The Registrar General of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Ms Mercy K Kainobwisho, has been named among the 50 most influential people in Intellectual Property for 2025, a global recognition by Managing Intellectual Property (Managing IP), an international publication that tracks developments in intellectual property (IP) law, policy, and practice.
The annual list honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to intellectual property policy, enforcement, innovation, and administration worldwide.
Ms Kainobwisho is the only Ugandan on the 2025 list, which also features senior global IP leaders, including World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Director General Daren Tang, Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property CEO Abdulaziz AlSwailem, and UK Intellectual Property Office CEO Adam Williams.
According to Managing IP, the list highlights leaders whose work has had a measurable impact on national and global intellectual property systems, particularly in strengthening protection frameworks and promoting innovation.
Ms Kainobwisho’s recognition follows a series of institutional reforms at URSB during 2025 aimed at strengthening Uganda’s intellectual property framework.
In December, URSB, in partnership with WIPO, launched the Intellectual Property in Schools Programme, an initiative designed to introduce learners to IP concepts through innovation exhibitions and hands-on activities in areas such as robotics and agritech.
Institutional effort
Earlier in April, URSB established a Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Department, completed the full digitisation of intellectual property services, and rolled out modernised IP examination guidelines aligned with international standards. URSB also stepped up enforcement efforts, overseeing the destruction of counterfeit goods valued at approximately Shs100 million, a move officials said was intended to protect rights holders and legitimate businesses.
Speaking on the recognition, Ms Kainobwisho said the honour reflected collective institutional effort rather than individual achievement. ‘I am deeply honoured to be included among such distinguished global leaders in intellectual property. This recognition is a testament to the commitment and hard work of our line minister, Mr Norbert Mao, the board of directors, and the entire URSB team in building a strong and inclusive IP environment in Uganda,’ Ms Kainobwisho said .
Progress
The recognition signals Uganda’s growing visibility in international intellectual property administration, particularly at a time when the country is seeking to promote innovation, protect creators, and attract investment. For years, many Ugandan creatives, particularly artists have faced persistent challenges in protecting their work, including piracy, weak enforcement, cultural misconceptions around ownership, and widespread copyright infringement. These issues have long constrained the sector, with many creators struggling to fully benefit from their intellectual property.