How Much Do Agents Charge to Sell Property in Uganda?
Updated 3 November 2026 · Land & Property editorial team
Uganda has no statutory commission rate for land or house agents, so the fee is whatever you agree in writing. Online guides report figures from 1.25% to 10% of the price, and none is an official schedule. URA says 6% withholding tax applies to professional fees paid to a resident agent. Agree the rate, the payer and the trigger before the agent starts. As of November 2026.
- Statutory rate
- None found. The fee is a matter of contract
- Reported range
- 5-10% of price (an agent blog, 2021) and 1.25% (a community wiki, 2025). Neither is official
- Withholding tax
- 6% on management or professional fees paid to a resident agent (URA)
- Regulation
- A real estate bill to regulate agents was being fast-tracked by the Lands Minister (Daily Monitor)
Is there a fixed agent commission in Uganda?
No. We looked for a statutory schedule and for the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Daily Monitor material on agents, and found no law that sets a percentage for selling land or a house. The Daily Monitor reported in September 2026 that a bill to regulate the property sector is being fast-tracked by the Lands Minister, Judith Nabakooba, and that the aim is to professionalise the industry and protect the public from fraud. The article does not give commission rates or list what the bill would require of agents. Until a law says otherwise, the commission is a private deal between you and the agent, and you should write it down.
That is why a seller should treat any figure quoted by a broker as an opening offer. If you are comparing routes, read Sell Through an Agent or Directly? Costs Compared, which works the arithmetic both ways.
What commission do land agents charge?
The published figures disagree, which is itself the answer. We found two, and both are unofficial:
| Reported figure | Who published it | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| 5-10% of the sale or rental value | Real Muloodi, a property platform, article of December 2021 | An agent-side blog. Says agents mostly charge the owner, and may also charge buyers or tenants |
| 1.25% paid by the seller | WikiProcedure, a community-edited wiki, page last edited 1 May 2025 | The page links to a URSB fee list and advises hiring a Ugandan lawyer |
On a plot priced at UGX 155 million, roughly the median plot price in our listing data of 3 November 2026, the gap is large. At 1.25% the fee is about UGX 1.94 million. At 5% it is UGX 7.75 million, and at 10% it is UGX 15.5 million. Do not assume the figure you are told is the "standard" one. Ask what the fee covers, because some agents also charge for advertising, transport to site visits and a separate "buyer commission".
Who pays the agent, the seller or the buyer?
By default the person who hired the agent. In practice the seller usually pays, because the seller signs the agency agreement. The Real Muloodi article says agents mainly charge the owner and may also earn from buyers they bring. The danger is a double charge: an agent who takes a fee from the seller and then asks the buyer for a "viewing" or "processing" fee on top.
Put in the agreement who pays and whether the agent may take anything else from the buyer. If the buyer pays any of it, it should be disclosed to you, and it should be separate from the price. Never let an agent receive the purchase money. The buyer's funds should go to your account or your advocate's client account. Agents who pass our checks are listed in the Verified Agents Directory.
Does withholding tax apply to an agent's commission?
It may. URA's page for real estate agents says withholding tax of 6% of the gross amount applies when a resident person pays management or professional fees to a resident real estate agent, and that tax withheld is credited against the agent's final income tax. URA's page does not say in terms that a sales commission is a professional fee, so confirm with URA or a tax adviser how it treats yours. We do not give a legal view on this.
Worked example if it applies: a seller agrees a 5% fee on UGX 155 million, which is UGX 7.75 million. Six percent of that is UGX 465,000. The payer holds back that amount and pays it to URA, and the agent receives UGX 7.285 million and a withholding certificate. The seller does not pay more in total, but the seller takes on a duty to withhold and remit. Ask your advocate or accountant, keep the receipt, and do not agree "net of tax" wording without understanding it. If a bank loan is being repaid from the price, read Selling Property That Still Has a Mortgage too.
What should a written agency agreement say?
A short, plain document is enough. Ask for these points:
- The property. Plot number, block and location, and the asking price you set.
- The rate and the base. A percentage of the price actually received, not of the asking price.
- When the fee is earned. After the buyer has paid in cleared funds and the transfer is lodged, not on signing a sale agreement.
- Exclusive or open. Whether you can use other agents, and for how many weeks.
- What the agent may not do. No receiving money, no signing for you, no sharing the title without your consent.
- Expenses. What is included in the fee.
- Who pays tax on the fee. The withholding point above.
- Ending the agreement. Notice, and what happens if you sell to someone you found yourself.
Have your advocate read it before you sign. If you plan to split the land, see subdivide land for sale, because an agent will price each new plot separately.
How do I choose an agent worth the fee?
Check identity first. Jiji's Wakiso land page, for example, shows a "Verified sellers" filter but no buyer-safety guidance. We verify every agent ourselves with a National ID and a live selfie check, and we offer a paid land-title check at the registry for higher-value properties. Ask any agent for a recent sale you can verify, and speak to the buyer or advocate if they allow it.
When you are ready, list your land free or list your property free, and compare what verified agents offer. You can still choose to sell directly at any time. See how to sell land in Uganda for the full route.
Frequently asked questions
What commission do land agents charge in Uganda?
There is no statutory rate. Unofficial sources report anything from 1.25% to 10% of the price. Agree the rate, the base and the trigger in writing before the agent starts, and do not assume the first figure quoted is standard.
Who pays the agent?
Usually the seller, because the seller signs the agency agreement. Some agents also ask buyers for a fee. Write down who pays and require that any buyer charge is disclosed to you.
Is withholding tax charged on agent fees?
URA says 6% withholding tax applies to management or professional fees paid by a resident person to a resident real estate agent. Confirm with URA whether your commission falls under it, and keep the receipt.
When should I pay the commission?
After the buyer has paid in cleared funds and the transfer is lodged. Paying on signing an agreement exposes you if the buyer then fails to complete.
Can I negotiate the commission?
Yes. With no official schedule, the rate is open. Offer a lower rate for an open mandate, or a sliding rate that rises with the sale price.
Sources
- Real estate agents: registration and taxes, Uganda Revenue Authority (accessed 2026-11)
- Govt targets fraud, unqualified agents in real estate bill, Daily Monitor (accessed 2026-11)
- Uganda: Purchase a Property (fees section), WikiProcedure (community wiki) (accessed 2026-11)
- Real Muloodi article on brokers and commission (14 Dec 2021), Real Muloodi (accessed 2026-11)
- Land and plots for sale in Wakiso, Jiji Uganda (accessed 2026-11)
- Land & Property listings snapshot, 3 Nov 2026 (93 published listings), Land & Property (accessed 2026-11)