URSB boss Mercy Kainobwisho
The Uganda Registrations Service Bureau (URSB) has revealed that the Bureau needs Shs6.4bn to shift to its new home and save the Shs2.45bn annual rent the Bureau has been spending on Georgia House along Lumumba.
The request was made by Mercy Kainobwisho, URSB Registrar General while appearing before the Parliamentary Legal Committee to defend the URSB budget in the 2022/2023 national budget framework paper.
She informed the Committee that URSB plans to relocate to the Uganda Business Facilitation Centre located at Bakersville Avenue in Kololo by 1st February 2022. The construction of Uganda Business Facilitation Centre is funded by World Bank and it will be home to URSB, Uganda Investment Authority and Capital Markets Authority.
It will ct as a central hub and one stop center for registration and licensing for both the investors and local companies.
“Despite the Bureau’s readiness to occupy the building upon final completion, there are associated costs to facilitate ICT infrastructure, furnishing and equipping the one stop centre and estate management. This will require additional funding of Shs6.4Bn,” Kainobwisho said.
However, Wilson Kajwengye (Nyabushozi County) queried the Shs1.8Bn that is required for the refurbishment of the new home noting, “I am happy that the organization is moving to a brand new home, but again, they are asking for Shs1.8Bn to refurbish. Because when you say refurbish, it is closely related to an old structure, yet this is a brand new home. Do you want to say decoration?”
The Registrar General clarified saying that the Shs1.8Bn is required for procurement of furniture for the new offices.
Francis Butagira, Board Chairperson URSB informed the Committee that the relocation to the new facility located in Kololo will lead to a saving of Shs1.56Bn per annum on rent because currently, URSB incurs Shs2.45Bn in rent.
However, Solomon Silwany (Bukooli Central) wondered why the Bureau will not save all the Shs2.5Bn in rent.
He asked, “You said you have been spending around Shs2.5Bn and when you move to your new home, you will save about Shs1.5Bn, why can’t you save 100% and even more? Why is the saving almost half of what you have been spending?”
Butagira replied saying the Bureau will spend Shs300M in management fees to the company that will manage the new home professionally and pay rent for the one stop center that will stay at Georgia House of Shs58Mn.
“Part of the money will go towards estate management, the people who will manage the building professionally. Then about Shs58Mn will go towards management of one stop center. We are operating a one stop center at Georgia House and we don’t want to move straight to the other one because this one is nearer and is providing services,” said Butagira.
In 2022/2023, URSB will be allocated Shs24.68Bn, of which Shs10.77Bn will go towards payment of wages, while Shs13.50Bn will cater for non-wage activities and Shs400Mn will cover development activities.
