Tag: URSB

URSB’s Mercy Kainobwisho Wins Inaugural Africa Brand Leadership Excellence Award

Kampala: Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) Registrar General, Mercy K. Kainobwisho has won the inaugural Africa Brand Leadership Award.

The award recognizes corporate, industry and public service leaders who have been a catalyst for growth and development of made in Africa brands.

On Africa Day, 25 May 2022, Brand Africa announced the 12th annual global results of Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands. Subsequent to the global results, on 03 June 2022, Brand Africa in partnership with Publics Africa released the best brands in East Africa and Uganda at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda.

Announcing Kainobwisho’s award, Thebe Ikalefeng, Founder & Chairman of Brand Africa wrote, ‘We are very pleased to inform you that our committee has unanimously agreed that in recognition of your work in driving and championing the intellectual property of Ugandan and broadly African brands through your work, we will be honoured to celebrate you with our inaugural Africa Brand Leadership Excellence award’.

Ikalafeng added it was important for Africa as a continent to recognize that brands and individuals that drive the growth, reputation and competitive identity of nations to inspire a brand-led African renaissance to transform the continent’s image, drive its competitiveness and inspire its growth.

Over the past 10 years, on average only 20% of the brands Africans admire are made in Africa. In 2022, African brands have rebounded to 17% share of the Top 100 brands in Africa.

Across the continent, Nike is the #1 brand overall, MTN, the #1 African brand, GT Bank is the #1 financial services brand, DStv is the #1 media brand and Dangote the #1 brand that symbolizes African pride. In 2021, Coca Cola, Mukwano, NBS, Centenary Bank and MTN led the rankings of the Best Brands in Uganda.

In 2019, Kainobwisho was named among the Best 40 influential Women in Africa by the African Diversity and Inclusion Center – a non-profit that aims to make increased diversity and inclusion on the African continent. In 2017 she was voted the best corporate lawyer in government/public service in Uganda, she was also named among the best under 40 influential ladies in Uganda by the New Vision in 2018. She has received several recognitions in Rotary for her outstanding leadership. Kainobwisho has also won awards of being the smartest employees at URSB.

The URSB Team Leader while receiving her latest award said she was thrilled with the recognition, but also thanked Brand Africa for the recognition.

‘I am extremely happy to receive the inaugural Brand Leadership Excellence Award. It is nothing less than an absolute honor, and I must admit it took me aback. I am grateful for being recognized and I intend to live up to the level of professionalism this award demands’ Kainobwisho said.

Since 2011, Brand Africa has been surveying and ranking the most admired brands in Africa. The rankings are based on a Pan-African survey covering over 25 countries which collectively account for an estimated over 80% of Africa’s population and 80% of the continent’s GDP.

The research is conducted by GeoPoll, the world’s leading mobile surveying platform, with strategic analysis, insights and ranking conducted by Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company and Brand Leadership Group, Africa’s foremost branding, strategic communications and intellectual property advisory firm.

June 14, 2022
URSB promotes Youth Innovations as they celebrate World Intellectual Property Day

Kampala; Every year, the National Intellectual Property Office, Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) joins the rest of the world to celebrate the World Intellectual Property day on April 26.

The global theme this year by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is “IP AND YOUTH: Innovation for a Better Future”.

The sub-theme for Uganda is “Using the IP system to achieve youth employment in Uganda”.

URSB commemorated the celebrations at the Protea Hotel in Kampala. As part of the activities, URSB held a hybrid workshop where a panel of experts explored how the youth can utilize the Intellectual Property system to create employment, support youth empowerment and provide practical solutions to existing problems in order to have a better future.

The high-level event and panel discussion showcased outstanding young innovators in the field of health, businesses, e-commerce and the enabling environment that supports them in their quest to improve community challenges and help achieve national development goals.

This year’s theme resonates with Uganda’s status, which has one of the youngest and fastest-growing population globally.

According to the Uganda National Household Survey 2019/20, 54% of Uganda’s population is below 18 years. Uganda’s young people are an incredible source of creativity and ingenuity.

According to URSB, IP Day 2022 is an opportunity for these young people to find out how IP rights can support their goals, help transform their ideas into reality, generate income, create jobs and make a positive impact on the world around them.

Honourable Nyirabashitsi Sarah Mateke, Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development was the Chief Guest.

In her speech, she said Uganda’s youth were the country’s most valuable human capital resource and constituted the engine of growth.

