Submit the Name Reservation Form to the assessment window of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and obtain the bank payment slip
Agency: Office of the Registrar, Uganda Registration Service Bureau
To reserve a company name, the entrepreneur submits the name reservation form to the assessment window of the Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB). The clerk returns the application, along with the requisite fee assessment payable at the bank. The name reservations forms can be downloaded for free at the following: http://ursb.go.ug/services/business-registration/forms-for-business-registration/
Time and cost: 1 day, USH 20,000 + USH 2,200 bank fee
Pay the name reservation fees at the bank
Agency: Bank
All nontax payments to government agencies must be made at a bank. Upon payment of the specified assessment fee, the entrepreneur receives a bank receipt that is used to complete the name reservation process. The payable fees include: USH 20,000 for name reservation; and USH 2,200 for the bank service fee. As of 2017, there are two banks located at URSB, one on the first floor and one on the sixth floor.
Time and cost: 1 day, included in previous procedure
Reserve the company name
Agency: Office of the Registrar, Uganda Registration Service Bureau
The entrepreneur presents the payment receipt at the name search window of URSB. Upon payment of the required fee, the suggested name is subjected to a search in the business registry database. If the name passes the similarity, defensive, offensive, and desirability tests, it is reserved for a period of 30 days. There are name reservations books where the entrepreneur can search and see if the name was approved or rejected and for what reasons.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain the slip-in for the payment of the registration fee and the stamp duty from URSB
Agency: Bank or URSB
Entrepreneurs can now obtain the bank payment advice forms online without having to go the Uganda Registration Services Bureau. This is because the fee assessment process can now be done online www.ura.go.ug/payment.do . Entrepreneurs can also go to the company registry, or to the bank to obtain the bank payment advice forms.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Pay the registration fees at a designated bank
Agency: Bank
Registration receipts are obtained from the designated bank where the fees are paid (within 30-40 minutes). Previously, the founder had to pay the fee at the bank and wait for 3 days to pick up the receipts from the Ministry of Justice.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
File the registration documents at the Office of the Registrar and Obtain the Certificate of Incorporation
Agency: Office of the Registrar
Registration is an administrative process conducted by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, which is autonomous from the Ministry of Justice and handles company registration-related issues. To register, the entrepreneur must submit the following documents as indicated to the Registration window of URSB:
- A completed application Form.
- Form A1: Statement of Nominal Capital.
- Form S18: Registration form.
- Form A3: Before incorporation, shares are not yet paid for and thus not allotted. After incorporation, as soon as a company allots its shares, the returns should be registered within 60 days.
- Form 19: consent to act as a director.
- Form 20: Particulars of the directors and secretary of the company is required to be filed within 14 days of company registration.
- Form 18: Notice of the situation of the Registered Address of the company. This form must be filed with the Registrar of Companies within fourteen days of incorporation.
- Company Resolutions: The Business Registry can register resolutions of the Company general meetings and board meeting.
Fee schedule for company registration:
- Registration fees: 1% of the share capital for companies exceeding UGX 5,000,000 of capital
- Stamp duty: 0.5 % of the share capital
- Stamp Duty on Memorandum & Articles of Association: UGX 35,000
- Filing Fees: UGX 25,000
- Filing Form A3: UGX 20,000
- Filing Form 7: UGX 20,000
- Filing Form A9: UGX 20,000
Once the documents are submitted and the fees are paid, the applicant will get a receipt to return to retrieve documents.
Time and cost: Between 3 – 5 days, see comments
Obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and Register for taxes at the Uganda Revenue Authority
Agency: Uganda Revenue Authority
According to section 14 of the Public Finance and Management Act 2015, all businesses seeking a trading license or any form of authorization necessary for purposes of conducting any business in Uganda are required to have a TIN. The company submits a personal inquiry form for each director, and a corporate preliminary inquiry form in application for the Tax Identification Number (TIN). The TIN application can be completed online on the website of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA): www.ura.go.ug. The company also registers for VAT if it has a threshold of over 150,000,000 shillings according to the Value Added Tax Act sect. 7. (Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act 2015).
On uploading the application form online, the system will print the applicant to print out the online form which has to be signed and submitted it to the nearest URA office together with Company Form 20 and a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. The Corporate Tax file number is internally assigned upon approval.
Time and cost: Between 4 – 6 days, no charge
Receive inspection of the business premises by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)
Agency: Uganda Revenue Authority
The business premises undergo inspection by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). Once the applicant calls for an appointment, they will usually come to your premise the next day if you are available.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain trading license
Agency: Kampala Capital City Authority
The entrepreneur applies for a trade license at the Municipal Authority/Council Authority where the company premises are located. The trading license is a general business license required for all companies, including service companies.
As of January 2015, you can download and print the standard forms online through the COIN system:https://ecitie.kcca.go.ug/portal/registration/coin-application-non-individual/. Once online, you complete the standard form A, which can be accessed online, and submitted to the Municipality or City Council, along with the relevant company documents, including the memorandum and articles of association, the name of the directors, the certificate of incorporation, and the lease agreement. You will then be issued a payment slip to take to the Bank.
Time and cost: 4 days, no charge
Receive inspection of the business premises by the licensing officer and obtain the assessment form
Agency: Kampala Capital City Authority
The division of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in the jurisdiction where the business premises are located does inspection ensuring you have applied for the trading license, then issues the Trading licenses on behalf of KCCA. Upon inspection of the company premises, these divisions issue the assessment forms for the fees payable, which vary with the location of the office. These fees are regulated by the Trade Licensing (Amendment of Schedule) Instrument, 2011.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Pay the license fee at the bank
Agency: Bank
The founder must pay the relevant license fee at the bank, as follows:
- Grade 1
- Carrying out wholesale business: UGX 498,750
- Carrying out retail business: UGX 210,000
- Grade 2
- Carrying out wholesale business: UGX 236,250
- Carrying out retail business: UGX 78,750
Once the fees are paid, the Municipal Authority issues the Trading License. This authority also reserves the right to revoke and cancel the trading license if deemed necessary by municipal inspections (health and building).
Time and cost: 1 day, USH 210,000
Register with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF)
Agency: National Social Security Fund
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is governed by the revised laws of Uganda, the National Social Security Fund Act Cap 222. The NSSF is a compulsory saving scheme for private-sector employees between the age of 16 – 55 years, non-governmental organizations, and government parastatal bodies that are not covered by the government pension scheme. Under the Act, all employers with more than 5 employees are obliged to pay an NSSF contribution of 10% of the employees gross monthly salary. Registration forms for NSSF can be downloaded from the NSSF website.
Time and cost: 2 days, no charge
Make a company seal
Agency: Sealmaker
A company seal is mandatory. Section 117 (b) of the companies Act 2012 provides that every Company shall have its name engraved in legible letters on its seal which shall take the form of embossed metal die.
Time and cost: 1 day, USH 225,000
