Uganda is landlocked, so every car from Japan arrives by sea at the Port of Mombasa in Kenya and then travels by road to Kampala. That extra leg is the main difference from importing into a coastal country. The good news is that Uganda has no strict age limit, so you can choose from almost our whole stock, including older, cheaper cars that Kenya would refuse.
How the Route Works
- The car ships from Japan to Mombasa (usually 32–42 days, including transit time for Uganda-bound cargo).
- It is released under transit (not cleared into Kenya) and driven or trucked to the Ugandan border, most often at Malaba or Busia.
- Customs clearance for Uganda is completed with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and the car continues to Kampala.
You will need a clearing agent who handles the Mombasa-to-Kampala transit. We can introduce you to agents our buyers have used.
Age Rules and the Environmental Levy
Uganda does not set a hard age cutoff in our market data, but the URA charges an environmental levy that rises with the vehicle's age. That means an older car can be cheap to buy in Japan but more expensive to clear in Uganda. Before choosing an older car, ask your clearing agent for the total duty on that exact year and model.
Import rules in East Africa change from time to time, so confirm the current age and levy rules with URA or your clearing agent before you pay.
Documents
- Bill of Lading
- Commercial Invoice
- Certificate of Origin
- URA import declaration
We provide the export certificate, invoice and Bill of Lading. Your agent handles the transit documents and URA declaration.
Real Delivered Prices
With no strict age limit, 185 cars in our stock can be shipped to Uganda (September 2026). Delivered to Mombasa for Uganda:
| Type of car | Examples in stock | Delivered to Mombasa |
|---|---|---|
| Kei vans and mini trucks | Suzuki Every, Carry | from about $2,000 |
| Family vans | Toyota Voxy, Noah | from about $4,500 |
| Vans and buses | Toyota Hiace | from about $6,000 |
| Hybrid SUVs | Honda Vezel | from about $6,500 |
| Trucks | Hino Dutro, Ranger | about $16,500–$24,000 |
The middle price across all 185 cars is about $5,500 delivered to Mombasa. Delivered = car price + ocean freight to the port, rounded up to the next $500. Insurance, import duty/taxes, port and clearing charges are extra. The road transit from Mombasa to Kampala is also extra.
See every car with its delivered price on our Uganda page.
Choosing the Right Car for Uganda
- Suzuki Every and Carry are very economical for small businesses. See our Every, Carry and Wagon R guide.
- Toyota Hiace vans handle passengers and cargo on long, rough roads. See the Hiace buying guide.
- 4WD versions of kei trucks and vans are worth the small extra cost for unpaved roads.
- Newer cars pay less environmental levy, so a slightly newer car can cost about the same once it is on the road.
Buying Safely
Check the translated auction sheet (how to read one), ask for an official proforma invoice from the car page, and pay only by bank transfer to the exporter's company account. Our total cost guide shows how to add up freight, insurance and duty before you commit.
Message us on WhatsApp from any car page for a delivered price to Mombasa and help planning the transit to Kampala.