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 |
Blood freezers |
Exempted from all taxes under the 5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 |
Mattresses and line |
Exempted from all taxes under the 5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 |
Bedside screens |
Exempted from all taxes under the 5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 |
Air conditioners |
Exempted from all taxes under the 5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 |
Water heating equipment |
Exempted from all taxes under the 5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 |
Packaging material for medicines |
Exempted from all taxes under the 5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 |
Hospital furniture imported by dealers for supply to licensed Hospitals |
Exempted from excise duty under the Excise Duty Act. |
Producing x rays for the irradiation of a human being or an animal for a therapeutic or diagnostic purpose or for industrial use |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Chemical Analyzers for blood analysis. A blood chemistry analyzer may be used to test for many things, such as blood cell counts, therapeutic drug monitoring, illegal drug use, blood typing protein analysis, checking thyroid function, checking for the presence of antibodies, and, when used by patients at home, for glucose or cholesterol monitoring |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Ophthalmic instruments and appliances. This device is used to examine the eye. |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
10) Dental drill equipment. A dental drill or dentist’s drill is a small, high speed drill used during dental procedures, usually to remove decay and shape tooth structure prior to the insertion of a filling or crown. A dental drill may also be used in the cleaning and shaping of root canals during endodontic treatment, or to remove old or temporary fillings or crowns prior to the insertion of new or permanent restorations. |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Ultrasound machinery. An ultrasound machine makes images so that organs inside the body can be examined. The machine sends out high- frequency sound waves, which reflect off body structures. A computer receives the waves and uses them to create a picture. The test is done in the ultrasound or radiology department. |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Syringes. A medical device that is used to inject fluid into, or withdraw fluid from, the body. A medical syringe consists of a needle attached to a hollow cylinder that is fitted with a sliding plunger |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Cardio graphic machine. A machine for recording the beating of the heart. |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Wheel chairs. A wheelchair is a manually operated or power-driven device designed primarily for use by an individual with a mobility disability for the main purpose of indoor, or of both indoor and outdoor, locomotion. |
Exempted from all taxes under the5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004. |
Crutches Crutch: A wooden or metal vertical prop that helps support a disabled person while he or she is walking. Arm crutches typically are metal and have a single shaft with a projecting handgrip and a cuff that closes around the arm. Crutches usually have a nonskid rubber tip on the bottom |
Exempted from all taxes under the5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004. |
Artificial parts of the body (teeth, legs, joints). Dentures, (also known as false teeth), are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth; they are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable (removable partial denture or complete denture |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
A prosthesis is an artificial device/ substitute or that replaces a missing body part such as tooth, leg, arm, knee, facial bone, another joint, hip etc. which may be lost through trauma, disease, or congenital conditions |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Hearing aid. A hearing aid is a small electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear. It makes some sounds louder so that a person with hearing loss can listen, communicate, and participate more fully in daily activities. A hearing aid can help people hear more in both quiet and noisy situations |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Medicated cotton wool |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Medical bandage |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
Refrigeration equipment for dead bodies for use in Hospital, city council or funeral home” |
Exempted from all taxes under the fifth schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004. |
Motor boat Ambulance |
Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff and exempted from VAT under the provision of the VAT Act. |
Motor Vehicle Ambulance |
Import duty is applicable at a rate 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff and exempted from VAT under the provision of the VAT Act |
Maternity (Mama) kit |
Import duty is applicable at a rate 0% instead of 25% for one year and exempted from VAT |
Heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment for pharmaceutical manufacturers. |
Exempted from all taxes under the fifth schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 |
The supply of imported drugs and medicines |
It is exempted from VAT under the provision of the VAT Act and attracts import duty of 0% under the EAC CET |
The supply of contraceptives of all forms e.g. condoms, birth control pills, family planning device |
Are exempted from VAT under the provision of the VAT Act |
The supply of Diapers |
Are exempted from VAT under the provision of the VAT Act |
Furniture |
Exempted from all taxes under the 5th schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 |
Medical Autoclaves. A medical autoclave is a device that uses steam to sterilize equipment and other objects. This means that all bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores are inactivated |
Exempted from VAT under the VAT Act. Import duty is 0% under East African Community Common External Tariff. |
For more information, visit the nearest URA office for assistance or call the toll-free lines 0800117000/0800217000 or WhatsApp: 077214000