L-R Uganda Law Society President, Pheona Wall, Gilbert Agaba Director Intellectual Property, Mercy Kainobwisho, Registrar General & Paul Asiimwe of Sipi Law Firm during the launch of URSB’s Journal.
The Registrar General of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Mercy K. Kainobwisho today hosted a breakfast meeting with media editors and journalists to enhance their outstanding partnership and stress the critical role the media has played in supporting URSB services.
The meeting was setup to introduce the core team of Top Management, launch the URSB Journal that will publicise Intellectual Property applications.
The Registrar General also used the opportunity to present her achievements since ascension to office in December 2020 and establish her first step towards establishing professional and mutually beneficial relations with the media
Although the Registrar General meets the media more formally at the traditional press conferences during URSB activities, this meeting gave her the opportunity to discuss a number of important topics in a more informal setting.
The focus of attention was the Registrar General’s presentation on her 100-days-in-office achievements, but other subjects covered included: the launch of the URSB Journal that will enable clients save costs to publicize their Trademarks applications, reflections on how to increase formalization for national growth URSB’s role at improving Uganda’s ease of doing business competitiveness, the Registrar General’s vision of expanding the coverage of services, the possibility of bringing onboard more stakeholders for joint engagements and enhancing support for Government’s strategic Vision 2040.
“The primary purpose (of the URSB journal) is to publish trademark applications (provide an alternative to the Gazette) at an affordable cost of Shs100,000-local, USD 80 (foreign). This will increase registration of trademarks,”
This was the first meeting in a sequence of breakfast sessions that URSB is planning in the future to ensure that the media’s role in supporting the public education function is well outlined.
A Glance at achievements
Apart from the launch of the URSB journal, Kainobwisho said they have trained over 50 Judicial officers to strengthen business rehabilitation and rescue framework.
During the three-month period, URSB has also strengthened internal controls to curb corruption by developed an Anti –Corruption 5 year Strategy.
“We have also established an Ethics and Integrity committee,” Kainobwisho told journalists, adding that they have also operationalized a whistle blowers hotline to report corruption related matters and other complaints.
She further revealed that URSB is fast tracking legal reforms to ensure they are updated and addressing the needs of users (Business Names Registration Act, Companies Act of 2012, Insolvency Act of 2011)
Kainobwisho added that URSB offices funded by the World Bank under Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) is nearing completion.
She said this will provide a conducive environment for investors, local businesses and enhance private sector growth. The building will house URSB, Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) and Capital Markets Authority (CMA).
In the last 100 days, over 14000 businesses/companies have been legally registered by URSB.
Kainobwisho further revealed that URSB has established a full functional electronic Security Interest in Movable Property Registry System (SIMPO) where 110 financial institutions are registered on the platform .
“1343 women have been able to access credit using movable property since 2019 when the system was established,” she said.
Overall, 7,797 transactions have been recorded under SIMPO since 19th September 2019. In the last 100 days, 1,188 transactions have taken place using SIMPO.
Kainobwisho added that to get more businesses formalized, URSB is opening up upcountry branches, with the 5th URSB regional office having been operationalized in Masaka on 15th, March 2021.
The URSB boss also noted that they have rolled out online filing of annual returns and carried out training of users.
“We are in the process of getting ISO:9001 certified so that there are clear procedures and standards for all URSB services,” she said.
URSB has also established a Geographical Indications Registry. This for example entails the crops grown in various areas of Uganda.
She added that URSB has signed an MoU with the Muslim Centre for Justice (MCJ) which will allow for collaboration in registration of Muslim marriages.
“We have also renewed the MoU with Uganda Police Force (supports URSB in enforcement operations against infringers on Trademarks),” she said.
Kainobwisho noted that URSB successfully celebrated the World Intellectual Property Day on April 26 by holding panel discussions to appreciate the role of SMEs in the economy.
“We also successfully conducted the Insolvency conference on April 27th with panel discussions held on Insolvency amidst COVID-19,” she said.
Future Plans
On the way forward, Kainobwisho said she wants URSB to fully implement the All Digital Online strategy by end of 2021.
She also wants to establish additional offices to cater for all Ugandans registration needs.
“We want to fully implement the National Intellectual Property Policy,” she said, adding that URSB will also strengthen existing partnerships while seeking new partnerships to drive its agenda.
“We also want to implement a capacity building program to ensure staff receive trainings regularly,” she said, adding that they will also fast track legal reforms for the pending Acts due for amendment.
She also wants to strengthen and enforce internal controls to curb corruption in addition to carrying out regular virtual training on all URSB services.
“We shall also have continuous sensitization on SIMPO to ensure affordable credit is extended to MSMEs using movable property,” she said.
