URSB Annual Report (2016/2017)
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ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017 a ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017 URSB CORPORATE PROFILE WHO WE ARE Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) is a semi-autonomous statutory body established by the URSB Act, Cap 210 to implement the relevant laws, provide registration services, collect and account for all revenue provided for under the relevant laws. The Bureau is responsible for the following functions: • Business Registration which includes registration of companies, business names, partnerships, legal documents, debentures and chattels securities; • Intellectual Property Rights Registration which includes Industrial Designs, Geographical indications, Patents, Utility models, Trademarks and Service marks; Copyright and Neighbouring Rights; • Civil Registration which includes registration of marriages (Civil, Church, Muslim, Hindu and Customary), registration of Muslim divorces, licensing of Churches to celebrate registrable marriages and issuance of single status letters; • Act as Official Receiver in insolvency matters; • Collection of Non Tax Revenue (NTR). OUR VISION An organization that is efficient, effective, self sustaining and customer focused in service delivery OUR MISSION To promote, protect and register business enterprises, Intellectual Property rights, civil matters, act as Official Receiver and collect Non Tax Revenue through an effective records management system. OUR VALUES Professionalism Integrity Transparency Accountability Punctuality Customer centric i CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT Corporate governance encompasses the system through which the organization is governed and controlled. It comprises principles, guidelines, structures and processes. The URSB corporate governance system ensures that there is balance of interests for all the stakeholders including the Board of Directors, Management, the private sector, the general business community, development partners, Government and the general public. Board of Directors • To supervise generally the management of the property and business of the Bureau URSB is governed by a Board of Directors that is The Board met four times within the Financial Year to appointed by the Minister responsible for Justice and review the quarterly performance of the Bureau. Constitutional Affairs. The Board is comprised of seven Members including; the Chairperson, and the Registrar General. The tenure of office of members of the Board Board Committees is a period of three years on such terms and conditions The Board in its function delegated some of its determined by the Minister and members are eligible functions to Committees. The Committees established for re-appointment. are the Board Human Resources Committee, the Board The Board is composed of persons of proven Finance Committee and the Board Audit Committee. experience in law, commerce, economics, taxation, Each of these committees met four times in the Year. business management or other subjects relevant to the objects and functions of the Bureau. The Board Secretary to the Board representation is from both the public and private sector. The roles of the Board, the Chairman and The Secretary provides secretarial services and support Registrar General, who is the Chief Executive of the to the Board to enable the interface between policy Bureau, are clear and distinct. With the exception making and policy implementation. With the Chairman of the Registrar General, all members of the Board of the Board, the Secretary ensured timely delivery of are Non-Executive Directors which ensures sufficient information to members of the Board and ensures the independence in decision making. Members had the resources required in time, to enable them fulfil their responsibilities. Functions and duties of the Board as stipulated in the URSB Act include: Board Training and Exposure • To formulate and review the policy of the Bureau During the year the Board participated in the following • To carry out the objects and functions of the Bureau trainings; • To set targets for the annual performance of the a) Board Performance and Evaluation Bureau b) Role of the Board in transformation • To monitor and evaluate the performance of the management of the Bureau c) Corporate Governance • To determine the organisational structure and staffing of the Bureau ii Board Members Ambassador Francis K. Butagira Bemanya Twebaze Fred Opolot Abdul Kasule Ben Anyama Moses Kaggwa Christine Kaahwa Micheal Maranga Mawanda iii Top Management Bemanya Twebaze Registrar General Alfred Mugisha Deputy RG Jane Okot P’ Bitek Langoya Caroline T. Egesa Finance & Administration Deputy RG Registries Board Secretary Alex Anganya Arthur Kwesiga Francis Kaggwa Director Fiona Bayiga Director Internal Audit Director ICT Finance & Administration