





Chief Guest Dr. Mary Teopista (Center), Amb. Francis Butagira, Registrar General Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho and URSB board members pose for a photo at the URSB ISO Certification External Stakeholders celebration
Hon. Nobert Mao congratulates the Registrar General, Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho, and Board member, Ms. Lydia A. Sekkabira on the ISO 9001:2015 certification milestone
Mr. Hamidu Tumuhimbise, a senior Registration Officer, attends to a client during the UEB claimants exercise at the Uganda Business Facilitation Center, Kololo
A delegation from PACRA led by the Deputy Registrar Mr. Chewe Peter Chilufya (Center) visited URSB for a 3 days benchmarking visit on the Intellectual Property Registry on how systems operate, the digital improvements implemented and how these reforms contribute to reduced turnaround time
A delegation from UNOC visits URSB to benchmark on the Digital Transformation Journey.
Director General WIPO Mr. Daren Tang, Minister of Justice Hon. Nobert Mao, The Registrar General Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho, URSB Board members a delegation from WIPO pause for a photo at the Uganda Business Facilitation Center during the DG’s mission to Uganda

Ambassador Butagira roots for collective action against music piracy
H.E. Amb. Francis Butagira, URSB Board Chair has cautioned about the urgent need to combat music piracy in Uganda. This, he stressed during the World Intellectual Property (IP) Day celebrations held at UBFC, Kololo, on 25th April 2025.
Amb. Butagira emphasised the critical role of artists in society, stating, “When we talk about music, my mind runs to piracy. What can we do for our artists? We recognise you as a vital part of our society.” In today’s digitised world, Butagira highlighted the increasing prevalence of online infringement, stating that protecting artists is paramount.
“We are fortunate to have copyright laws to safeguard your creativity. Let’s stand together for our musicians!” he urged.
Amb. Butagira explained that Uganda is in the process of domesticating international copyright laws established by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and endorsed by many countries. He expressed gratitude to Minister of Justice Hon. Norbert Mao for advancing this important amendment.
He also mentioned existing protocols under the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) that provide protection for artists’ works across borders. “We want to step up awareness,” Amb. Butagira stated, announcing plans for a business innovation hub dedicated to educating artists about their rights.
Concluding his remarks, Amb. Butagira affirmed, “We want to walk with you to ensure that the music part of our culture is protected and preserved accordingly.” The call for collective action against piracy is more urgent than ever to safeguard Uganda’s vibrant creative landscape.