Inland Water Transport (Control) Act (Chapter 356).

The Act establishes a regulatory framework governing the commercial carriage of goods and passengers on Uganda’s inland waters through a mandatory licensing system administered by the Transport Licensing Board. It defines key operational terms and prohibits the transport of goods or persons for hire or in connection with business activities by ship without a valid inland water transport licence, subject to limited exemptions. The Board is empowered to assess licence applications based on detailed information regarding vessels, services, routes, and operational conditions, and must consider factors such as public interest, adequacy of existing transport services, and proposed fares and rates. The Act allows for exclusive route licences, subject to ministerial oversight and public notice procedures, and provides for consultation with neighbouring authorities where routes extend into Kenya or Tanzania. Licences are generally valid for one year, may include operational conditions to prevent uneconomic competition, and are non-transferable without Board consent.