Company Registration in Uganda

Uganda offers a wide range of business opportunities in many different sectors that include;
Food processing, Real Estate & Construction, Manufacturing, Tourism and hospitality, Transport,
Trading, Information technology services, Energy Sector.
Uganda has an Open Approach towards foreign Companies and Company Registration in
Uganda is quite straight forward and Foreigners can register and own companies 100 %.
The Tax regime in Uganda is Simple and transparent and the Tax rate for personal Income
ranging from 5 to 30 %, Corporation Tax is at 30% and VAT at 18%.
Types of companies in Uganda
1. Sole proprietorship
A Sole Proprietorship is the simplest form of business in Uganda. It involves an individual
running a business on their own, with no formal legal structure. This means that the owner is
personally liable for the entire operation, including debts and liabilities.
2. Partnership
A partnership is a business structure in which two or more persons share ownership of a
company. Partnership can be either general partnerships or limited partnerships. In a general
partnership, all partners share equal responsibility for the business, whereas in a limited
partnership, at least one general partner is in charge of day-to-day operations and one or more
limited partners contribute capital but have limited role in business management.
3. Limited Liability Company (LLC)
An LLC is a business structure that combines the advantages of a corporation with the flexibility
of a partnership. An LLC gives its owners limited liability protection, which means they are only
liable for the amount of money they invested in the business. Furthermore, an LLC is not
required to pay corporate taxes, and the business’s profits and losses can be passed directly to the
owners for tax purposes.
4. Public Limited Company
A public limited company is a type of business registration for companies that desire to raise
funds from the general public by issuing shares. The owners of a PLC are limited in liability,
while the company’s shares are freely traded on a stock exchange. A PLC must have at least
seven shareholders and a board of directors.
5. Non-profit company
A non-profit company is a type of business registration meant for groups that do not seek to
make a profit. Non-profit organizations are frequently created for charitable or social purposes,
and any profits must be reinvested into the organization.
List of Uganda Registered Companies
After company Registration in Uganda, All the company records are maintained by the Registrar
of Companies Uganda (Uganda Registration Services Bureau). You can search for any registered
company name by visiting this link https://obrs.ursb.go.ug/name-search
URSB Online Company Registration in Uganda | How to register a Company in Uganda |
Process of Registering a Company in Uganda
Company registration in Uganda is now fully online through the URSB Portal. Here is how
to register a company in Uganda;
1. Create a Profile on Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) portal using your ID
Number / Passport Number.
2. Conduct a URSB name search and reservation
3. Add particulars of the company (Here you will be required to add the company’s physical
address, proposed Share capital and shareholders of the company.)
4. Enter particulars of the Memorandum and Articles of Association (Here you will choose
whether to adopt the general Memorandum and Articles of association or opt to upload a
customized copy.)
5. Enter details of the directors (Here you will be required to add the directors details like
Full name, Phone number, ID / Passport number Email and residential Address.)
6. Enter the official company contacts (Here you will be required to Key in the Company
email address and phone number)
7. Download, sign and upload the registration forms (At this stage you will be required to
append a clear signature against your name and then upload the documents back on
URSB.)
8. Pay the fees to register a company in Uganda (Here you will be required to pay the
requisite statutory fees and submit the application. If there are no corrections, the
company will be approved in about 7 Days)
9. Download the Certificate of Incorporation once the company is approved
Other actions post registration of the company
1. Company and Directors tax registration
Companies in Uganda are subject to the following taxes;
(i) Corporate tax – 30%
(ii) Value Added Tax – 18%
(iii) Payroll taxes – a graduated scale of between 10% and 40%
(iv) Withholding taxes – between 6% and 20%
2. Company book accounting opening
3. Business license application
4. Any other industry specific license
Requirements for registering a company in Uganda
The requirements to register a company in Uganda include the following;
1. At least 3 proposed company names
2. A description of the activities of the business/company
3. Copy of shareholder and Director travel passport and passport size photograph
4. Copy of company Certificate of Incorporation if a company will be a shareholder
5. Directors and shareholders physical, postal and email address
6. Directors and shareholders telephone numbers and occupation
7. Number of shares assigned to each shareholder
Company Registration Fees in Uganda
No. Details Approximate Cost (USD)
1. Name Reservation 6
2. Registration Fees (company with share 15
capital of between 1-5 million UGX
3. Registration fees (company with share 1% of share capital declared
capital exceeding 5 million UGX)
4. Stamp Duty 0.5% of share capital on new companies
with share capital above 5 Million UGX

Legal fees
No. Line Item Fees
1. a) Registration of a company; Kshs. 60,000/-
- Taking instructions to incorporate the company
- Drawing memorandum of association (if any)
- preparing and lodging all necessary company forms at the
Companies Registry on the incorporation of the company
(but excluding any prospectus); and
- procuring certificate of incorporation including all routine
attendances and correspondence in connection therewith,
whether the company is private or public, with or without
share capital:
2. b) Disbursements;

3. c) V.A.T 16% of the total

legal fees charged
4. d) Total