Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has intensified efforts to strengthen its quasi-judicial mandate through advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) initiatives, positioning itself as a key institution in promoting efficient dispute resolution, legal certainty and investor confidence in Uganda.
The latest move saw URSB conduct a specialised ADR training for senior management and legal staff at the Uganda Business Facilitation Centre (UBFC) Auditorium, bringing together leading legal experts to enhance the Bureau’s capacity in managing disputes within its expanding regulatory framework.
The training comes as URSB’s role continues to evolve beyond registration services into a central actor within Uganda’s dispute resolution ecosystem. The Bureau administers more than 20 laws covering business registration, intellectual property, insolvency, receivership and security interests, areas that increasingly require structured, efficient and legally sound dispute resolution mechanisms.
Speaking during the training, Registrar General Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho said ADR remains critical in enhancing fairness, efficiency and legal certainty in regulatory decision-making.
“ADR gives us better tools to ensure decisions are fair, efficient, and legally sound,” Kainobwisho said, noting that URSB registrars routinely make determinations with significant legal and commercial implications.
The training featured technical sessions facilitated by Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court Judge Hon. Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Dr. Henry Onoria of ALP East Africa, and Ms. Barbara Kilei of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) Uganda.
Participants were equipped with practical approaches to negotiation, conciliation, mediation and arbitration within Uganda’s legal framework, reinforcing URSB’s strategic objective of strengthening institutional capacity and improving legal processes.
Continental Recognition for URSB’s ADR Model
The Bureau’s growing influence in alternative dispute resolution recently received a major boost following a joint courtesy visit by Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija of Uganda and Chief Justice Dr. Mumba Malila of Zambia.
The visit formed part of engagements under the Africa Chief Justices’ Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum (ACJADRF), highlighting the increasing importance of alternative justice systems in promoting access to justice and regional legal integration.
During the engagement at URSB headquarters in Kololo, the two Chief Justices commended the Bureau’s contribution to advancing ADR across the region.
Justice Malila underscored the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, noting that they play a critical role in restoring harmony and strengthening justice systems.
URSB leadership reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to strengthening its quasi-judicial functions and deepening regional collaboration aimed at improving access to justice through innovative dispute resolution approaches.
89 Disputes Resolved This Financial Year
Ms Kainobwisho revealed that URSB has successfully resolved 89 disputes during the current financial year through its ADR mechanisms, a milestone that demonstrates the growing effectiveness of the Bureau’s dispute resolution framework.
The achievement comes as URSB continues implementing reforms aimed at reducing litigation costs, speeding up dispute resolution and creating a more predictable regulatory environment for businesses and investors.
As Uganda seeks to improve its ease of doing business and attract greater investment, ADR is increasingly being viewed as a critical tool for resolving commercial disputes without lengthy court processes.
Through continuous capacity building, regional partnerships and institutional reforms, URSB is steadily positioning itself as a modern and efficient institution at the centre of business regulation, legal certainty and dispute resolution in Uganda.
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