





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

Registrar General Urges Fashion Designers to Protect Creations Through IP Laws
Fashion designers have been urged to fully embrace intellectual property (IP) protection as a shield against infringement, imitation, and counterfeiting. The call was made by Registrar General, Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho, during the Brand Protection Symposium held on Thursday, September 18, at the Uganda Business Facilitation Center (UBFC), Kololo.
The symposium, organized by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) in partnership with Grooming a Successful Woman with an Intellectual Mind (GSWIM) and the Pearl of Africa Fashion Alliance (PAFA), was the first of its kind in Uganda.
It aimed to empower fashion entrepreneurs with knowledge on how to secure and commercialize their creative works through trademarks and design registration.
Ms. Kainobwisho noted that many creatives remain unaware of their rights despite increasing risks of theft and counterfeiting.
“Your design is your IP. When you register it, you receive a certificate that gives you full legal ownership. If you don’t protect it, you risk losing it to IP thieves,” she warned.
She further highlighted URSB’s collaboration with the Uganda Police Force through a dedicated IP enforcement unit tasked with investigating and acting on violations.
In addition, she encouraged designers to use URSB’s free mediation services to resolve disputes without the burden of going to court.
The Registrar General reaffirmed URSB’s commitment to safeguarding Uganda’s creative economy, describing the symposium as a milestone in bridging gaps in IP awareness and enforcement within the fashion industry.