Registration services bureau attains ISO certification
Speaking at a ceremony to celebrate the milestone at URSB headquarters in Kampala city on March 4, 2026, deputy head of public service and deputy secretary to the Government, Theopista Mary Wenene, described the certification as evidence of “wise, committed, and focused leadership”.
Uganda Registration Services Bureau officials cut a cake during an event to celebrate attainment of an ISO certification. (Courtesy photo)
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The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has officially attained ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) certification.
The certification, achieved on December 9, 2025, follows a rigorous multi-year process of audits, documentation, and external verification, recognising URSB’s adherence to international best practices in business registration, intellectual property management, and insolvency services.
Speaking at a ceremony to celebrate the milestone at URSB headquarters in Kampala city on March 4, 2026, deputy head of public service and deputy secretary to the Government, Theopista Mary Wenene, described the certification as evidence of “wise, committed, and focused leadership” prioritising the public interest.
Representing Public Service head and Secretary to the Cabinet, Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, Wenene highlighted that the achievement aligns with national priorities to establish predictable and transparent systems, removing the need for personal connections when accessing public services.
“It is what we work for, it is what we pray for — that Ugandans can receive services without necessarily knowing somebody, but that systems and processes are there to guide them,” she said.
Wenene noted that permanent secretaries from various ministries had benchmarked URSB’s reforms during a visit led by the Head of Public Service last year, with lessons from the exercise continuing to inform government-wide improvements.
She congratulated the Justice ministry and the URSB board for fostering a culture of quality and transparency.
“This certification should now be sustained, internalised, and leveraged to deliver faster turnaround times, improved customer experience, and greater public trust,” she added, officially launching the celebrations and describing the milestone as “the beginning of another journey.”
Board chairperson Ambassador Francis Butagira attributed the success to deliberate reforms, teamwork, and a strong focus on capacity building, including the recent establishment of a Talent Department.
“This certification is not accidental. It is the result of consistent hard work,” Butagira said. He noted that streamlined processes are crucial to attracting investors.
“If an investor asks how long it takes to set up a company and it takes months, they will go elsewhere. We must make it efficient,” he noted.
URSB registrar general Mercy Kyomugasho Kainobwisho highlighted steady growth in business and company registrations, reflecting rising entrepreneurial activity, while urging stronger compliance, particularly in filing annual returns and updating records.
“Compliance enhances credibility, protects owners, and improves access to financing and investment opportunities,” Kainobwisho said. She warned that non-compliance could lead to penalties, deregistration, or operational restrictions, emphasising that formalisation drives economic growth, job creation, and national development.
Assistant Commissioner for Quality Assurance and ISO Project Manager Sylvester Muhereza described the certification as a “paradigm shift” in URSB operations. He noted that the process involved comprehensive gap analysis, staff training, workflow re-engineering, documentation of procedures via quality manuals and standard operating procedures, internal audits, and an external audit in late 2025.
“Every process at URSB is now documented, standardised, and aligned to international best practices and our statutory mandate,” Muhereza said, crediting strong leadership and staff engagement for the achievement and describing certification as the foundation for continuous improvement and sustained excellence.
What is an ISO certification?
An ISO certification is an international standard for managing quality across institutions and organisations, helping them deliver reliable services and improve performance.
It serves as a global seal of approval proving that an entity (whether private or public) consistently provides services that meet customer and regulatory requirements through documented, efficient and transparent processes. An ISO-certified organisation operates on a cycle of continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making to ensure high-quality, predictable results.