How to Write a CV and Application Letter in Uganda

A strong CV in Uganda is one or two pages, starts with your contact details and a short profile, lists your experience with the most recent first, and shows your education clearly - including how your UCE and UACE results are written. Send it with a one-page application letter written for the specific job.

The CV, section by section

1. Contact details

Your full name, phone number (one you answer), a professional email address and your town or division - for example "Kawempe, Kampala" or "Mbarara City". Add a LinkedIn link if you have one.

2. Profile

Three or four lines that say who you are and what you offer, written for the job:

Accounts assistant with two years' experience in a Kampala SACCO, handling member deposits, loan records and monthly reconciliations. Pursuing CPA Uganda. Seeking an accountant role in financial services.

3. Work experience

Most recent job first: job title, employer, town and dates. Under each, three to five bullet points that show results, with numbers where you can - "Reduced reconciliation errors by half by moving to weekly checks" is stronger than "Did reconciliations".

Include internships, industrial training, vacation jobs and volunteer work.

4. Education

Most recent first. Ugandan employers expect to see:

• University or tertiary: course, institution, year, and class of degree (for example "Second Class Upper").
• UACE: school, year, subject combination and points - for example "UACE 2025, [your school], HEG, 16 points".
• UCE: school, year and division - for example "UCE 2023, Division 1".

You do not need to list primary school unless the job asks for a PLE result.

5. Skills

Specific, checkable skills: software (Excel, QuickBooks, Tally), languages (English, Luganda, Runyankole, Swahili), a driving permit and its class, professional membership (ICPAU, for example).

6. Referees

Three referees with name, title, organisation, phone number and email. Ask their permission first. Public service applications ask for three referees too.

What to leave out of your CV

• Your NIN, date of birth, marital status, religion and tribe - give them on the employer's forms if they are needed, not on a CV that goes to many people.
• A photo, unless the advert asks for one.
• Copies of certificates, unless the advert asks for them.

The application letter

Your letter says which job you want, why you fit it, and what you have enclosed. Keep it to one page:

1. Your address and contacts, then the date.
2. The employer's address, exactly as in the advert.
3. "Dear Sir/Madam," or the person's name if the advert gives it.
4. A subject line with the job title and any reference number.
5. Three short paragraphs: the job and where you saw it; your most relevant qualifications and an achievement; why you want this job.
6. Closing: enclosures, availability for interview, and "Yours faithfully," with your signature and name.

Sample application letter

Grace Nakato P.O. Box 12345, Kampala 0772 123 456 · grace.nakato@email.com

3rd November 2026

The Human Resource Manager Example Savings SACCO Ltd P.O. Box 67890, Kampala

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF ACCOUNTANT

I am writing to apply for the post of Accountant advertised in the New Vision on 28th October 2026.

I hold a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and am completing CPA Uganda. For the past two years I have worked as an accounts assistant in a SACCO serving 4,000 members, where I record deposits and loan repayments and prepare monthly reconciliations. Moving reconciliations to a weekly cycle halved the errors we found at month end.

I would welcome the chance to bring accurate, reliable accounting to Example SACCO as it grows its membership.

Please find enclosed my CV and copies of my academic documents. I am available for an interview at your convenience.

Yours faithfully,

(Signature)

Grace Nakato

Handwritten applications for the army and police

Some recruitments ask for a handwritten application. The Uganda Police Force's probationer constable recruitments, for example, asked for a handwritten application addressed to the Inspector General of Police, and the UPDF asks shortlisted applicants for a handwritten application bearing LC and GISO or DISO recommendations. For these:

• Write on clean, plain paper in blue or black ink, neatly and without crossing out.
• Address it exactly as the notice says.
• Include your full name, NIN, phone number and district of residence.
• Attach the documents and recommendation letters the notice lists.

See UPDF recruitment and Uganda Police recruitment for the full requirements.

For government jobs: PSC Form 3

Central government jobs through the Public Service Commission use PSC Form 3 and an online portal rather than a CV alone. See how to apply for public service jobs in Uganda.

Frequently asked questions

How should I write my UCE and UACE results on a CV?+

Give the school, the year and a short summary of the result - for example "UCE 2023, Division 1" or "UACE 2025, PCM, 14 points". List individual subject grades only if the job asks for them, such as English and Mathematics for police or bank jobs.

How long should a CV be in Uganda?+

Two pages for most people. S4 and S6 leavers and fresh graduates can fit everything on one page.

Do I need a recommendation letter from the LC?+

Some jobs ask for one, especially government, security and police posts, and some private employers. The advert will say. Get it from your LC chairperson in the area where you live, and keep a few signed copies.

Should my application letter be handwritten?+

Only if the advert asks for a handwritten application, which some UPDF and Uganda Police recruitments do. Otherwise type it, sign it, and send it as a PDF.