URSB chief Kainobwisho tips young entrepreneurs on business management

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Young entrepreneurs have been urged to ensure proper record keeping, time management and take advantage of social media to promote their businesses in addition to complying with the statutory requirements for their businesses to thrive.

Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) registrar general, Mercy Kainobwisho, made the call at the opening of the week-long business rescue and aftercare programme for the young entrepreneurs at URSB offices in Kampala on Monday, September 29, 2025.

“There is a myth that many businesses do not celebrate their first birthday in Uganda. This is not true because even the first company to be registered in 1912 is still thriving. The problem is not the economic environment but how we manage our businesses.

The Registrar General of Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Mercy Kainobwisho, addressing a congregation of Young business People on the Business Rescue and Aftercare Program at Uganda Business Facilitation Centre (UBFC) auditorium on Monday, September 29, 2025. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Some people eat their capital, and others employ relatives who lack the skills. Therefore, we need to have proper bookkeeping and comply with the statutory requirements to save our businesses,” Kainobwisho said.

Using an example of the stability of inflation in the country for the last 15 years, Kainobwisho said Uganda is very flexible in terms of trade with friendly business legislation, whereby anyone could wake up one day and start up a business.

“It is not a requirement to register your business first, like in many other countries. You are planned people because even when we attempt to touch you, the President will come out and tell us not to,” Kainobwisho said.

Kainobwisho implored Ugandans to take advantage of the existing tax incentives for startup businesses.

She also underscored the importance of financial literacy and leadership skills in the management of businesses.

“It is not bad to get a loan, but how you use it becomes a problem. You must use the loan specifically for the purpose you have acquired it, and if not, you are bound to fail. This is a major problem for men because whenever they get money, it is when they start seeing beautiful women. So, you must be careful, otherwise there are opportunities for you at Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and Islamic banking,” Kainobwisho noted.

Some of the entrepreneurs taking part in the Young business People on Business Rescue and Aftercare Program training at Uganda Business Facilitation Centre (UBFC) auditorium on Monday, September 29, 2025. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

(Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Encouraging the youth to start their own businesses, Kainobwisho said there is no problem in starting businesses similar to the existing ones.

“People are scared of China Town. However, I can tell you that we can all thrive in the same business if we can manage our affairs very well. China Town shouldn’t discourage you from starting your own business,” Kainobwisho said.

Kainobwisho said many people blame their business woes on witchcraft, yet the problem is in how they manage their business.

Explaining the purposes of the workshop, Kainobwisho said URSB is now focusing on educating the people on how to manage their businesses after discovering that some of them collapse because of poor management.

“We started this after the COVID-19 pandemic because many businesses shut down. So, we started this program to support them. We put out a notice for the businesses that are struggling and need to expand, and we give them a five-day training. We bring in experts who equip them with the necessary guidance and learn how to manage their businesses better,” Kainobwisho said.

Kainobwisho said they believe this will help save and rescue businesses from collapse.

“If you are out there and you are struggling in running your business, please reach out to us; we shall help you save your business because we want businesses to thrive,” Kainobwisho said.

Elimu Trust Eastern Africa chief executive officer James Bulenzibuto, who is closely working with URSB on the programme, said failure of businesses is not all about the economy because in the same economy, there are businesses that are thriving.

“We believe that what kills your business is within your business and the way you run it. So, these are the things we want to address so that all businesses can thrive,” Bulenzibuto said.

Felix Oketcho, one of the participants, said the programme has been an eye-opener for him.

“I started my business, but it has not been performing well, and I believe that at the end of this program, I will acquire the knowledge of making things better,” he said.