‘By supporting the youth to protect their innovation and creativity, we are creating and fostering a culture of ingenious sustainability that will drive economic growth. Young innovators are creating promising solutions, illustrating the fact that young people are not merely recipients of innovation, but co-creators of the future they will inherit. Uganda Government has continuously allocated resources to the innovation fund, in addition to establishing various institutions that promote research and innovation.

Hon. Mateke said Intellectual property (IP) is a vital part of the national creative and innovative ecosystem, especially for individual creators, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Unfortunately, IP rights are increasingly threatened by activists who deny creators and innovators their livelihoods in favor of access to free content and products.

The Registrar General, Mercy K. Kainobwisho while delivering her remarks affirmed that this year’s celebrations highlight how a strong intellectual property system can address the employment challenges amongst the youth.

‘The high commercial value of intellectual property can enable the youth reap the benefits from their creativity. There are innovations that have been developed, especially in the post pandemic era, that have disrupted the way of doing business, like conducting meetings online, delivering health services, cross-border monetary transactions, and so on. These have subsequently solved the employment challenges amongst the youth and these can be effectively protected under our intellectual property laws’ Kainobwisho said.

April 27, 2022
URSB Collects Ugx 45.78Bn in Non-Tax Revenue Between July 2021 and April 2022

Kampala; The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) collected a total of Ugx 45.87Bn in non-tax revenue for the period July 2021 to April 7th 2022 against a target of 45.57Bn for the FY 21/22 representing a 100.6% achievement.

This was revealed by URSB’s Registrar General Mercy K Kainobwisho while appearing before Parliament’s Legal and Parliamentary affairs committee on Thursday to discuss the agency’s Ministerial Policy Statement for Fiscal Year 2022/23.

Mr. Moses Zziwa a member of the URSB Board presenting to the committee

“Despite the effects of Covid-19 that slowed down the economy, we have managed to grow our NTR collections by 48% for the period July to March of Financial year 2021/22.

URSB collected Ugx 45.34Bn in the first three quarters of the financial year, accounting for 99.5% of the Ugx 45.57Bn annual target. Our collections were Ugx 45.78Bn as at 7th April 2022” Kainobwisho said.

The Registrar General attributed the growth in collections to continuous service delivery improvement, automation of registration processes, zero tolerance to corruption and a keen focus on good governance and leadership.

URSB Registrar General Mercy K. Kainobwisho Makes a point during the interaction with the Committee

Key achievements included legal and policy reforms, National IP Policy implementation, automation of registration processes such as online filing of annual returns, online marriage registration system, progress in use of the security interest in movable property system and the operationalization of regional offices in major districts such as Mbale, Arua, Gulu, Mbarara and Masaka.

The Registrar General also listed some unfunded priorities for FY 21/22 that hindered the Bureau’s operations which included the furnishing of the Uganda Business Facilitation Centre(UBFC), rent arrears, payment for maintenance of the URSB online platforms, operationalization of 2 regional offices in the Albertine region and Eastern Uganda and mass business sensitization.

The Chairperson of the Committee and MP Gomba West Hon. Robinah Rwakoojo commended URSB for the continued good performance and pledged the committee’s support to ensure NTR collections grow further “URSB is one of the star performing institutions and we are always happy to interact with you. We are glad to note that your contribution to NTR keeps growing every year and we will support you to increase this” she said.

Hon Wilfred Nuwagaba MP Ndorwa East and Member of the Committee appealed to URSB to explore modalities of working with SACCOs in order to increase uptake of the Security Interest in Movable Property registry system that will increase access to credit by ordinary citizens.

URSB registered 14,295 new companies, 19,141 business names, 39 414 debentures, 3,364 security interest notices, 4,022 marriage returns, 505 customary marriages and 1,976 local trademarks among others.

April 14, 2022
URSB hosts Restructuring Conference aimed at helping businesses create post-Covid -19 resilience

Kampala; The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) together with the Judicial Training Institute are training Judicial Officers who adjudicate and administer justice in insolvency disputes.

The training will equip Judicial Officers with the latest knowledge and skills of Insolvency law on how businesses can be supported to build resilience in order to survive and be successful in an increasingly uncertain world, especially after the impact left by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The training being held at the Mestil Hotel started on Wednesday 23rd March, 2022 and ends on Thursday 24th March, 2022. Insolvency practitioners ranging from lawyers, accountants, chartered secretaries, financial experts will be trained on the latest practice with case studies and role plays by national and regional experts in the insolvency practice.

