Start-up licences and registrations in Uganda: checklist
Pending verification: The current trading-licence and sector-permit fees vary by local authority and sector. Treat the flagged points as provisional and confirm them before relying on them.
In brief
Beyond incorporation, a new business needs a TIN, a trading licence and any sector permits. This checklist gathers the common ones.
Who it's for & when to use it
Who it's for: New business owners and their advisers.
When to use it: When launching a business and getting it compliant.
When not to use it: As a substitute for sector-specific regulatory advice.
The checklist
1. Register the entity
- Register a company or a business name at URSB; a company gains separate legal personality (Companies Act s.18).
- Reserve and secure your business name.
2. Tax registration
- Register for a TIN with URA, and for VAT and PAYE where applicable.
- Set up your books and a business bank account.
3. Trading licence
- Obtain the trading licence from the local authority for your premises and activity.
4. Sector permits
- Obtain sector permits (for example food, health, financial, transport) as your activity requires.
5. Protect your brand
- Consider registering a trademark for your brand — registration confers the exclusive right to use the mark (Trademarks Act, 2010).
Key authorities
- Companies Act, Cap. 106 (2023 Revision) — s.18.
- Trademarks Act, 2010 — registration confers the exclusive right to use the mark.
Checklist · Business & company.
Actively maintained.
Last reviewed 9 June 2026; next review due 9 June 2027.
This resource is a practitioner orientation and general information, not legal advice, and does not create an advocate–client relationship. It is AI-generated. Ugandan law changes and chapter and section numbers were revised in the 2023 Laws of Uganda. Verify every statute, rule, form, fee and authority against the current primary source — and the specific facts of your matter — before relying on it.