Business 18 June 2026 Nile Post
URSB Cleans Up Register, Deregisters Over 37,000 Companies
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has removed 37,702 companies from the national register due to a persistent failure to file annual returns for five consecutive years. This significant cleanup aims to enhance corporate compliance and data accuracy. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/349543/ursb-deregisters-37702-companies-over-five-year-failure-to-file-returns
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has undertaken a substantial deregistration of 37,702 companies, marking one of the largest corporate clean-up initiatives in recent times. This action was taken against companies that have failed to submit their statutory annual returns for a continuous period of five years, thereby violating provisions of the Companies Act, Cap. 106.
URSB had previously issued multiple public notices, including those on July 20, August 14, and August 30, 2023, to alert these firms about their non-compliance and provide an opportunity to rectify their status. Companies that failed to meet these requirements within the stipulated timeframe have now been permanently removed from the official register.
According to the bureau, affected companies were initially offered a 12-month period to apply for restoration, contingent upon submitting all outstanding annual returns and fulfilling reinstatement conditions. However, those who did not take advantage of this window are now permanently struck off.
This enforcement drive is a key part of URSB’s broader strategy to ensure that only active and compliant businesses maintain their legal recognition. Filing annual returns is a mandatory requirement for registered companies in Uganda to retain their legal standing. Failure to do so for an extended duration can lead to deregistration.
Operating a company that has been struck off the register carries significant legal risks, with potential penalties reaching up to Shs 4 million per day. URSB encourages affected entities to apply for reinstatement through their online system by settling outstanding filings and submitting the necessary restoration applications.
This move follows a similar exercise last year where URSB deregistered over 50,000 non-compliant companies. The bureau emphasizes that these measures are crucial for bolstering transparency, ensuring the integrity of the business register, and upholding corporate governance standards in Uganda.
Source: Nile Post