As Uganda celebrates its 59th Independence anniversary, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) is proud to be part of the journey against which our nation’s economic growth is pegged.

URSB continues to make commendable contributions towards facilitating public and private sector development by enhancing easier, faster, and timely registration services.

With the Government strategy aiming at fostering improved economic development, the Bureau continues to innovate and evolve. Ambassador Francis K. Butagira, the Board Chairperson, the entire Board, assisted by Mercy K. Kainobwisho, the Registrar General, have set in place strategic initiatives that have seen URSB continue to aspire to be the centre of excellence for registration services.

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau is an autonomous statutory body established to deliver a number of registration services that aim at facilitating and enabling the growth of the private sector.

URSB is proud of the contribution it has made in the delivery of services, in fulfillment of key national development targets, and the strategic guidelines and directives.

URSB has over the years registered tremendous growth in key dimension public expenditures, physical output of a variety of services under its mandate, as well as a collection of Non-Tax Revenue and other services.

Some of the outstanding innovations the Bureau has instituted in order to continue to deliver its mandate while contributing to the country’s socio-economic growth, enable uptake of services and improve on the ease of doing business include;

AUTOMATION OF SERVICES
In recognition of the emphasis government placed on Information Communications Technology (ICT) as the key driver of efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery, URSB has automated most of its service processes.

To improve interconnectivity across the other partner agencies, systems have also been linked and integrated with major partner agencies like NIRA and URA for improved information sharing.

Key milestones achieved from automation include the following; Business Registration System (BRS), Development of an online portal, the National Marriage Registration System (NMRS), designed and developed the electronic Security Interest in Movable Property Registry System that is available 24/7 to the financial sector and the public and industrial Property Automation System (IPAS).

GROWTH IN NON-TAX REVENUES
The Bureau has made great strides in the collection of Non-Tax Revenues (NTR). In the last 10 years since 2011, URSB has been able to collect sh305.97b in NTR.

This has been possible due to the increase in access to registration services arising from automation, increased awareness on services, and simplification of service processes. FY 2019/20 witnessed a drop in revenue collection due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, which destabilised businesses amidst the lockdown.

The Bureau continued to progress in revenue growth and was able to collect a total of sh40.52b Non-Tax Revenue in the FY2020/21, compared to 37.96b in FY2019/20 which represents a 7% growth rate.

IMPROVEMENT IN FORMaLIsINg THE ECONOMY
URSB has made a contribution to formalisation of Uganda’s economy by exponentially growing the numbers of formal businesses registered.

Formalization of the economy is vital in increasing the tax base. Within the last FY 2020/21 334,800 companies and 392,279 business names were registered in sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining, hotel, and real estate, among others, which facilitates expansion of the tax base.

MIND-SET CHANGE
As the National Intellectual Property Office, URSB is responsible for the registration of patents that protect inventions; trademarks that protect signs, marks, logos and slogans used in commerce; industrial designs that protect the look of products that make them attractive to consumers; and copyright that protects literary and artistic expressions, such as books, films, songs, computer programmes and databases, photographs and handicrafts, among others.

The National Intellectual Property Policy was also launched by the President on September 23, last year, to boost creativity and innovation preservation. The policy, which is being promoted at a multisectoral level, has increased appreciation of the role of intellectual property in stimulating the economy through creativity.

EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
URSB also established the Government of Uganda Business Facilitation Centre, a one-stop centre that comprises URSB, URA, KCCA, Ministry of Local Government, Uganda Free Zones Authority, NIRA, NSSF, and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, whose representatives sit under the same roof at the URSB head office. These institutions work together to simplify processes by providing prompt and seamless services to the citizenry. With support from the World Bank and the Government of Uganda, construction of the new headquarters at the Business Facilitation Centre, Plot 1 Baskerville Avenue, Kololo is nearing completion ready for occupation by January next year.

DECENTRALISATION
Working with Uganda Revenue Authority, Ministry of Local Government and Kampala Capital City Authority under the TaxPayer Registration Expansion Programme (TREP), 43 centres have been established in municipalities to improve access to registration services and ease the doing of business for start-ups.

Regional centres include Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Kabale, Kisoro, Kasese, Fort Portal, Masindi, Hoima, Mubende, Mityana, Jinja, Lugazi, Iganga, Mbale, Busia, Tororo, Soroti, Kumi, Kitgum, Koboko, Arua, Gulu and Lira The ones in Kampala include six at KCCA centres, Aponye Mall, the URSB Head office One Stop Shop, Nakawa, URA TREP secretariat, Diamond Trust Bank on Kampala Road. Greater Kampala service centres include Namugongo, Nansana, Makindye Ssabagabo, Mukono and Entebbe To increase access to services across the country, URSB established regional centres in Gulu, Arua, Mbale, and Mbarara and at the Mayors Chambers in Masaka.

Branch offices are also available in Kampala at Nakivubo, Uganda Investment Authority offices and at Uganda Posta (main office on Kampala Road). We expect to open more regional offices in this financial year.

As we celebrate 59 years of Independence, URSB reiterates their commitment to supporting the government in delivering economic growth in all sectors served and ensuring that the desired takeoff to middle-income status is achieved for Uganda.