By Guest Writer
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has commenced the fourth year of its Mass Business Registration Initiative, reaffirming its commitment to taking business registration services closer to communities and accelerating the formalization of Uganda’s economy.
The initiative, which commenced in Financial Year 2023/24, is designed to extend registration services beyond traditional service points, increase public awareness and make it easier for entrepreneurs to formalize their businesses. It supports URSB’s broader mandate of creating an enabling environment for businesses to start, operate, grow and participate meaningfully in the formal economy.
Three years of bringing services closer to the people
Over the first three years, the initiative has delivered 187 mobile business registration clinics, engaging 60,199 clients and resulting in 17,790 new business registrations. The clinics have also generated UGX 8.66 billion in Non-Tax Revenue (NTR).
Performance has continued to improve, with 3,195 registrations recorded in FY2023/24, increasing to 6,856 in FY2024/25 and 7,739 in FY2025/26.
During FY2025/26 alone, URSB conducted 65 mobile clinics, reaching 26,361 clients and registering 7,739 businesses, while collecting UGX 4.15 billion in NTR.
The clinics were conducted across cities and communities in different parts of the country, including Lira, Gulu, Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Mbarara, Masaka, Fort Portal, Hoima and Arua, as well as numerous other urban, peri-urban and rural locations.
Why formalisation matters to communities
For communities, business registration provides an important foundation for sustainable enterprise development. A registered business gains formal recognition and can more easily demonstrate its legitimacy when dealing with customers, suppliers, financial institutions, Government and other business partners.
Formalisation can also enhance opportunities to access financing, participate in formal supply chains, compete for contracts and engage in business partnerships. It provides entrepreneurs with a stronger foundation from which to grow their enterprises, create employment and contribute to household incomes and local economic development.
The mobile clinics therefore go beyond registration. They provide an opportunity for URSB officers to interact directly with entrepreneurs, explain registration requirements, respond to questions and increase awareness of the wider benefits of formalising businesses.
Taking services to where businesses operate
The Mass Business Registration Initiative is anchored on the principle that access to Government services should not be limited by geographical location.
By taking services closer to markets, trading centres, cities and communities, URSB reduces the need for entrepreneurs to travel long distances to access registration services. The approach also creates direct engagement between businesses and the Bureau, helping identify challenges that affect service uptake and enabling URSB to improve its service delivery.
The initiative has particularly provided an avenue for reaching communities where awareness of URSB services remains limited and where technology adoption and network connectivity may present barriers to accessing online services.
A win for businesses and Government
The initiative also provides significant benefits to URSB and Government. Increased registration expands the national business register, providing a stronger information base on Uganda’s business community and supporting Government planning, policy development and economic formalisation.
Increased registration also contributes to Non-Tax Revenue collections while strengthening URSB’s visibility and engagement with the public.
More importantly, the clinics provide URSB with first-hand feedback from businesses, helping the Bureau understand customer needs, identify service delivery gaps and continuously improve its registration services.
Building momentum in FY2026/27
As the initiative enters its fourth year, URSB will build on the lessons and achievements of the first three years to deepen community outreach, strengthen awareness and encourage more businesses to formalise.
The Bureau will continue working with local authorities, business associations, community leaders and other stakeholders to mobilise entrepreneurs and create greater awareness of the importance of business registration.
URSB encourages entrepreneurs, particularly those operating informal businesses, to take advantage of the outreach clinics and formalise their enterprises.
The Mass Business Registration Initiative is ultimately about bringing Government services closer to the people, making formalisation easier and helping Ugandan businesses build a stronger foundation for growth. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