Panel debates across the 2 days will explore what it means to be resilient in the ‘new normal’ economy and, amongst other key topics, countering abuse of insolvency processes that threaten businesses survival, corporate governance practices, business restructuring, trends, lessons and new perspectives facing entities today.

The conference themed ‘Emerging Trends in Corporate Restructuring in Uganda; What to expect and what to prepare’ is aimed at achieving URSB’s contribution towards the National Development Plan (NDPIII) program of developing the private sector through strengthening the corporate rescue framework.

The conference is also aimed at equipping judicial officers and insolvency practitioners with insight on the business rescue mechanisms and legal approaches available to financially distressed companies and individuals, and offering tips on protection of assets of insolvent debtors.

The training was officially opened by the Principal Judge, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija and addressed by the URSB Board Chairman, Ambassador Francis K. Butagira as well as the Registrar General, Mercy Kainobwisho.

During the brief welcome remarks, Justice Zeija reminded participants that insolvency practice held a key role in promoting the survival of the huge number of small & medium enterprises (SMEs) through supportive legal resolutions.

“It is our responsibility to provide platforms for businesses through supporting their working processes to enable them navigate new challenges – like post-Covid challenges in the new digital economy and be as strong as possible in the face of upheaval. I look forward to what will no doubt be an informative and engaging training for our legal stakeholders,” Justice Zeija said URSB Board Chairman, Ambassador Francis K.

Butagira emphasized that these discussions will explore ways for SMEs to remain resilient in the yet to be stable economy. “This year’s conference will look at how businesses can be helped through the creation of sustainable long-term business plans that are able to keep pace with rapidly evolving working environments and technological developments that have cropped up since the advent of COVID-19’.

The Registrar General, Mercy Kainobwisho who is also the Official Receiver said the conference was timely since the COVID-19 pandemic had threatened the existence of businesses.

“It is our role to establish a fair insolvency system which strengthens the business sector by offering confidence to investors and the public to make viable decisions that support economic growth. As URSB, our focus is on rescuing insolvent companies and individuals by encouraging them to adopt business rescue mechanisms,” Kainobwisho added.

Presentations during the training were made by seasoned experts in insolvency an these included Hon. Justice Musa Ssekaana, Sir Alistair Norris, a retired Judge of the High Court of England and Wales, Hon. Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Hon. Justice Mike Chibita, Counsel Kabiito Karamagi and Mr. Mustapher Ntale, director insolvency & receivership at URSB.

URSB is mandated among others to register businesses, marriages, Intellectual Property, administer insolvent companies and run the Security Interest in Movable Property Registry System (SIMPO).

March 24, 2022
Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho rallies ARIPO Member states to support copyright & related rights protection

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: Heads of Intellectual Property offices who are members of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) have convened in Zimbabwe to attend the 45th Session of the Administrative Council and the 18th Session of the Council of Ministers comprised of 21 Member States.

The meetings run from the 6th to 10th December 2021 at the Elephant Hills Resort, Victoria Falls.

Mercy K. Kainobwisho, the Registrar General of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) & Board Chair Ambassador Francis K. Butagira are leading Uganda’s delegation.

The Administrative Council Session is discussing proposals to improve the protocols administered by ARIPO, consideration of the strategic plan 2022-2026 and the financial standing of the organisation among other agenda items.

Hon. Jackson Karugaba Kafuuzi, Deputy Attorney General & State Minister of Justice & Constitutional Affairs signs the Kampala Protocol for voluntary registration of copyright & related rights. Looking on is Mercy K. Kainobwisho, Registrar General (left) & other URSB officials

Speaking during the meeting, Mercy Kainobwisho urged the organisation to consider making partnerships and engagements priority in order to strengthen intellectual property (IP) rights across Africa, citing the Kampala Protocol which when fully adopted will see the emergence of enhanced benefits for copyright owners.

“We need to work towards closing all gaps limiting promotion and administration of IP rights like copyright and related rights. The Kampala Protocol being the first of its kind in Africa to support this strategy, continues to receive the necessary support, which is befitting because Africa is a continent of song and dance, a continent that abounds in skill, talent and creativity”. Kainobwisho said.

The 40th Session of the ARIPO Administrative Council held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 5th to 7th December 2016, identified the need to adopt a Protocol on voluntary registration of Copyright and Related Rights under the ARIPO framework and hence approved a roadmap for the establishment of a Voluntary Registration and Notification system.

