Top URSB FAQs & Responses About the Process of Company Registration, Company Formation, and Procedures in Uganda

If you are seeking answers to some of your most pressing questions about company registration and other URSB services, Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answered them for you. Should you not find the answer to your question, feel free to contact us, and we’ll be happy to assist you!

Question #1

How Can You Reserve a Company or Business Name Online?

The answer is Yes! Please visit the URSB website (www.ursb.go.ug) and click E-Services, Business.

For registration, click Name Reservation and fill in the application form. OR click: (https://ursb.go.ug/name–reservation/)

Question #2

What Follows After Company Name Reservation with URSB?

After reservation, you file Form 20-Appointing Directors & Secretary, Form 18Address of the company, and draft Memorandum & Articles of Association)—Also, please file Form A1 and S-18. Attach a copy of a valid I.D. and a photograph of a passport for each subscriber, then use this link to submit these scanned forms with proof of the payments. https://ursb.go.ug/registrations/

Question #3

How Can I Register a Business Name or Company Online With URSB?

You must first reserve the name online by filling in all required details using this link: https://ursb.go.ug/name–reservation/. After approval of the name, you will sign and fill in the registration form(s) and attach a copy of the valid I.Ds, payment receipt, and one passport photo for each member scan and use this link to apply for registration: https://ursb.go.ug/registrations/

Question #4

How Long Does URSB Take to Respond After You Submit Online?

After submitting your documents online, the URSB will send you a confirmation email with a reference number within 48 hours. You will receive a notification email and message showing that they have worked on your documents.

Question #5

How Do you Track the Status of Documents Submitted at URSB?

Please use the tracking number you received after submission to follow up by calling their Toll-Free number 0800 100 006 or WhatsApp 0712 448 448 or sending an email to ursb@ursb.go.ug

Question #6

What Format Do You Have to Upload Documents Online at The URSB Portal?

Please make sure you scan the documents in the correct format. They should either be TIFF or JPEG images, preferably TIFF.DPI of 300 or less and image size of 1MB.

Question #7

What should you do when you fail to upload the Memorandum and Articles of association for your company online?

You can download the simplified memorandum and articles of association from the URSB website (https://ursb.go.ug/business–registration–forms/), fill them out, and upload them online.

Question #8

How Do You Create an Account for Annual Returns Filing with URSB?

1. Visit the URSB website www.ursb.go.ug and select “Annual/Marriage Returns” from the top-right corner of the webpage.
2. Click “Create new account” and provide your personal information as required.
3. If you’re representing a company, select the option for company representation and enter your 14-digit Company Registration number. If you don’t know it, click the yellow pop-up message to access the database and retrieve the number.
4. Fill in the Company Registration number as required.
5. Attach the necessary documents, including a copy of your National ID, Passport, or Driving License, Form 20 or Form 7 (Particulars for Directors and Secretary), or resolution/powers of attorney for representation. Click on “Submit”.
6. You’ll receive an email containing your username and a link to activate your account. Click on the link and log in to your account using your name and password.
7. Once logged in, click “Select your representation” at the top-right corner, and choose the company whose annual return you want to file.
8. Select “New application for annual return filing” and provide all the required information page by page. Save each page before proceeding to the next.
9. On the payment page, indicate whether you’ve made the payment. If you have, enter the Payment Registration Number (PRN). If you haven’t, the system will provide you with an assessment with a PRN.
10. Make payment through mobile money, bank, cheque, or any other mode of payment listed on the URA portal. Ensure that you quote the Payment Registration Number (PRN).
11. You’ll receive a notification of payment and the status of your application via email.
12. You will receive a copy of the registered Annual Returns by email.

Question #9

How Do You Submit Resolutions Online?

Go to the URSB website, click on E-services, submit Resolutions, and fill in the required details in the interface and process as guided. https://ursb.go.ug/submitresolution/

Question #10

What kind of resolutions do we submit online?

1. A Resolution to open a Bank account
2. A Resolution to appoint an Attorney
3. A Resolution to change a company Address
4. Resolutions to nominate a director such as a pharmacist.

Question #11

How Can You Change a Company’s Name with URSB in Uganda?

To change your company name, you need to take a few steps:

• Firstly, you must reserve the new title and file a resolution to change it.
• Once you have done this, the URSB will provide you with a gazette notice.
• You must then submit this notice to the Uganda Gazette for 14 days.
• After that, you must submit the gazette notice to URSB, who will provide you with a new certificate containing your new company name.

Question #12

How Can You Register an NGO/Nonprofit Organization in Uganda?

Establishing an NGO in Uganda must be registered as a company limited by guarantee. To start the registration process, you need to reserve your company’s name. You can do this by visiting https://ursb.go.ug/name-reservation/, filling in the online form, and submitting it for approval.

Once the name is approved, you can download the necessary company forms (Form 20 for Appointing Directors and Secretary, Form 18 for the company’s address, and Memorandum & Articles of Association) and S-18 from the URSB website https://ursb.go.ug/business-registrationforms/. You should also attach a copy of a valid I.D. and a photograph of a passport for each subscriber.

After you have filled out the forms, you can scan them and submit them along with proof of payment by clicking on this link: https://ursb.go.ug/registrations/.

Question #13

How Do You Do Self-Assessment for A Company Limited by Guarantee with URA?

