





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

URSB unveils the Directorate of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights
In a significant milestone for Uganda’s creative sector, Hon. Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, officially unveiled the newly established Directorate of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) on 25th April 2025.
The event, held during the World Intellectual Property (IP) Day celebrations, marked a pivotal moment in the country’s commitment to safeguarding intellectual property rights.
Minister Mao, together with the Registrar General Ms. Mercy K Kainobwisho and the Board Chair, handed over the instruments of power to Miriam Nabatanzi, the newly appointed Director, emphasising the Directorate’s vital role in protecting copyright interests and promoting awareness of intellectual property rights.
“This is a commitment we are making to the creative industry,” Ms. Kainobwisho stated, highlighting that the Directorate will serve as a home for all creatives, including musicians, filmmakers, writers, and sculptors, among others.
The Directorate expands from a small unit of three to a robust team of 23, reflecting URSB’s dedication to enhancing support for the creative community, she added.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Nabatanzi expressed her enthusiasm for the role, stating, “It’s with happiness, honor, and humility that I step into this position. Together, we are going to make a significant contribution to this industry.”
This unveiling, signals a new era of support and advocacy for Uganda’s creative talents.