Do I need to register my business in Uganda?
In brief
You can register either a business name (for a sole proprietor or partnership trading under a name) or incorporate a company. A company, once registered, is a body corporate distinct from its owners and can own property and sue in its own name (Companies Act s.18). A business name registration records who is behind the name but does not create a separate legal person. Most businesses also need a trading licence and a TIN.
A little more detail
Choose a company if you want limited liability and to raise capital; a business name if you want the simplest set-up and accept personal liability.
What to do next
See the business-name-vs-company note and the company-registration or start-up-licences checklist.
The law
- Companies Act, Cap. 106 (2023 Revision) — s.18.
Quick guide · 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.