Co-Broking and Commission Splits Between Agents
Updated 3 November 2026 · Land & Property editorial team
Co-broking means two agents work one deal and share the commission. Uganda has no fixed rate or split in law, so agree the split in writing before any viewing: who is paid, what percentage, when, and who owns the client. Keep records of every introduction, and settle disputes by the written note first. Checked as of November 2026.
- Statutory split or rate
- None found; agent fees are not fixed by law (secondary source, 2026)
- Commonly quoted selling-side fee
- 3% to 5% of price, as of early 2026 (one commercial guide)
- Agree it
- In writing, before the first viewing
- URA withholding on agent fees
- 6% of gross, resident to resident
What is co-broking?
Co-broking is when two or more agents work together on one sale or rental and share the commission. One agent often holds the owner's mandate and the other brings the buyer or tenant. It is useful when the buyer is in another town, when the property is in a district the listing agent does not know, or when a buyer in the diaspora needs a local agent to escort a visit.
It also goes wrong easily. Two people tell the same buyer different things, each assumes the other is paying for photographs, and when the deal closes both claim the full fee. A short written note, signed before the first viewing, prevents most of that. We hold Verified real estate agents Uganda to this standard in our code of conduct, and the same logic applies to any agent.
How do agents share commission?
There is no official split in Uganda's law that we could find. We found no official rate or split, and a commercial guide to Wakiso property costs, updated in September 2026, states that agent fees in Uganda are not fixed by law, are negotiable and are usually paid by the seller. The same guide says selling agent commission is typically 3% to 5% of the sale price, although its agent-fee section gives a wider 0% to 5% range. It bases this on its own Wakiso transaction records and interviews, not an official schedule, so treat it as a reference point and not a rule. Our page on How Much Do Agents Charge to Sell Property in Uganda? looks at the range in more detail.
The split between two agents is a private bargain. Common patterns are an equal split, or a larger share to the agent who holds the mandate and carries the cost of marketing. Whatever you choose, write the numbers down. This table shows the arithmetic with an invented sale price. It is an illustration, not market data.
| Item | Example figure |
|---|---|
| Sale price | UGX 100,000,000 |
| Agreed fee from the seller | 3%, which is UGX 3,000,000 |
| Split between two agents | 50/50, which is UGX 1,500,000 each |
| Alternative split | 60/40, which is UGX 1,800,000 and UGX 1,200,000 |
Tax is not part of the split. URA says a resident who pays a resident real estate agent's fees must withhold tax at 6% of the gross amount (as of November 2026). Ask URA or a tax adviser how that applies where one agent pays another, and keep a record of each payment.
What should the written split say?
A one-page note is enough. Include:
- The property, the owner and the price range.
- The names and registered business details of both agents.
- The percentage or amount each agent receives, and what it is calculated on.
- Who pays whom, how and by when after the seller pays. Use bank or mobile money with a receipt, never cash on a handshake.
- Who covers costs such as photographs, transport and adverts.
- What happens if the deal falls through, or if the price changes.
- How long the arrangement lasts.
- How a dispute is raised and who decides it.
The note sits under the owner's mandate. It cannot give you more authority than the owner has given. If you need a model for the mandate itself, read Agency Agreement for Property Sales. We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice. For a large sale, ask an advocate to draft the note.
Who owns the client?
"The client" can mean two people, so decide both. The seller belongs to the agent holding the mandate. The buyer or tenant belongs to the agent who introduced them. Write these down, with the date of the introduction, because the dispute usually comes later: the buyer returns in a month and deals with the other agent directly.
A simple, fair rule is this. Each agent protects the other's introductions for a stated period, such as the length of the mandate, and a buyer introduced by one agent stays that agent's buyer for the property in question. Agents should not go around each other to cut out a share, and should not copy the other agent's listing. An agent who does so breaks the Verified Agent Code of Conduct and the listing rules.
Buyers and sellers should also be told. A seller should know who is working on the property and who gets what, and a buyer should know who they are dealing with. Hidden arrangements are how trust breaks.
What if two agents dispute a commission?
Start with the written note and the records. Most disputes end when both sides read the page they signed. If they do not, follow a short ladder:
- Both agents set out their account in writing and exchange it.
- They meet, with a neutral person such as a senior colleague or advocate.
- If both are on Land & Property, either can report the issue and we will review our own listings and badges under our complaints process. We do not decide who is owed money.
- For a money claim, the courts decide.
Our page on the agent commission dispute process goes into more detail. A report about a lie or a fee taken for nothing is different from a disagreement about a split, and it is handled as a conduct matter.
What records should co-brokers keep?
Keep these in one folder, on paper or on your phone, for at least as long as the mandate runs:
- The owner's signed mandate and the co-broking note.
- The date and channel of each introduction, such as a WhatsApp message to the other agent with the buyer's first name.
- Viewing notes: date, time, who attended.
- Receipts for every payment received or made.
- Your registration and tax papers. URA says real estate agents must register with URSB, URA and a local authority for a trading licence.
Licensing may change the rules. The Lands Minister said in September 2026 that the government is fast-tracking a Real Estate Bill to professionalise the sector, and the reporting we found does not say it is tabled or passed. Until it is, a written note is your protection. If you are ready to work with checked partners, verified property agents directory lists agents who have passed our ID and selfie check, and you can apply to become a verified agent yourself. Founding places are explained at Founding Agents.
Frequently asked questions
How do agents share commission?
By private agreement. Uganda's law does not fix a rate or a split, and one 2026 commercial guide says agent fees are negotiable and usually paid by the seller. Common splits are 50/50 or a larger share to the agent holding the mandate. Always write the split down first.
Who owns the client?
Decide in writing. The seller belongs to the agent holding the mandate, and the buyer belongs to the agent who introduced them, from the date of the introduction. Agents should not go around each other to avoid sharing the fee.
Is there a legal commission rate in Uganda?
We found none as of November 2026. A commercial guide says agent fees are not fixed by law, and quotes 3% to 5% of the sale price as typical selling-side commission (its fee section gives 0% to 5%). Treat it as a reference, not a rule, and get your rate in writing.
What if my co-broker takes the whole fee?
Start from your written note and records, ask them in writing to pay your share, and meet with a neutral person if needed. For a money claim, an advocate and the courts decide. If you are both on Land & Property, you can also report a conduct breach.
Sources
- Buying real estate in Wakiso? Property taxes and fees (agent fees not fixed by law), The African Investor, updated 21 Sept 2026 (accessed 2026-11)
- Real estate agents (registration, 6% withholding), Uganda Revenue Authority (accessed 2026-11)
- Govt targets fraud, unqualified agents in Real Estate Bill, Daily Monitor, 11 Sept 2026 (accessed 2026-11)