In pursuance of the objective, a feasibility study, policy, and legal framework were developed. Following approval by the 17th Session of the Council of Ministers for the Legal Framework on establishing a regional voluntary copyright registration and notification system to be formulated into a Draft Protocol for adoption, a Diplomatic Conference was held in Kampala, Uganda from the 20th to 28th August 2021 at Speke Resort Munyonyo at which the Kampala Protocol was adopted.

Uganda’s President, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was the Chief Guest at the conference that agreed to the adoption of the Kampala Protocol.During the Council of Ministers, the Republic of Zimbabwe will sign the Kampala Protocol on Voluntary Registration of Copyright and Related Rights.

Zimbabwe will become the 10th ARIPO Member State to sign the Protocol. Nine ARIPO Member States signed the Kampala Protocol on 28th August 2021; Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda.

The Protocol shall come into force three months after five States have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession.

Until August 2021, ARIPO had four Protocols namely; the Harare Protocol on patents and industrial designs; the Banjul Protocol on marks, the Swakopmund Protocol on traditional knowledge and Expressions of Folklore; and the Arusha Protocol for the protection of new varieties of plants.

Mercy K. Kainobwisho, Registrar General (3rd R) in a group photo with delegates from ARIPO member states at the start of the 45th Session of the Administrative Council at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

A fifth Protocol, the Kampala Protocol on Voluntary Registration of Copyright and Related Rights, which was adopted on 28th August 2021 in Kampala, Republic of Uganda.

ARIPO Member States span an area of 7 million square kilometres, with a combined population of 230 million people and a GDP of USD 368 billion.

Key among the objectives outlined in the Lusaka Agreement is ARIPO’s role in assisting “its members, as appropriate, in the acquisition and development of technology relating to intellectual property matters.”

The 21 ARIPO Member States are: Botswana, Kingdom of Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

December 8, 2021
URSB engages Acholi-Sub Region over Protection of their Unique Products

Gulu, Uganda; Recognition of geographical indications helps to build the productive and trade capacities of countries, and strengthens their capacity for trade negotiations. As part of the wider strategy to popularize identification and protection of all the unique products in Northern Uganda under the Geographical Indications (GI) Act, the National Working Group (NWG) led by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau is holding a two-day engagement with multi-sectoral stakeholders from the Acholi Sub-Region.

A geographical indication is a specific intellectual property right that designates a product from a specific region and whose characteristics result in both the natural conditions of its origin and the expertise of local producers. Geographical indications are frequent across the globe, particularly in Uganda where they remain untapped. Northern Uganda has been identified to have a wide array of products that can be protected under GIs. These include shea butter, sim sim, peanut butter, fish species, local crafts like ‘adungu’ among others.

Participants admire Crafts and Shea Butter Products on display during the GI workshop at Bomah Hotel in Gulu

Speaking at the workshop, Gilbert Agaba, the Director Intellectual Property who represented the Registrar General, Mercy K. Kainobwisho said the engagements are intended to increase awareness about GIs to enable recognition and promotion of local products whose quality, reputation and characteristics are fundamentally linked to Uganda. “Northern Uganda is naturally endowed with diversity in areas of agriculture, natural resources, culture and traditions which qualify as geographical indications. As leaders at different levels, my appeal to you is to interest yourselves with GIs. If embraced, these GIs can transform our economy through revolutionizing the agricultural sector and increase demand for our products at the regional and international market” he added.

Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuff, wine and alcoholic drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products. Examples of global products that enjoy protection of geographical indications include Champagne from France, Scotch Whisky from Scotland, Havana Tobacco from Cuba, Darjeeling Tea from India, Penja Pepper from Cameroon, Thai Silk from Thailand, Swiss Watches from Switzerland, Argan Oil from Morocco, Tete Goat Meat from Mozambique among others.

Geographical indications are also usually perceived as part of the cultural heritage of their localities and a means to commercialization. Hon. Ben Anyama, a member of the URSB Board who represented the Chairman said GIs will enhance the communities’ abilities to maintain consistence practices to produce quality goods through their collective efforts. ‘Northern Uganda is alive to the potential that GIs hold for economic development of the region. This is the reason why the protection of this particular intellectual property right is embedded in the legal framework of the Government’ Anyama said.

It is hoped that the implementation of the GIs in Uganda will help showcase the country’s unique products such as the famed Mount Elgon and Rwenzori Coffees, Arua Honey, Ankole’s long-horned cattle, Masaka’s passion fruits, Kabale potatoes, Moo yaa (shea butter) from Northern Uganda among others.

