You’ve got the perfect business idea. You’ve done the market research, built a killer brand, maybe even lined up your first few customers. You’re ready to go, but you can’t skip a necessary, tedious step-  business registration.

Suddenly, you're buried in forms, bouncing between government websites, figuring out legal jargon, and wondering if you need three different certificates just to get started.

Why is registering a business in Uganda so confusing? What steps matter, and which ones are just noise?

Let’s break it down, cut through the complexity, and walk through exactly what it takes to get your business legally up and running in Uganda, without the usual drama.

Step 1: Decide on a business structure

First things first, you need to answer a critical question: What kind of business are you registering?

• Sole Proprietorship: Simple, low-cost, and owned by one person. Perfect for freelancers or solo entrepreneurs.
  
  

• Partnership: Shared ownership between two or more people, with shared profits and liability.
  
  

• Private Limited Company (Ltd): Ideal for startups looking to grow, raise capital, or protect personal assets.
  
  

• NGO or Company Limited by Guarantee: For non-profits or charitable organizations.

Choosing the right structure determines what kind of process you will go through in registering your business and affects everything, from taxes and liability to compliance requirements and how investors perceive you.

Pro tip: Most growth-focused businesses in Uganda choose the Private Limited Company structure for legal protection and better access to funding.

Step 2: Reserve your business name

Now that you’ve picked a structure, it’s time to make it official, starting with your unique business name. 

Go to the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) website and conduct a name search to make sure your business name is available. You can reserve it online for 30 days if it's good to go.

You’ll need:

• Three proposed names (in order of preference)

• A valid National ID or passport

• UGX 24,000 for the name reservation fee

Pro Tip: Make sure your name is unique and doesn’t contain restricted terms like “bank,” “university,” or “Uganda” without proper clearance.

Step 3: Prepare your Registration Documents

For a Private Limited Company, you’ll need the following documents:

• Memorandum and Articles of Association

• Company registration forms:

  • Form 20 (Directors and Secretary)

  • Form 24 (Particulars of Directors and Secretary)

  • Form 25 (Authorized legal notices recipient)

  • Form 26 (Registered company address)

  • Form 13 (Statement of company charges)

• National IDs or passports for all directors/shareholders

• Passport photos

• Company resolution (for foreign-owned companies)

• Statement of nominal capital

Estimated Fees:

• At least $470 (approx. UGX 1.8 million) to reserve and register a Private Limited Company name

If you're registering a sole proprietorship or partnership, the paperwork is simpler, but you'll still need a national ID, a business name reservation, and an application form (Form A1).

Step 4: Submit your documents to URSB

Once your paperwork is ready, you can submit everything to URSB either:

• Online through the URSB eCitizen portal, or

• In-person at any URSB office nationwide

Fees vary depending on your business type and capital, but a typical private limited company registration costs around UGX 160,000–250,000.

After submission, URSB will issue:

• Certificate of Incorporation

• Form 18 (Registered office address)

• Form 20 (Director and Secretary details)

Registration fees (for Private Ltd): UGX 160,000–250,000 depending on share capital.

Step 5: Register for tax (TIN) with URA

Every business in Uganda must register with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and get a Tax Identification Number (TIN).

You can apply online through the URA portal. If your company has employees, you’ll also need to register for:

• Pay As You Earn (PAYE)

• Value Added Tax (VAT) (if annual turnover exceeds UGX 150M)

Step 6: Get a Trading license

Your business can’t legally operate without a Trading License, which you get from the local municipal authority or Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

You’ll need:

• A copy of your Certificate of Incorporation

• Physical business address details

• Lease agreement or landlord letter

• National ID

Licensing fees depend on your industry and location, but typically range from UGX 100,000 to 500,000 per year.

Step 7: Open a business bank account

With your business officially registered, you can now open a corporate bank account. Most banks will require:

• Certificate of Incorporation

• Company resolution to open a bank account

• TIN certificate

• National IDs of directors and signatories

This step helps separate your business finances from your funds,  a must for long-term growth.

Want to skip the paperwork stress? Startbutton can help your business expand to Uganda

We get it, registration can feel overwhelming. That’s why Startbutton is built to make business expansion into Uganda and 14 other African countries as painless and stress-free as possible.

Whether you’re a founder launching a new venture or a global brand entering the Ugandan market, Startbutton is a Merchant of Record (MOR) platform that handles your tax compliance, local regulations, to managing multi-currency payments and conversions, Startbutton takes on the heavy lifting so you can stay focused on growing your business.

No confusing paperwork. No long queues. No missed deadlines. Just a single, hassle-free platform that gets your business up and running fast.

Conclusion

Registering a business in Uganda doesn’t have to be a maze. With the right steps — and the right support, you can go from idea to a legally operating business in a matter of days.

So go ahead: build boldly, grow confidently, and leave the red tape to us.

Ready to register your business in Uganda?
Talk to us at sales@startbutton.africa or sign up here