Government to save Shs67b in online business registration

KAMPALA- The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) wants more than 41 licences updated in order to enable government to save billions of shillings in unnecessary procedures.

This, the registration authority says, will also ease online registration once the public embraces electronic business registration and licensing.

Recommendations
Speaking at a conference on implementation of business licensing reforms and use of e-licensing Portal in Kampala on Tuesday, Ms Winnie Tarinyeba, a business licensing reform consultant, said 41 licences serve no legitimate regulatory purpose and should be eliminated to save about Shs66.8 billion.

She added that 418 licenses will be retained in their original form, 290 streamlined, five re-classified, eight merged into four.

“When the laws are updated, this will eliminate redundant procedures, reduce on red tape and simplify multiple licensing regimes,” Ms Tarinyeba explained.

She cited that this would ease regulatory and administrative burdens in order to enhance competitiveness and innovation in the business sector
According to URSB director general Bemanya Twebaze, the e-system seeks to ease the registration of companies and the process of acquiring operational licences without incurring transport expenses.

“We are moving to a stage where registration and licensing is done online (through internet). Why do we need a periodical process? This programme will focus on providing comprehensive information on all business licenses and all the required information regarding licence applications for the benefit our business community,” Mr Twebaze added.

He said the online service system will provide information to stakeholders on the requirements and cost implications as well as fees required for a particular service without necessarily visiting the registration offices.

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