The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has announced that it has digitized all its records and automated its processes, marking a significant milestone in its operations. URSB Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho shared this update on Thursday, July 18, 2024, highlighting the bureau’s transition to virtual operations.
Kainobwisho urged the public to take advantage of the digitized system, encouraging them to register their businesses, innovations, and marriages without hesitation. Her message, delivered via her social media handle on X (formerly known as Twitter), emphasized the ease and efficiency brought about by the digital transformation.
Launch of Online Business Registration System (OBRS)
In April 2024, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance launched an online business registration system developed by URSB with government funding. This system aims to increase business registrations by at least 50%. The new platform is designed to simplify and expedite the process, making it more accessible for entrepreneurs to start and manage their businesses.
URSB’s Role and Functions
URSB is a government agency responsible for various registrations and information services related to civil, business, and intellectual property matters. It also serves as the Official Receiver and Liquidator, handling insolvency and liquidation processes.
Recently, President Yoweri Museveni signed into law the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was enacted by Parliament nearly two months ago. This new law, which will come into force once a commencement date is set by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. (rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, transfers the administration of civil marriages from URSB to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).
The new law consolidates the registration of all natural persons—covering birth, identification, marriage, and death—under one agency, NIRA. This move aims to streamline the civil registration process and improve service delivery. Responsibilities transferred to NIRA include licensing churches to celebrate marriages, maintaining all marriage registers, and managing Muslim and Hindu divorce registers.
During the consideration of the Bill, URSB informed the committee on defense and international affairs that civil registration generated non-tax revenue of UGX 1.43 billion and UGX 1.645 billion in the financial years 2021/22 and 2022/23, respectively. This financial contribution underscores the importance of efficient civil registration processes to the government’s revenue.
Key Financial Figures from Civil Registration
| Financial Year | Non-Tax Revenue Generated (UGX) |
|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 1.43 billion |
| 2022/23 | 1.645 billion |
