Frequently Asked Questions

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. Occupational therapists enable people of all ages to participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). This can include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

OT can benefit people across the lifespan — from newborns to older adults. Common cases include:

• Children with developmental delays, cerebral palsy, autism, or learning difficulties
• Adults recovering from stroke, spinal cord injury, burns, or orthopedic surgeries
• People living with mental health conditions, dementia, or chronic pain
• Older adults needing adaptive equipment or home modifications to age in place
• Workers with repetitive strain injuries needing ergonomic interventions

Both professions are allied health but focus on different goals:

Physiotherapy primarily focuses on restoring or improving movement, strength, balance, and physical function after injury or illness.

Occupational Therapy focuses on helping individuals perform the specific daily activities (occupations) they need or want to do — dressing, feeding, bathing, writing, cooking, working, playing — even when physical, cognitive, or mental limitations exist. OTs use adaptive equipment, environmental modifications, and activity analysis to enable independence in meaningful life roles.

UAOT maintains a public directory of licensed occupational therapists across all four regions of Uganda. Simply visit our Find a Therapist page, filter by name, district, or region, and contact any listed OT directly.

If you need a specific specialist, you can also reach us via email at secretariat@uaot.net or phone +256 785 885 763 and we will refer you appropriately.

To become a UAOT member:

1. Go to the Become a Member page
2. Complete the online application form with your details
3. Upload the required documents (academic transcripts, professional certification, practice license, passport photo)
4. Pay the membership registration fee
5. Your application is reviewed by the Secretariat and Executive Council
6. On approval, you receive your UAOT membership certificate and ID

For full details, review the membership procedure or view the benefits of joining.

UAOT members receive:

• Official registration with Uganda's OT regulatory body
• Eligibility to legally practice OT in Uganda
• Access to WFOT (World Federation of Occupational Therapists) member resources
• Discounted rates on CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses
• Free listing in our public Therapist Directory
• Voting rights at Annual General Meetings
• Mentorship, job postings, and regional chapter networking
• Professional support for supervision and practice queries

See the full breakdown at Membership Benefits.

UAOT offers several membership tiers:

• Full Member (Qualified OT) — Registration fee: UGX 200,000; Annual renewal: UGX 150,000
• Associate Member (Students & Interns) — Registration: UGX 50,000; Annual renewal: UGX 30,000
• International / Affiliate Member — Registration: USD 100; Annual: USD 80
• Life Member — One-time fee of UGX 5,000,000 (no annual renewals)

For current fees and payment channels, please contact the secretariat directly at secretariat@uaot.net.

Yes — legally practicing OT in Uganda requires dual registration:

1. Registration with UAOT as a professional member
2. Licensure through the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC) under the Ministry of Health

UAOT is the only legally-recognized body in Uganda that registers, oversees, and supervises occupational therapy activities, working closely with the AHPC. Practicing without both registrations is unlawful.

Yes, foreign-trained OTs can practice in Uganda. The process typically includes:

• Document verification of your academic credentials (with translation if needed)
• Confirmation of good standing with your home regulatory body
• Evaluation by the UAOT Credentials Committee
• Registration with AHPC (Allied Health Professionals Council)
• Payment of applicable registration and license fees

For personalized guidance, email secretariat@uaot.net with a copy of your CV and certificates.

Several accredited institutions in Uganda offer OT training:

• Makerere University — Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT)
• Busitema University (Mbale Campus) — Diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Kampala International University (KIU) — BOT program
• Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) — Allied health programs including OT components

Check with each institution for current intake schedules and entry requirements. UAOT provides supervisory support during students' field practicums.

To maintain active AHPC licensing and UAOT membership, all practitioners must earn a minimum of 20 CPD points per 12-month cycle. Valid CPD activities include:

• UAOT-organized workshops, webinars, and conferences
• Attendance at regional OT chapter meetings
• Supervision or mentoring of junior staff / students
• Publication in peer-reviewed OT journals
• Advanced certifications (hand therapy, pediatric OT, etc.)

UAOT announces upcoming CPD events via our newsletter, WhatsApp groups, and website News page.

