Safety · 5 min read
Licensed recruitment companies in Uganda 2026 for jobs abroad: how to check one
The official list is on the Ministry of Gender's EEMIS site. Find the exact company name, check that it says ACTIVE and read the licence end date before you pay anything or hand over your passport.
Don't trust a printed list of recruitment companies, including one on a site like ours. Licences start and end through the year, so the only list that counts is the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development's own page at eemis.mglsd.go.ug/companies. It shows each company's status, name, address, phone number and licence dates. This guide shows how to read it, what a real advert must tell you, and what an agency may legally charge.
Check a company in three steps
- Open eemis.mglsd.go.ug/companies. The page loads more companies when you press Load More, so keep going until you've seen them all.
- Find the exact company name on the agency's papers. A very similar name isn't the same company, so ask for the registered name if you're unsure.
- Read the status and the two dates. You want ACTIVE and an end date after the day you're dealing with them. Then match the address and phone with what they gave you.
When we opened the list on 2 November 2026, the first screen showed 20 companies, all marked ACTIVE, and most of the licences ran for two years. Some of them were due to end on 17 November and 1 December 2026, which is why the end date matters. We don't copy the list here because it changes, and being on it isn't our recommendation of any company.
What the law requires of an agency
The Employment (Amendment) Act, 2026, which took effect on 5 June 2026, added a part on recruitment agencies. In plain words:
- Nobody may run a recruitment agency without a licence from the Minister, and a licence lasts two years (section 38B).
- Only a company registered under the Companies Act can hold one (section 38C).
- An agency can't recruit you without a job order approved by the Commissioner responsible for employment services (section 38E).
- Before you sign, the agency must explain the terms of the job and your rights, and your contract must be witnessed by a next of kin (section 38F).
- A contract for a job abroad must give you the right to be brought home at the employer's expense when it ends, including if it ends early by agreement or because you can't do the work (section 38G).
What a real advert must show
The Employment (Recruitment of Ugandan Migrant Workers) Regulations, 2021 say the Ministry approves adverts before they're published. Regulation 21 lists what an advert for a job order must show. If these are missing, ask why.
The agency's name, address and licence number The skills and qualifications needed The number of vacancies The foreign agency's name and accreditation number The work site The date the Ministry approved the job order The proposed salary for each vacancy The country of placement The length of the contract The fees or charges
What an agency may charge you
The 2021 Regulations set these limits. An agency may charge you an administrative fee of not more than UGX 20,000. If it doesn't charge that, it may charge placement fees to cover trade testing, the pre-departure orientation, your medical examination, passport and visa processing, and notarising documents.
Placement fees must be approved by the Ministry, and they can only be collected after you've signed the employment contract. The agency must give you a receipt for anything you pay.
- If a foreign agency pays the Ugandan agency, the Ugandan agency can't charge you any fee.
- If you're being recruited as a domestic worker, the foreign agency covers all recruitment and placement costs.
- If the advert is only collecting CVs for a future pool of workers, the agency can't charge you anything.
The 2026 Act tells the Minister to bring new regulations on agencies, including the fees payable, to Parliament within six months of 5 June 2026. Rules may change when they come, so check the date on this page and ask the Ministry if you're in doubt.
Before you pay or travel
- Read the contract yourself, and have someone you trust read it with you. Check the job, the employer, the pay, the hours and the way home.
- Keep copies of the contract, receipts and agency messages with someone at home.
- Keep your own passport unless there's a clear reason to hand it over, and get a receipt if you do.
- Never pay into a private mobile money number. Pay against a receipt in the company's name, after you've signed.
- Ask the agency to show you the approved job order and the date the Ministry approved it.
If an agency has taken your money or broken its promises, stop paying and keep every message. Regulation 33 lets you file a written complaint with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, which must call you and the agency in to resolve it. Report fraud to the nearest police station as well.
Sources and further reading
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Frequently asked questions
How many licensed recruitment companies are there in Uganda?
The number changes as licences begin and end, and we don't count them because the list loads a few at a time. Use the live EEMIS list and check the company you're dealing with.
How long does a recruitment licence last?
Two years from the date of issue, under section 38B of the Employment Act as amended in 2026. The EEMIS list shows the start and end date for each company.
Is the UGX 20,000 fee all I can be charged?
It's one of two choices under the 2021 Regulations. The other is Ministry approved placement fees, which can only be collected after you sign the contract. If an agency wants placement fees before that, it's breaking the rule.
Can I see approved jobs abroad on EEMIS?
Yes. EEMIS has a Jobs section as well as the Companies list. The home page says its jobs and companies are vetted and approved by the Ministry.