The sum behind that figure: 1,000,000 x 12 / 52 / 48 gives an hourly rate of about 4,808. Times 1.5 is about 7,212 an hour, and 10 hours comes to 72,115 before tax. If you're paid by the week it's simpler. On a weekly wage of 96,000 for 48 hours, your hour is worth 2,000, so 6 hours on normal days earn 18,000 and 4 hours on a gazetted public holiday earn 16,000.
When hours count as overtime
Section 52 of the Employment Act treats hours above 8 in a day or 48 in a week as overtime, unless you've got a written agreement that says otherwise. So read the overtime clause in your contract before you rely on these rates. Your written particulars should state your overtime rate.
Total hours still have a ceiling. You and your employer can agree more than 48 hours a week, but not more than 10 hours a day or 56 a week. Shift workers can pass those limits on some days as long as the average over three weeks stays within them.
Monthly pay: ask payroll how they convert it
The Act assumes wages cover a 48 hour week, but it gives no formula for turning a monthly salary into an hourly rate. Our calculator uses monthly pay x 12 / 52 / 48, which is 208 hours a month. That's our assumption, not a figure from the Act. If your employer uses another divisor, you can change the weekly hours in the tool and ask HR to show you theirs.
Public holidays work a little differently
Every public holiday is a day off with full pay. If you work on one, you're owed another paid day off, unless you're paid at least double for that day. The double rate in this tool is for overtime on a gazetted public holiday.
Overtime is taxed
URA lists overtime pay as taxable employment income. If you're already above 485,000 a month, each extra shilling pays 30% PAYE, and NSSF's 5% is worked on your total gross monthly wage. So 72,115 of overtime leaves about 46,875 in your hand.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate overtime for a monthly salary in Uganda?
Divide your yearly pay by 52 weeks and 48 hours to get an hourly rate, then multiply by 1.5 for normal days or 2 for gazetted public holidays. The Act doesn't set the monthly formula, so check how your payroll does it.
Can my employer refuse to pay overtime?
The 1.5 and 2 times rates apply in the absence of a written agreement to the contrary, so first read what you signed. If you think you're being underpaid, keep a daily record of your hours and speak to a labour officer.
Is working on a Sunday paid double?
The Act's overtime section names normal working days and gazetted public holidays, not Sundays. Your weekly rest day is the one that's customary or agreed, and you can't be made to work more than six days in a row. If you're asked to work on your rest day, ask what rate applies and get it in writing.
Sources
Checked 2 November 2026.