The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (Uganda Registration Services Bureau) has struck off 37,702 companies from the national register after they failed to comply with statutory filing obligations for five consecutive years, marking one of the largest corporate deregistration exercises in recent years.
In a public notice, the Bureau said the action was taken under Section 130(6) of the Companies Act, Cap. 106, following repeated warnings issued to the affected entities through notices published on July 20, 2023, August 14, 2023, and August 30, 2023.
“Pursuant to Section 130(6) of the Companies Act, Cap. 106 and by notices dated 20th July 2023, 14th August 2023 and 30th August 2023, the Registrar of Companies struck some companies off the register for failure to file annual returns for a period of five years,” URSB stated.
The Bureau noted that the deregistered companies had previously been granted a 12-month grace period within which they could apply for restoration, provided they submitted all outstanding annual returns and met reinstatement requirements.
However, those who failed to comply within the stipulated timeframe have now been permanently removed from the register.
URSB said the exercise forms part of its broader enforcement strategy aimed at strengthening corporate compliance, improving the integrity of the national companies register, and ensuring that only active and legally compliant businesses remain on record.
Under Ugandan corporate law, all registered companies are required to file annual returns to maintain their legal status. Failure to do so for an extended period can result in striking off and eventual deregistration. The Bureau also warned that operating a struck-off company is an offence punishable by fines of up to Shs4 million per day.
Despite the deregistration, affected companies may still apply for reinstatement by clearing outstanding filings and submitting restoration requests through the online business registration system.
This latest move follows a similar enforcement exercise in which URSB deregistered more than 50,000 companies that had also failed to meet filing requirements, underscoring an ongoing push to clean up Uganda’s corporate registry and enforce compliance.
URSB maintains that the continued crackdown is intended to enhance transparency, improve data accuracy, and reinforce corporate governance standards across the country.
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