The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has come under scrutiny by Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) over the registration of four prominent companies that allegedly owe the government Shs8 billion in unpaid registration fees.
The companies in question are Rock Construction, Tropical Bank, Oil Palm Kalangala and Speke Resort Munyonyo.
According to the Auditor General’s report for the 2024/2025 financial year, the four companies have accumulated outstanding registration fees amounting to Shs8 billion since their inception.
Appearing before COSASE, URSB Acting Accounting Officer Ntale Musitafa explained that the Bureau proceeded with the registrations after the Minister of Finance reportedly wrote to the institution, committing to facilitate payment of the outstanding fees.
However, the committee has resolved to summon directors of the four companies next Thursday to explain the circumstances surrounding the unpaid fees and clarify why the mandatory registration charges remain outstanding.
In a related development, COSASE has summoned the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, to appear before the committee on Thursday, October 29, 2026, to clarify discrepancies surrounding the interdiction of officials at URSB.
The committee is seeking clarification over apparent differences between communication from the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) and a subsequent press statement regarding the officials affected by the interdictions.
Members of the committee particularly questioned the status of Ambrose Ekaju, the former Commissioner for Finance and Administration, whose name was reportedly missing from the IGG communication cited during the proceedings.
According to URSB’s accounting officer, the specific interdiction directive issued by the IGG targets four officials: Mercy Kainobwisho, the Registrar General; Alex Anganya, the Deputy Registrar General in charge of Finance and Administration; Arthur Kwesiga, the Commissioner for ICT and Innovations; and Walid Kule, the Assistant Commissioner for Business Registration Services.
The committee is expected to seek further clarification from Mao on the scope of the directive and the apparent inconsistencies in the communication regarding the affected officials.
The two matters place URSB’s registration fee collection and its handling of staff interdictions under parliamentary scrutiny, with COSASE seeking accountability from the companies involved and the government officials responsible for the relevant decisions.
By Francis Lubega
27th Oct 2026
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