UAOT serves both its professional members and the general public through:

• Public Referral Service — helping patients find qualified OTs in their region (see Find a Therapist)
• Community Outreach Clinics — free OT screening in underserved areas
• School Awareness Programs — on inclusion, developmental screening, and assistive devices
• Advocacy — for OT services in the National Health Insurance and Ministry of Health policy
• Assistive Device Clinics — assessment and fitting of adaptive equipment
• Continuing Education — public-access webinars on caregiver skills

Booking OT services in Uganda is easy:

1. Self-Referral: Use our Therapist Directory and call or email a therapist in your region directly.
2. Medical Referral: Your doctor (pediatrician, neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, etc.) can write a referral letter for OT assessment.
3. Through UAOT Secretariat: Email secretariat@uaot.net or call +256 785 885 763 and we will match you to the most suitable therapist based on your needs and location.

Sessions can be held at hospitals, private clinics, schools, or in-home depending on the therapist's practice model.

UAOT takes all ethical complaints seriously. If you have concerns about misconduct, malpractice, or an unqualified person presenting themselves as an OT:

1. Send a signed, dated written complaint to secretariat@uaot.net with full details, evidence, and contact information.
2. The UAOT Ethics Committee reviews the complaint and investigates within 30 days.
3. If warranted, the matter is escalated to the AHPC Disciplinary Tribunal, which can issue sanctions including license revocation.
4. You will receive written feedback at the conclusion of the process.

All complaints are treated confidentially in accordance with our code of ethics.

For lapsed memberships:

• Lapsed < 12 months: Pay the current annual renewal fee plus a small admin penalty of UGX 30,000.
• Lapsed > 12 months: Submit a fresh application along with proof of CPD points earned during the gap period, and pay reactivation fees.
• Lapsed > 3 years: Full re-registration process (same as new applicants) may be required.

To renew, contact the secretariat at secretariat@uaot.net with your membership number or name for a personalized invoice via Mobile Money.

Yes — funding opportunities for OT students in Uganda include:

• WFOT Student Bursary Fund — for students of WFOT member countries (administered by UAOT on request)
• Government of Uganda State House Scholarship Scheme — for needy students on accredited programs (apply via Ministry of Education)
• Commonwealth / DAAD / Mastercard Foundation Scholarships — advertised via Makerere University Students' Guild office
• UAOT Chapter Micro-Grants — regional chapters occasionally offer book/equipment allowances for top students

Ask your university's OT department head or contact UAOT for the latest application windows.

Absolutely! UAOT welcomes formal partnerships with hospitals, NGOs, CSOs, corporates, and aid agencies looking to:

• Design inclusive, disability-informed programs
• Provide OT screening camps or rehabilitation support
• Source qualified OT staff for projects
• Fund CPD or student scholarships
• Co-publish research or advocacy materials

To start, write to secretariat@uaot.net with a brief concept note — our Directorate will revert within 7 working days to discuss an MOU.

Yes. Under Uganda's Allied Health Professionals Act and UAOT's mandate, only persons who are:

1. Registered members of UAOT AND
2. Holding a current practice license from AHPC

may lawfully use the title "Occupational Therapist" (or abbreviations OT / O.T.) and charge for OT services. Impersonation or quackery can result in fines, court injunction, or criminal prosecution.

If in doubt, use our directory to verify any practitioner — only genuine UAOT members appear there.

The Uganda Association of Occupational Therapists (UAOT) was formally started in the 1980s but became a professionally-structured, regularly-meeting body in 1996, the same year UAOT was admitted as a full member of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). UAOT is also an active member of OTARG (Occupational Therapy Africa Regional Group).

UAOT's legal mandate, exercised alongside the Allied Health Professionals Council, is to:

• Register and regulate qualified OTs in Uganda
• Enforce professional standards and the Code of Ethics
• Accredit and supervise OT training institutions
• Organize CPD for continuous professional growth
• Represent Uganda's OT profession at national and international levels

See the Mandate page for the full formal document.

Our administrative office and team are available Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm:

📞 Call / WhatsApp: +256 785 885 763
✉️ Email: secretariat@uaot.net
📍 Postal Address: P.O. BOX 27235, Kampala, Uganda
🏢 Physical Location: Kampala — coordinates and Google Map directions available on our Contact page

For membership and licensing, always include your full name and membership/application number in the subject line for fastest response.