The National Working Group comprised of the various stakeholders will hold a series of consultative meetings across the country over the coming months to strategise on the implementation of GIs while strengthening identification, registration, protection and regulation.

November 25, 2021
URSB, Partners organize workshop on Women Entrepreneurship Development

Kampala; Under its Women In Business (WIB) Initiative launched in March 2021, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) & Grooming a Successful Woman with Intellectual Mind (GSWIM) have this afternoon closed a two-day hybrid national workshop on “Women Entrepreneurs: Intellectual Property for Branding and Product Development” held at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

The workshop organized by WIPO in partnership with URSB & GSWIM was attended by 20 women entrepreneurs. The training focused on arming participants with the knowledge and information needed to develop their business ideas into concrete plans, in addition to registering and trademarking their businesses.

Participants also received personalized coaching on branding, product development and guidance on how to position their businesses for the market.

Seated (L-R) Gilbert Agaba, Director Intellectual Property URSB, Caroline Egesa, Board Secretary URSB, James Wasula GSWIM Chairman & Lillian Nantume CEO pose for a group photo with the participants during the workshop at Hotel Africana in Kampala

Speaking at the workshop, Duong Chi Dung, Director, Division for the Least Developed Countries, WIPO tasked the women entrepreneurs to use the skills acquired to grow their brands.

He reiterated the commitment of WIPO to support training of more budding entrepreneurs. ‘WIPO will assist female-led businesses to use intellectual property to become more innovative and enhance their productive capacity and competitiveness. We plan on more such trainings to support skills development’ Duong Chi added.

URSB’s Board Secretary, Caroline Egesa who represented the Registrar General thanked the partners for looking out for women entrepreneurs who hold a significant percentage of economic activity through ownership of micro, small & medium enterprises in various sectors.

‘I am delighted that WIPO & GSWIM have collaborated with URSB to organize this workshop. Disseminating intellectual property information is key to women entrepreneurs such that they do not lag behind in the market. The 2019 MasterCard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) ranks Uganda first in Africa at 38.2% of total business owners. This suggests that in these economies, women are becoming as inclined as men to engage in entrepreneurship. URSB will support you to nurture, grow, commercialise and protect your businesses’ She said.

On his part, James Wasula, the Chairman of GSWIM said their organization has a well-crafted plan to skill and groom women entrepreneurs. “Our strategic approach is centered on mentorship, branding and product development.

These will enable the women to launch themselves and their products successfully and irreversibly into the marketplace to grow and win over clients’’ Wasula said.

The training gave participants the opportunity to exchange experiences and promote their products, discuss the benefits of intellectual property for entrepreneurs, how to build brands for enhanced market value, development and use of IP strategies, trademark and industrial design registration process among others.

This workshop targeted women entrepreneurs involved in sectors such as cloth making, detergents, confectionery, hand crafts, bottled beverages and beauty care products from across the country and representatives of businesswomen associations, representatives of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association (UWEAL) and the Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA).

November 19, 2021
URSB successfully hosts the Corporate Registers Forum Conference

Kampala; Uganda Registration Services Bureau successfully opened the 16th Corporate Registers Forum (CRF) conference on November 09th, 2021. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic the conference will be held virtually with over 250 participants from member states from Africa, Asia, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Europe. It is a three days conference ending on November 11th, 2021. The conference was hosted under the theme, Ease of doing Business: The role of Corporate Registries.

While delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Attorney General. Mr John Bosco Suuza, the Director Legal Advisory Services noted that, ‘corporate registries have found themselves with a need to generate reforms as much as they can; which makes this year’s theme even more fitting. Uganda as a country also needs to grow its technology and leapfrog along with it as companies and registries embrace the “new normal”. He further appreciated the role played by corporate registries in formalizing the economies world over.

The Deputy Registrar General, Mr Alex Anganya reiterated that URSB had ‘embraced electronic transactions as the new normal. ‘Today, we have achieved over 70% adoption of e-services, right from about 30% prior to the pandemic’. This is line with the URSB All digital All online strategy that is currently being implemented to limit physical interactions and have all services online.

During today’s presentations a number of interventions undertaken to support business operations amidst COVID-19 were shared by the Malaysia and Singapore Registries. The Malaysian Registry shared experience about free business registration for vulnerable persons which witnessed an increase in business formalization as a result of the intervention. The registry also exempted fines for non-compliant companies for a period of time. On the other hand, the Singapore Registry leveraged on technology to provide seamless registration services as well as establishing a startup guide and providing e-advisors to literally walk people through the registration process.