Director Civil Registration Mercy K. Kainobwisho Vincent Katutsi Ag. Director Ntale Mustapher Paul Magera Director Intellectual Property Business Registration Manager Liquidation Manager Procurement Provia Nangobi Senior Public Relations Officer iv Table of CONTENTS BOARD MEMBERS iii TOP MANAGEMENT iv CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT 3 FOREWORD 4 LIST OF ACRONYMS 6 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 1.0 Strengthen URSB’s legal, policy and institutional framework 7 1.1 Strengthened policy and legal framework 7 2.0 Enhancing Efficient, Effective and Customer- Focused Service Delivery 10 2.1 Business Registration System (BRS) 10 2.2 Implementation of the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) 11 2.3 E-licensing portal 11 2.4 Other Salient ICT Initiatives 12 2.5 Operationalization of the Business Facilitation Centre 12 2.6 Implementation of phase three of the Tax Payer Register Expansion Program (TREP) 13 2.7 Partnerships 14 2.8 Awards 14 1 2.9 Staff capacity building activities 15 3.0 Registry Users empowerment 15 3.1 International Engagements 16 3.0 Enhance public and stakeholder awareness of URSB services 3.1 Open days held 17 3.2 Participation in Trade Fairs and exhibitions 18 3.3 Mass Media Programs 19 3.4 Sensitization and awareness activities conducted 19 3.5 Sensitisation through Information Education and Communication materials (IEC) 22 4.0 Promote strict management, accountability and human rights observance in service delivery. 4.1 Human Resource Management 23 4.2 Management Structure 24 4.3 Enhancement of health and safety of staff and clients 24 4.4 Annual Report Publication 24 4.5 Compliance driven Management 24 4.6 Audits and Inspections 25 4.7 Legal advisory and court representation function 25 4.8 Anti-corruption Strategy 26 5.0 Financial Report for the FY Ended June 30th 2017 27 2 CHAIRMAN’S Statement It is with great pleasure that I present to you the Annual I am confident that you will find this report both Report for the Financial Year 2016/2017. The report informative and remarkable and that it will give you a highlights the milestones URSB has achieved. greater understanding of the work undertaken by URSB. The financial year significantly marked the completion of More importantly, I am sure you will appreciate what has the implementation of the Strategic Investment Plan 1 been done and what has changed to influence the doing (2012/13 – 2016/17). business environment in our country through an effective service to the private sector, in the most efficient way The Bureau continues to transform all business operations possible. through automation and online services to minimise human interface and improve on efficiencies during the On behalf of the Board of Directors therefore, I wish to registration process. The provision of online services thank all our Partners, MDAs and stakeholders in both the has increased access and improved the Doing business public and private sectors, with whom we have worked to environment. provide improved public service to the country. URSB embarked on the next Strategic Investment Plan In a special way I thank the Honorable Minister of Justice 11 (2017/18 – 2019/20) where we will enhance the and Constitutional Affairs for his relentless support to the availability of services online, strengthen compliance and Board, Management and Staff of URSB. increase physical presence countrywide in a bid to bring efficient and effective services nearer to the people. All this is in line with our vision: ‘Center of Excellence for Ambassador Francis K. Butagira Reliable Registration Services”. Board Chairman URSB continues to enhance its productivity as enshrined in the Second National Development Plan and Vision 2040. Francis K Butagira 3 Foreword The year 2016/17 was marked by the transformation of URSB continued with the strategic partnerships and registration services from manual to semi-automated entered some new partnerships during the year. The process leading to remarkable improvement in service World Intellectual property organization (WIPO) and delivery and ultimately recognition for exceptional the African regional Intellectual Property organization performance by Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS). (ARIPO) continued to support URSB in building capacity URSB won two JLOS performance awards. of our staff through trainings, workshops, establishment of Technology Innovation Support Centers (TISCs), the The automation and digitization contract ; Electronic Appropriate Technology Project and the development of Document Management System (EDMS) was supported the National Intellectual Property Policy. by Competitiveness Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) a World Bank funded project; and resulted in URSB signed a Memorandum of Understanding with access to the electronic search and retrieval of company Uganda Police Force for