By Editorial
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has committed to strengthening systems that enhance transparency, efficiency, and coordination across government and the private sector.
The commitment follows the rollout of URSB’s new mandate of establishing and maintaining a Centralized Register for all Non-Individual Entities registered, licensed, incorporated, issued with any other authorisation or carrying on business in Uganda.
In 2025, the government, through the Ministry of Finance, amended the Tax Procedure Code Act, which provided for the issuance of an Entity Registration Number by URSB after being admitted to the Non-Individual Register.
While addressing stakeholders from Acholi region at Bomah Hotel in Gulu City recently, Alex Anganya, the URSB Deputy Registrar General, stated that the establishment of the Non-Individual Register is a significant step forward in streamlining how entities are identified, regulated, and supported in Uganda.
“The NIR establishes a centralised, single register of all Non-Individual Entities operating in the country, whether business or Non-Business. This includes companies, partnerships, associations, NGOs, cooperatives, and other structured bodies,” Deputy Registrar General Anganya told the stakeholders.
He explained that a unique Entity Registration Number (ERN) is used to identify entities across all government platforms.
He observed that for a long time, entities have been registered across multiple agencies, resulting in fragmented data, duplication, and inefficiencies.
Anganya stressed that the NIR addresses create a unified system that enhances coordination, improves compliance, simplifies access to services, and supports government planning and policy implementation.
“Formalisation is at the heart of this initiative. When entities are formally registered and identifiable, they gain access to opportunities, access to finance, government services, contracts, and markets. Formalisation builds credibility, enhances trust, and enables businesses and organisations to grow sustainably,” he said.
Peter Banya, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) in charge of Laroo-Pece Division in Gulu City, expressed government’s determination towards the successful operationalisation of the Non-Individual Register.
Deputy RCC Banya called for a collective responsibility among all stakeholders in the actualisation of the Non-Individual Register’s intended objectives
“With URSB’s continued efforts to improve accessibility and efficiency in registration services, I am confident that this initiative will achieve its intended objectives,” RCC Banya said.
Beatrice Lakot, a member of the Civil Society, appreciated URSB for the rollout of Non-Individual Register, saying that the issuance of a unique Entity Registration Number (ERN) will go a long way in ensuring that even the organised farmer groups can be identified and tracked for capacity building support.
According to Lakot, the issuance of the ERN will ease transactions with all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“As the civil society, we have been facing a challenge with farmer groups, especially when it came to access to financing. The farmer groups are many, but they lacked a unique identifier and legal backing, so it has always been hard for financial institutions to transact with them,” she said.
The engagement was attended by Chief Administrative Officers, Commercial Officers, Community Development Officers, members of the Civil Society as well as the Private Sector Players from Local Governments across Acholi region.
ENDS
