The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has deregistered 10,001 companies that failed to apply for reinstatement after being struck off the register. This action is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to enforce compliance with the Companies Act, 2012.
The latest deregistration follows a major cleanup exercise in 2023, during which URSB struck off 297,697 companies for failing to file annual returns for five consecutive years.
Despite being given an opportunity to reinstate their status, the affected companies did not comply, leading to their permanent removal through a Notice of Deregistration issued on February 7, 2025.
According to URSB, a company that has been struck off the register ceases to exist legally. The agency has cautioned that operating such a company is a criminal offense, punishable by a fine of up to UGX 4 million per day, as stipulated in Regulation 41 of the Companies Regulations, 2023.
In a warning to stakeholders, URSB has urged government ministries, agencies, financial institutions, and businesses to refrain from transacting with struck-off or deregistered companies.
“Companies that remain struck off are urged to apply for reinstatement immediately to avoid permanent deregistration. Reinstatement applications must be submitted via the Online Business Registration System (OBRS) and require filing outstanding annual returns.”
The full list of deregistered companies is available on the URSB website (www.ursb.go.ug).
URSB has been intensifying enforcement efforts in recent years, with 875 companies deregistered in 2024 and a massive 186,000 companies removed from the register in 2023.
The bureau maintains that it will continue monitoring compliance to ensure businesses fulfill their legal obligations.
