In a bid to promote transparency and legal certainty within Uganda’s commercial justice system, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, launched its inaugural Case Digest, marking a significant milestone in Uganda’s business landscape.
The launch event was attended by distinguished members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, academia, government representatives, and business leaders, demonstrating broad support for this initiative to strengthen Uganda’s legal and business environment.
The Case Digest was launched at the URSB headquarters in Kololo, where Hon. Justice Mike Chibita, who was the Guest of Honour, highlighted the transformative impact of this publication.
“This Case Digest serves as an indispensable resource; a practical compass guiding us toward greater clarity, efficiency, and fairness in the administration of justice, particularly in matters that drive our economy,” Justice Chibita said.
He noted that the URSB Case Digest is timely and will have a positive impact on the Ugandan business community.
“By distilling key rulings and legal principles, it will serve as a valuable resource for judges, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, promoting predictability, consistency, and confidence in our legal frameworks,” he emphasised.
About the URSB Case Digest
A highly resourceful tool for law scholars and practitioners, the comprehensive Case Digest features decisions made by URSB Registrars in their quasi-judicial capacity, covering company matters, intellectual property disputes, including trademark oppositions and copyright objections, as well as insolvency proceedings. Additionally, it includes notable court decisions where URSB was a party, creating a valuable repository of legal precedents.
Commitment to Transparency
The URSB Board Chairman, Rt. Hon. Amb. Canon Francis K. Butagira noted that the digest represents more than a compilation of legal decisions, because it is “a testament to our commitment to transparency, in dispensing commercial justice information, public sensitisation and our commitment to business formalisation and economic development.”
Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho, the URSB Registrar General, underscored the publication’s broader significance to the legal and business environment in Uganda.
“By documenting these decisions, we are not only promoting transparency but also creating a repository of legal knowledge that will guide practitioners, businesses, scholars, and the public. This Digest will serve as a tool for education, precedent, and the continuous evolution of our legal system,” she stated.
Ms. Caroline T. Egesa, the URSB Commissioner, Legal Services, emphasised the practical benefits for Uganda’s economy, noting that “legal predictability is not a luxury, but a prerequisite for investment, innovation, and inclusive growth.”
Foundation for Business Continuity
The Case Digest addresses critical uncertainties faced by businesses, from trademark protection to secured transactions, providing clear precedents that will reduce litigation and enhance legal advisory services, thereby ensuring business continuity.
For small and medium enterprises, innovators, and creditors, the digest offers accessible guidance through URSB’s quasi-judicial functions, delivering “justice without robes” that is swifter and more accessible than traditional court proceedings.
According to Egesa, URSB is committed to the regular publication of the Case Digest, with plans for continuous improvement and expansion.
The bureau thus invites all stakeholders: government agencies, judiciary, private sector, and development partners to actively engage with this resource and contribute to future editions.