Govt lauded over business reforms

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Uganda Registration Services Board (URSB) Board Chairman, Ambassador Francis Butagira has praised Uganda's streamlined business registration processes adding that these initiatives have enhanced formalisation and easy setup of entities by entrepreneurs.

Ambassador Butagira said this on March 17, 2025, while addressing the Business and Innovation Forum for commercial attachés in Uganda.

The Forum was attended by distinguished foreign diplomats, ministers, URSB board members, and government representatives.

The meeting was aimed at showcasing URSB reforms and innovations, engage with the diplomatic community, and promote Uganda as an investment destination.

"Uganda is the best place for ease of doing business," he said.

The event hosted by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau in coordination with the foreign affairs and justice ministries attracted foreign diplomats, ministers, URSB board members, and government representatives.

During the meeting, Butagira informed the team that Uganda has implemented systems that enable seamless registration with almost all services available online.

He credited justice minister Norbert Mao for championing the event that showcased Uganda's investment advantages.

The Ambassador highlighted dramatic improvements in processing times, noting that company registration now takes just three hours compared to days in the past, while business name registration can be completed within an hour.

“A key innovation is Uganda's one-stop centre concept, eliminating the need for entrepreneurs to visit multiple offices. From one space, you can access KCCA, URA, obtain your licenses, and even banking services," he said.

Butagira also emphasized Uganda's progressive insolvency regime, which focuses on rescuing struggling companies rather than simply closing them, "we can help put companies back on their feet instead of sending them to a mortuary".

The reforms have shown measurable results with URSB a semi-autonomous entity increasing revenue collection from shillings 300 million in 2011 to over shillings 80 billion presently, which the Ambassador described as "a sign of our efficiency."

Mao, emphasized Uganda's improving business environment during a recent stakeholder engagement, focusing on the Uganda Registration Services Bureau's (URSB) one-stop centre as a key initiative to attract foreign direct investment.

"Many good things happening in our country are not being talked about," Mao observed, noting that Uganda now offers some of East Africa's easiest business registration processes.

The one-stop centre integrates immigration, work permits, business registration, and tax services—directly addressing frustrations previously faced by foreign investors.

Mao expressed concern about Uganda's economic strategy, which he described as too dependent on borrowing. 

"Eventually as a borrower, you end up belonging to the lender," he cautioned, advocating for increased foreign direct investment as an alternative funding source.

He highlighted Uganda's recent removal from the international financial Grey List, improving the country's borrowing conditions and investor confidence. He also acknowledged ongoing diplomatic challenges with the EU and US regarding human rights issues.

"URSB remains the number one performing agency in Uganda," Mao stated, praising the organisation's achievements in intellectual property registration, including 2,700 trademarks and 100 copyrights processed.

Foreign affairs state minister Okello Oryem shared his experience in assisting a company to register in Uganda entirely online.

"I was impressed that there is at least something that works in Uganda," the minister said.

He compared the new streamlined process to the UK's "off-the-shelf companies" system, noting that Uganda's digital transformation has eliminated previously tedious bureaucracy that often-bred corruption.

Oryem congratulated Butagira and his team for "bringing us to the age of modernity and ease of doing business," while acknowledging that Uganda must continue improving its business environment to attract premium investors.

The minister highlighted ongoing challenges in Uganda's business culture, including the practice of suspending operations for funerals, which can frustrate international investors operating on tight schedules.

Looking toward Uganda's future oil production, Oryem revealed concerns about the country's readiness to manage incoming wealth responsibly.

"We need to be prepared. Instead of the money doing good things for us, we might do all the bad things," he said.