Uganda is a landlocked country lying astride the equator. It is bordered (clockwise from north) by Sudan, Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The official languages are English and Kiswahili; Kiswahili and Luganda are widely spoken and there are several other African languages.
Uganda, commonly referred to as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, became a Republic following its independence from the United Kingdom on 9 October 1962.
The political system is a parliamentary constitutional democracy. There are three arms of Government: Executive, Judiciary and Parliament. The Ugandan judiciary operates a hierarchical structure, which consists of Magistrate’s Courts, the High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.
Uganda is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, African Union, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, The Commonwealth, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, United Nations and World Trade Organization.
If you are planning on starting a business in Uganda, company registration is the first thing you should focus on. The second step is to make sure that you know the type of company you want to register. After which, you need to understand all the compliance requirements.
The Uganda Registration of Services Bureau (URSB) is mandated under the Uganda Registration Services Bureau Act Cap 210 to register all business entities in Uganda which are required by law to be registered. Foreign entrepreneurs can expand their businesses into Uganda by filling the required documents with the Uganda registration of business services online.
The Directorate of Business Registration is responsible for the registration of:
Private companies,
Public companies
Foreign companies,
Legal documents (e.g Constitutions, agreements, deeds, powers of attorney, etc), and
Security documents (e.g mortgages, chattels, debentures, etc).
Private companies
The most common form of business vehicle in Uganda is a private limited liability company. Notably, shareholders can take any form from natural persons to corporate bodies or Ugandan and non-Ugandan directors and shareholders.
A private limited liability company may also have one member/ shareholder. However, the membership should not exceed 100.
It requires at least one shareholder. The liability of shareholders is restricted to the invested sums only. It requires at least one director. But, this entity is not entitled to offer its shares to the public. There are no requirements for minimum paid-up share capital.
The most common form of business vehicle used by foreign investors in Uganda is a private limited liability company.
Public companies
an entity that can offer and transfer its shares to the public. At least five shareholders and two directors are required for this entity. The liability of shareholders is limited to the amount invested only. There are no requirements for minimum paid-up capital but such capital should be adequate to the types of activities a public entity is going to conduct.
Foreign companies
a foreign company may establish in Uganda its branch to carry out those types of transactions it is authorized to do abroad
a foreign incorporated company to register to do business in Uganda as a branch. Once a foreign company is registered as a branch, it becomes regulated in largely the same way as if it was incorporated under the laws of Uganda
Requirements to register a company in Uganda
Proposed company names for name search
Objectives of the Company. The nature of Business / activities the company shall undertake.
Names of the shareholders in Full.
Names of the Directors in full if different from the shareholders.
Contact information of the directors / shareholders. – Postal addresses, Email address and Telephone Number.
Number of shares to be held by each shareholder.
Proposed Physical address of the company. The Physical Address includes road, plot number, town, county.
Email address of the company. Distinct from that of the directors / shareholders.
Contact information of the company – Postal addresses and Telephone Number.
Copy of ID / Passport of the Shareholders / Directors.
Passport photos of the Shareholders / Directors.
Copy of tax PIN certificate of the Shareholders / Directors.
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