Kampala City, Uganda: Five years ago, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) embarked on an ambitious journey to accelerate the formalisation of Uganda’s economy, strengthen legal and business registration systems, and modernise public service delivery through technology.
Today, the institution is pointing to a record of growth that has seen revenue collections surge, registrations double, digital systems expanded, and Uganda’s business environment strengthened under the leadership of Registrar General Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho.
Since assuming office in December 2020, Kainobwisho has overseen a period of significant transformation that has elevated URSB from a registration agency into one of the government’s key drivers of economic formalisation, intellectual property protection, business rescue, and commercial dispute resolution.
Record Revenue Growth
Among the most notable achievements during the past five financial years has been the Bureau’s remarkable growth in Non-Tax Revenue (NTR).
URSB collected a cumulative UGX 311.08 billion in non-tax revenue over the last five financial years, compared to UGX 193.46 billion collected during the preceding five-year period.
The increase reflects rising uptake of registration services, growing compliance among businesses and individuals, and the success of reforms aimed at making registration services more accessible and efficient.
The Bureau’s annual revenue collections have continued to climb steadily, with FY2024/25 recording UGX 71.8 billion, following UGX 65.57 billion collected in FY2023/24, making them among the highest collections in the institution’s history.
The institution’s government budget has similarly expanded from UGX 25.74 billion to UGX 64.81 billion, representing growth of approximately 152 percent over the five-year period.
Officials attribute this expansion to growing confidence in URSB’s governance systems, financial management practices, and increasing relevance to Uganda’s economic transformation agenda.
Driving Uganda’s Formal Economy
At the heart of URSB’s mandate is the formalisation of businesses and legal transactions, an area where the institution has registered substantial gains.
Legal document registrations increased from 218,200 to 437,879 over the five-year period, representing growth of 100.7 percent.
The figures indicate increased public confidence in formal legal processes and a growing appreciation of the importance of legally recognised transactions in protecting property rights and commercial interests.
Business registrations have also continued to rise.
According to URSB’s annual reports, company registrations increased significantly, supported by the expansion of online registration systems and nationwide sensitisation campaigns aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs to formalise their enterprises.
The Bureau’s nationwide business clinics, conducted across various regions of the country, have brought registration services closer to entrepreneurs and small businesses, helping thousands of Ugandans transition from the informal to the formal economy.
Digital Transformation at the Core
A major pillar of URSB’s recent success has been its aggressive embrace of technology.
Over the past five years, the Bureau has automated and digitised several critical services, reducing turnaround times and making registration processes more convenient for clients.
Business registration, which once required multiple physical visits and lengthy paperwork, can now be completed online within hours.
The Bureau also migrated tens of thousands of business records to upgraded digital systems while introducing new modules aimed at improving data accuracy and client experience.
The digital reforms earned URSB national recognition, including awards for excellence in government digital service delivery and private sector development.
Championing Intellectual Property Protection
Beyond business registration, URSB has strengthened Uganda’s intellectual property ecosystem.
The institution has expanded awareness campaigns on trademarks, patents, copyrights and industrial property rights while supporting reforms aimed at protecting innovators, creators and entrepreneurs.
Recent years have seen significant growth in trademark renewals, patent grants and intellectual property registrations as Ugandans increasingly seek legal protection for their innovations and creative works.
URSB also played a key role in advancing amendments to Uganda’s copyright framework and strengthening the country’s intellectual property landscape to align with global best practices.
Internationally, the institution’s influence has grown, with Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho assuming leadership roles within global intellectual property forums, further enhancing Uganda’s visibility in international policy discussions.
Expanding Access to Credit
Another major milestone has been the strengthening of the Security Interest in Movable Property Registry (SIMPO), which allows individuals and businesses to use movable assets as collateral for loans.
The registry has facilitated thousands of credit transactions, helping small and medium enterprises access financing that would otherwise remain out of reach.
By improving access to affordable credit, URSB has contributed directly to enterprise growth, job creation and private sector development.
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Business Rescue
The Bureau has also emerged as an important player in commercial dispute resolution. Through its quasi-judicial mandate, URSB has resolved dozens of company and trademark disputes, providing faster and less costly alternatives to lengthy court processes.
The institution recently reported successfully disposing of 89 disputes during the current financial year through Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms and quasi-judicial processes.
These efforts have strengthened investor confidence while supporting business continuity and corporate governance.
URSB has further expanded its business rescue and insolvency services, helping struggling enterprises recover while preserving jobs and economic value.
Looking Ahead
As URSB concludes the implementation of its five-year strategic plan, the institution now stands as one of Uganda’s leading examples of public sector transformation.
From record revenue collections and digital innovation to intellectual property protection, commercial justice and business formalisation, the Bureau’s journey reflects a broader national effort to build a modern, competitive and inclusive economy.
For many observers, the numbers tell only part of the story.
Behind the statistics lies an institution that has steadily repositioned itself as a key enabler of Uganda’s economic growth, providing the legal and administrative infrastructure upon which businesses, innovators and investors increasingly depend.
With new reforms, emerging technologies and growing demand for efficient public services, URSB’s next chapter may prove even more consequential than the one it has just completed.
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