If your trademark expires in Uganda, you risk losing exclusive rights to your brand, opening the door for competitors to legally use or register similar marks. The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) recently issued an urgent warning that more than 2,000 trademarks have already expired in 2025, with a strict 60-day renewal deadline before permanent deletion from the register.
Legal Consequences of Trademark Expiry
When a trademark expires in Uganda, the law considers it unprotected. According to Section 22 of the Trademarks Act, Cap 225, and Regulation 48 of the Trademarks Regulations, 2023, the trademark owner forfeits all exclusive rights, and the mark becomes available for public use or registration.
This means:
- Anyone can legally adopt or register the same or a similar mark
- Your brand identity and reputation may be misused or diluted
- You lose the ability to enforce your rights in court
- Competitors can confuse consumers and benefit from your goodwill
Your Brand Becomes Legally Vulnerable
Without an active registration, your brand is no longer protected under Ugandan intellectual property laws. You lose your legal basis to stop others from:
- Selling counterfeit or lookalike products
- Using your logo, slogan, or trade name
- Registering variations of your trademark
This can erode your market position, damage your business credibility, and lead to costly legal disputes that could have been avoided.
What Does URSB Require After Expiry?
On July 11, 2025, URSB announced that trademark owners have 60 days from the date of notice to renew their expired marks, or they will be permanently removed from the register.
“Failure to do so will result in permanent removal, while freeing up the mark for use,” URSB warned in a public notice posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Check if your trademark has expired by reviewing the official list here:
Expired and Removed Trademarks 2025 – URSB
How to Renew an Expired Trademark in Uganda
To restore your rights after a trademark expires in Uganda, you must:
- Confirm expiry status via URSB records
- Submit a renewal application within 60 days of the official notice
- Pay the renewal fees
- Wait for URSB to revalidate and reinstate the trademark
If the 60-day grace period lapses, you must reapply for a new trademark registration, which involves a more complex and competitive process.
Prevent Expiry: Best Practices for Trademark Owners
Avoiding expiry is easier than recovering from one. To maintain your trademark rights in Uganda:
- Set reminders for your renewal date (usually every 7 years)
- Keep contact details updated with URSB
- Hire a trademark agent or IP attorney to manage renewals
- Periodically verify your trademark’s active status in the URSB register
Proactive management ensures you don’t lose valuable legal and commercial protections.
Why Renewal Is Crucial for Brand Longevity
When your trademark expires in Uganda, you put years of branding effort at risk. Renewal is more than a legal formality — it preserves your:
- Brand equity and identity
- Customer loyalty
- Exclusive rights and market position
- Ability to expand your IP portfolio
As URSB rightly states:
“Renewing your trademark ensures continued protection under the law and preserves your brand identity and legal rights.”
