Uganda - Register a New Company
ProcedureEdit
HOW TO APPLY
- Search for Business Name
- Identify at least 3 name options.
- Fill in a Name Reservation form, which can be obtained from the physical One Stop Centre (OSC) at Uganda Investment Authority (UIA); the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) offices; or at the Uganda Bookshop.
- Submit a filled form with proof of payment Cost: UGX 2000
- The officer carrying out the registration will then carry out the name search and reservation then reserve your business name within 1 day
- Reserve the Business Name
- To reserve a company name, the entrepreneur submits the Business Name Reservation Form to the assessment window of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).and pay the name reservation fees Cost: UGX 20,000 paid at the (URSB) bank account which can be obtain at ant bank
- 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-reservation books where the entrepreneur can search and check whether the desired name was approved or rejected and for what reasons. This process takes a period within 2-4 days
- Membership subscription.
- After securing a company name, a company is then required to seek member subscription to the Uganda national chamber of commerce (UNCCI). Under this chamber, there are various categories of membership subscription all subject to different annual payments.
- Associate – UGX 1,100,000/-
- Gold – UGX 510,000/-
- Silver – UGX 260,000/-
- The requirements under this stage for one to be fully registered as the certified name reservation form awarded by Uganda Registration Service Bureau, a business case and a passport copy of one of the company directors.
- Obtain Certificate of Incorporation
- This is still done through Uganda Registration Service Bureau and the requirements are company books, memorandum of agreement, articles of association, declaration of companies using forms A1, A2, A3, 7 and A9 plus lastly the company resolutions.
- On top of those documents a registration fee of UGX 20,000/- , stamp duty totaling to 0.5% of the share capital, stamp duty on memorandum and articles of association UGX 35000/-, plus filling fees of UGX 25,000/- , for the various forms A2 at UGX 10,000/- , A3, 7 and A9 at UGX 20,000/- are payable.
- Obtain an Investment License
- By law, all foreign investors need to obtain an Investment License from Uganda Investment Authority (UIA). However, according to the current investment Code, domestic investors are not obliged. One can apply for an Investment License Online from UIA
- Foreign investors require a minimum of US$100,000 in planned investment in order to secure an investment license from the Uganda Investment Authority, whereas for local investments, the minimum planned investment requirement is US$50,000. Local investors, however, may proceed with their investment without licensing with the Uganda Investment Authority. The license is crucial to foreign investors as it is the instrument that legalizes their investment in Uganda. Traders do not require a license from UIA but must demonstrate operating capital of US$100,000 before trading licenses and entry permits are issued by local authorities.
- Register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN).
- This is done through the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and no charges apply here. Application for the TIN can be done online through Uganda revenue authority and additionally personal inquiry firms for each director are required.
- This is done through the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and no charges apply here. Application for the TIN can be done online through Uganda revenue authority and additionally personal inquiry firms for each director are required.
- Obtain a Trading License
- 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 City Operator Identification Number (COIN) system. 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 Cost: UGX 78,750 - UGX 498,750 to take to the Bank.
- 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 City Operator Identification Number (COIN) system. 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 Cost: UGX 78,750 - UGX 498,750 to take to the Bank.
- Register with National Social Security Fund (NSSF)
- 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 16-35 years, non-governmental organizations, and government parasternal 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% to their employees. This procedure takes 1-7 days.
- Employee form:Registration Form
- Employer form: https://www.ebiz.go.ug/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Registration-forms.pdf Registration form]
- Make a Company Seal
- 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.at a Cost: UGX 225,000 and processing time within 1 day
Required DocumentsEdit
- Identification document of the applicant (ID card or passport)
- Accurately filled assessment forms
- TIN Number of the applicant
- NSSF card number
- Company name
- Certified Name Reservation Form-Business Case
- Passport copy & Photo of one of the directors
- Company Books
- Memorandum of Agreement
- Articles of Association
- Declaration of companies.
- Accurately filled Form A1:Form A2:- Form A3:- Form 7:– Form 9A:
- Company Resolutions:
- Personal inquiry form for each director
- Statement of Nominal capital Form that states share capital, number and class of shares, value of the shares.
- Memorandum of Understanding and Articles of Association,– Form 7: With the name of the directors,
- Certificate of incorporation,
- Lease/ Tenancy agreement.
Office Locations & ContactsEdit
Uganda Revenue Authority - Head Office,
Physical address: Plot M193/M194,
Nakawa Industrial Area
Kampala, Uganda
P.O. Box 7279,
Kampala, Uganda
Toll Free Number: (256) 800117000
Email:[email protected]
Website: Link
Uganda Registration Services Bureau - Head Office,
Uganda Business Facilitation Centre
Plot 1 Baskerville Avenue,
Kololo,
Kampala
Toll Free: 0800 100 006
Call Center: +256 417 338 100
Phone: +256 414 233 219 / 0417338000
Fax: +256 414 250 712
Email: [email protected] (General Correspondences)
Email: [email protected] (For Enquiries)
Website:Link
EligibilityEdit
- Citizens and foreigner investors who wish invest in Uganda by opening a company
FeesEdit
Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.
ValidityEdit
- Valid is Forever until the owners De-register or dissolve the company
Documents to UseEdit
URSB COMPANY REGISTRATION FORMS
Employee NSSF form
Employer NSSF form
Sample DocumentsEdit
Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.
Processing TimeEdit
- 1 – 2 months
Related VideosEdit
Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation. Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed. e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M".
InstructionsEdit
Steps to Register a Company in Uganda.
- Search for Business Name
- Reserve the Business Name
- Obtain Certificate of Incorporation
- Obtain an Investment License
- Obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
- Obtain a Trading License
- Register with National Social Security Fund (NSSF)
- Make a Company Seal
Required InformationEdit
- Name of the company
- Names of the main shareholders of the company
- Identification documents of main shareholder
- Location and address of the operation site
- Tin number and NSSF number
Need for the DocumentEdit
Registering your business/company is a legal requirement as stipulated by the Uganda company act, in which guidelines the manner and activities to operate the company
Information which might helpEdit
BENEFITS OF REGISTERING A COMPANY
- Obtain legal Identity/status
- Safeguard your business name by acquiring a trade name.
- Access opportunities like loans, tenders, financing etc.
- Business formalization creates more employment opportunities through business expansion.
- Enables registration for licenses e.g Investment, trading and taxation licenses.
- Better marketing and advertising opportunities for increased clientele
- Improved competitiveness in the regional market
Other uses of the Document/CertificateEdit
Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate. e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.
External LinksEdit
Registering a new company
URSB Fees
URSB
Uganda revenue authority
Business in uganda
OthersEdit
More information which might help people.