





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 Designs Workshop Empowers Uganda’s Fashion Creatives with Legal Protection
Last week, Uganda’s creative industry experienced a significant transformation as the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) hosted its inaugural Industrial Design Workshop, specifically designed for fashion and creative designers.
Held on June 30, 2025, at the Uganda Business Facilitation Centre (UBFC) in Kololo, the workshop focused on the theme, “Industrial Designs Protection as a Tool to Achieve Market Competitiveness,” as a step in empowering local designers to enhance their market presence through effective intellectual property strategies.
Delivering keynote remarks, Mr. James Lubwama, Assistant Commissioner for Patents and Industrial Design, underscored the workshop’s significance in strengthening the creative economy.
“We firmly believe that industrial design protection is a powerful tool for building resilient, competitive businesses in Uganda,” he said. “This comes at a time when originality and product appeal are critical to consumer choices and business success.”
Mr. Lubwama emphasized that registering industrial designs gives creators the legal power to prevent unauthorized copying, establish brand identity, and expand market potential.
The workshop attracted designers, stylists, accessory makers, and entrepreneurs, engaging formally with intellectual property law for the first time.
Ronnie Nsubuga, Executive Director of Pearl of Africa Fashion Alliance, called the event “a landmark moment.”
“Fashion is not just art, it’s business. Yet many creatives operate without legal protection. That must change today.”
URSB’s initiative signals a powerful shift: from informal talent to legalised creative enterprises and a future where Uganda’s designers own their brilliance.