Experience on use of artificial intelligence and Block chain technology in registration of businesses was presented by Vivek Meena from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs Government of India. A panel discussion about the benefits of embracing big data and artificial intelligence was led by Noah Baalessanvu a Cryptographer and Robert Kirunda a Legal Practitioner from Uganda

The Corporate Registers Forum is an association that brings together business registries across the world. The aim of the Corporate Registers Forum is to provide members with the opportunity to review the latest developments in corporate business registers internationally and exchange experiences and information on the present and future operation of corporate business registration systems. The idea of establishing an association that brings together corporate registries was started in a discussion in the companies’ registries of New Zealand in 1999.

To participate in the conference register through the link; www.corporateregistersforum.org/conferences/uganda-2021/

November 10, 2021
Uganda to Host 16th Corporate Registers Forum Conference from 9th to 11th of November 2021

Kampala; Uganda, through the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) will host the 16th Corporate Registers Forum conference from the 9th to 11th November 2021.

Due to challenges brought about by Covid 19 and in adherence to the SOPs from the Ministry of health, the conference will be virtual in nature with participants attending and following proceedings online. Under the theme “Ease of Doing Business: The role of Corporate Registries”, the conference will bring together government agencies and their officials responsible for the administration of body corporate registers for example register of companies.

The conference will also feature several panel discussions and presentations covering topics such as how block chain and artificial Intelligence can help registries to support businesses, challenges faced by corporate registries in supporting economic recovery in a post COVID-19 environment among others.

While addressing the media at the Uganda media centre, Mercy K. Kainobwisho, Registrar General thanked the Government of Uganda for the continued support and commitment in attracting international conferences of this nature because they provide an opportunity to showcase the country’s capabilities to the rest of the world.

“URSB hosts the business, legal documents and company register, Intellectual property register for trademarks, copyrights, patents and industrial designs, Insolvency and Liquidation as well as the Security Interest in Movable Property register. As a Government agency, we will make use of the conference to sufficiently showcase our capacity in managing the stated registries as well as highlight Uganda’s potential to the rest of the world” she said.

The aim of the Corporate Registers Forum is to provide members with the opportunity to review the latest developments in corporate business registers internationally and exchange experiences and information on the present and future operation of corporate business registration systems and securities registries.

The forum first met in Auckland in 2003 and was hosted by the New Zealand Companies Office. The 2003 meeting was an opportunity for corporate registries from thirteen jurisdictions to meet and has since grown to 68 jurisdictions worldwide.

The initial name given to this group was the Asia-Pacific Corporate Registries Forum. Uganda is the third African country to host the CRF Conferences after South Africa (2009) and Botswana (2018).

November 3, 2021
URSB announces appointment of Alex Anganya as Deputy Registrar General

Kampala; The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has today announced the appointment of Alex Anganya as the acting Deputy Registrar General-Finance & Administration (DRG-F&A).

Anganya will assume duty on 11th October, 2021 reporting to the Registrar General & the Board of Directors Anganya will support the functions of the Registrar General, Mercy K. Kainobwisho. He will also provide management support to all directorates at URSB.

URSB has been without a substantive Deputy Registrar General after the passing of Alfred Mugisha in July 2021 and the exit of Jane Langoya in January 2021. “I am very pleased that we have filled this key executive position from our own ranks, which underlines the strength of our organization. The complementary sets of skills that Alex brings to the table provides robust leadership needed to propel us forward. He also has decades of experience both in finance and administration, which makes him the perfect match for this role.” The Registrar General said.

The Board Chairman, Ambassador Francis Butagira said the organisation’s structure was being aligned to deliver the mandate at full capacity and that appointments to fill vacant positions are still on-going.

“Anganya is a dedicated and inclusive leader who has shown strong leadership over the past couple of years in his role as Director Internal Audit. I am confident that in his new role as Deputy RG, he will continue to add even more value to setting and executing our strategy, which will contribute to helping URSB achieve its financial and strategic goals.”

Alex Anganya said, ‘I am greatly honored to be appointed as the Deputy Registrar General of the Bureau. I look forward to working with the fantastic team at URSB and progressively build on the gains made to propel our organization to the next level. I also thank the board and management for believing in me’URSB is an autonomous statutory body established by Chapter 210 Laws of Uganda.

It is responsible for registration of businesses, Intellectual Property Rights (such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs and copyright) and Civil Registration (registration of all marriages and conducts civil marriages) and runs the chattels registry. The Bureau also handles Insolvency matters.

October 8, 2021