If you’re wondering how to do a self-assessment for a Company Limited by Guarantee, follow these steps:

1. Go to the URA portal and click “e-Services Payment Registration.”
2. Select “Other NTR,” then choose “Uganda Registration Services Bureau.”
3. Make sure the taxpayer’s name is the company name, not yours.
4. Look for the “Business Registration Department,” then select “Company Registration”.
5. Look for “Reservation of Company Name”. This fee is UGX 20,000, which you can pay using VISA, Bank, Mobile Money, or Pay Way.
6. After that, you’ll need to pay a stamp duty of UGX 35,000 to incorporate a company with no nominal share capital.
7. The third payment is for the registration fees of a company with no nominal share capital, which is UGX 80,000.
8. Finally, you’ll need to pay UGX 20,000 for Forms 18 and 20, which are local registration fees for company forms for a limited company.

Question #14

How do you conduct Self-Assessment on Company Registration with URA?

For Business name registration:

1. Go to the URA portal and click E-SERVICES.
2. For payment registration, go to OTHER NTR, select Uganda Registration Services Bureau – Business Registration Department – business name registration, and look for business name registration.
3. Fees are UGX 24,000

For Filing Resolutions with URSB

1. Go to the URA portal and click E-SERVICES
2. For payment registration, go to OTHER NTR, select Uganda Registration Services Bureau – Business Registration Department – company registration, and look for local filing fees for company resolution first three copies.
3. Fees are UGX 20,000. You can pay by either VISA/Bank/Mobile money or Payway.1

For Certification of Documents with URSB

1. Go to the URA portal and click E-SERVICES
2. Payment registration – go to OTHER NTR, select Uganda Registration Services Bureau – Business Registration Department – company registration, and look for local filing fees to certify company documents of the first three copies.
3. Fees are UGX 20,000 per document. You can pay by either VISA/Bank/Mobile money or pay by Way.

For Searches

1. Go to the URA portal and click E-SERVICES
2. For payment registration, go to OTHER NTR, select Uganda Registration Services Bureau – Business Registration Department, then company registration, and look for Search/inspection fees-Registrar of companies.
3. Fees are UGX 25,000. You can pay via VISA/Bank/Mobile money or Pay Way.

Question #15

What can you do if your company has been struck off or removed from the URSB register?

If URSB has removed your company from the register, you can apply for reinstatement by sending a formal letter to the Registrar General.  You must pay all outstanding annual returns and attach the receipts to the application. The cost of each year’s annual return is UGX 50,000.

You must also pay an application fee of UGX 50,000 to apply for reinstatement. You can pay the fees through Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), as they have designated officers to generate PRNs for this purpose.

If you need more help, you can contact one of our business consultants on WhatsApp at +256782825945.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SERVICES AT URSB

Question #16

What is the procedure for registering intellectual property services such as trademarks, copyrights, patents, and utility models?

For all intellectual property applications and inquiries, submit your request to ip@ursb.go.ug

Question #17

How Do You Register a Trademark/Logo in Uganda?

To register your trademark in Uganda, follow these steps:

1. Search the Intellectual Property register (for a fee of UGX 25000
2. File a Trademark registration application form (for a fee of UGX 50000
3. URSB Officials will examine your application; if granted, they will advertise it in the Uganda Gazette for 60 days.
4. After 60 days and in the absence of any opposition, a Certificate of registration will be issued upon payment of UGX 100,000

Question #18

How to do a self-assessment on the URA Portal for Registering a Trademark/Logo in Uganda

• Go to the URA portal and click E-SERVICES THEN.
• Click payment registration.
• Then, other NTR select the TAXPAYER NAME.
• Select the District/City
• Select Sub County/town council.
• Select the Ministry/Department/agency as Uganda Registration Services Bureau.

To register your intellectual property, you need to contact the Intellectual Property Registration Department and follow these steps:

1. Apply for a local trademark, followed by a trademark registration and then an application for a trademark. The cost for these steps is a single payment.
2. Next, you need to pay for a trademark search. Follow the same steps as above, but search for “Search Fees for One Class” after the last trademark.
3. Once payment is complete, assemble two forms and one piece of plain paper where you will paste all six copies of the logo. Scan the documents and send them to ip@ursb.go.ug.
4. The team will evaluate your application and get back to you.

Question #19

What Is the Location and Address of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB)?

1. The URSB head office in Kampala is at Plot 1, Baskerville Avenue, Kololo. They also have branch offices at Georgian House, Plot 5 George Street. Other branches are at:
2. The Posta Uganda on Kampala Road
3. The other office is at Sekaziga House, Level 1 Nakivubo, Opposite Park Yard Market, – UIA Offices at Twed Plaza (1^st Floor) Lumumba Avenue.
4. In Mbale, URSB is at Plot 3, Park Crescent. Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
5. In Mbarara URSB is Locates at Plot 1, Kamukuzi Hill
6. In Gulu City, the Location of URSB is at Plot 6B Princess Road
7. In Arua, URSB is at Plot 42/44 Packwach Road

Question #20

How Can You Contact URSB to Make an Inquiry?

Contact them on their Toll-Free Line 0800 100 006

WhatsApp – 0712 448 448.

Email: ursb@ursb.go.ug

The list is a compilation of the top frequently asked questions and responses about the process of company registration, formation, and procedures at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).

If you encounter any queries or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact URSB directly. Houston Executive Consulting also has a team of experts who can provide you with the necessary support and guidance at a fee. We value your business and are committed to ensuring your satisfaction.

Learn More About How to Register Your Company in Uganda in 10 Easy Steps.