The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) is a semi-autonomous government agency, that was established by Act of Parliament in 1998. URSB is responsible for civil registrations (including marriages and divorces but not including births, adoptions, or deaths), business registrations (setups and liquidations), registration of patents and intellectual property rights, and any other registrations required by law.
In 2015, URSB was awarded “global recognition for improved service delivery, client satisfaction, innovation and leadership”, by Otherways Management Association Club, a French-based organisation.
One of the priority areas that URSB is working on is establishing a national registry of movable assets, also known as a “chattels registry”, to enable micro, small, and medium businesses to borrow from the formal banking sector, which requires collateral.
In February 2016, URSB signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the Uganda Financial Intelligence Authority. The MoU was intended to ease the sharing of information between the three government agencies and reduce government bureaucracy. The ultimate goal is to cut down on the concealment of assets and illegal money laundering.
How to register a company in Uganda?
URSB is mandated under the Uganda Registration Services Bureau Act Cap 210 to register all business entities in Uganda which are required by law to be registered. The Directorate of Business Registration is responsible for the registration of: Public/Private companies, Foreign companies and Legal documents (e.g Constitutions, agreements, deeds, powers of attorney, etc)
The process of registering your business name at Uganda Registration of Service Bureau can start with “searching the name of your business; here everyone needs to come up with at least 3 name options of your choice. Then fill in a name reservation form that can be obtained from the physical office or website of Uganda Registration of Service Bureau, submit filled form with the approval of payment, request and ask for how much the process may cost you while picking other company forms. The name reservation fee is generally equivalent to Uganda shillings 20,000 only. After making payments of required fees, the applicant should then check the proposed business name in a search of the business registrar to ensure that the name proposed is not similar to any other existing business names.
Steps of registration
- Search for the business name.
- Reserve the Business Name.
- Obtain Certificate of Incorporation.
- Obtain an Investment License.
- Obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
- Obtain a Trading License.
- Register with National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
- Make a Company Seal.
How to register a foreign business/company in Uganda
To register a foreign company in Uganda, the following documents are required for the entire process:
- You need certified copies of the Memorandum of Articles of Association/Constitution and certificates from the country of origin.
- Registration forms:
- Form 24, this form contains the names of directors and secretaries.
- Form 13, this form shows statements of all subsiding charges.
- Form 25, this form is indicating names and postal addresses for the company.
- From 26, to allocate the company’s address and the physical principal’s office.
Other additional documents;
- Bill of lading to confirm importation of tools like machinery and tractors.
- A copy of the secretary license issued by the Uganda government ministry or department agency to your company.
- Certificate of approval by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
Benefits of registering a company
- Obtain legal identity/status
- Safeguard your business name by acquiring a trade name.
- Access opportunities like loans, tenders, financing etc.
- Business formalization creates more employment opportunities through business expansion.
- Enables registration for licenses e.g investment, trading and taxation licenses.
- Better marketing and advertising opportunities for increased clientele.
- Improved competitiveness in the regional market.
Details can be obtained at URSB’s website
