The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has stepped up its nationwide campaign to bring business registration services closer to entrepreneurs as the Mass Business Registration Initiative enters its fourth year. The programme is aimed at making it easier for business owners, especially those operating informally, to register their enterprises and benefit from participating in Uganda’s formal economy.
The initiative, which began in the 2023/24 financial year, has changed the way registration services are delivered by taking them directly to communities instead of relying mainly on traditional service points. URSB has been conducting mobile clinics in markets, trading centres, cities and other areas where businesses operate, helping entrepreneurs overcome the cost and inconvenience of travelling long distances for registration services.The outreach programme has already produced notable results. In its first three years, URSB conducted 187 mobile business registration clinics and engaged 60,199 clients, leading to 17,790 new business registrations. The programme also generated UGX 8.66 billion in Non-Tax Revenue, demonstrating the financial and administrative impact of bringing registration services closer to the public.
The number of businesses registering through the initiative has grown steadily. From 3,195 registrations in FY2023/24, the figure increased to 6,856 in FY2024/25 before reaching 7,739 in FY2025/26. During the last financial year alone, URSB conducted 65 mobile clinics, reached 26,361 clients and registered 7,739 businesses, collecting UGX 4.15 billion in Non-Tax Revenue.The clinics have reached entrepreneurs in several parts of Uganda, including Lira, Gulu, Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Mbarara, Masaka, Fort Portal, Hoima and Arua, among other urban, peri-urban and rural locations. The strategy is particularly important for communities where awareness of URSB services remains low or where limited access to technology and reliable internet makes online registration difficult.For business owners, formal registration provides more than legal recognition. It can make it easier for an enterprise to establish credibility with customers, suppliers, banks, Government agencies and other partners.
Formal businesses may also have better opportunities to access financing, participate in supply chains, compete for contracts and develop partnerships that can support expansion.The programme is also helping URSB and Government obtain a clearer picture of Uganda’s business sector. As more enterprises are registered, the national business register becomes a stronger source of information for planning and policy development. The mobile clinics also allow URSB officials to receive direct feedback from entrepreneurs, identify challenges affecting registration and improve the quality of services offered to the public.
As FY2026/27 gets underway, URSB plans to build on the progress made during the first three years by expanding community mobilisation and working with local authorities, business associations, community leaders and other stakeholders. Entrepreneurs running informal businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of the outreach clinics and formalise their enterprises, as URSB continues its drive to make registration more accessible and strengthen the foundation for business growth across Uganda.
