.ug domains
.ug domain registration for organisations proud to be Ugandan
Short, clearly Ugandan web addresses — registered in your organisation’s name, connected to your website and email, and renewed on time.
- Availability checks
- Eligibility guidance
- Registered in your name
- DNS & email setup
What a .ug domain says about your organisation
.ug is Uganda’s country-code top-level domain — the internet’s equivalent of a national flag on your address. A name like yourbrand.ug tells visitors immediately that you are a Ugandan organisation, or that Uganda is central to what you do. For local customers it signals that you are nearby and accountable here; for international partners it shows where you are based before they read a word.
The family of Ugandan domains includes the short, direct form (yourname.ug) and several second-level categories ending in .ug — such as .co.ug for companies, and restricted zones for academic institutions, schools, organisations and government bodies. This page focuses on the direct .ug domain and on the Ugandan domain family as a whole. For the company-specific extension, see .co.ug domain registration; for an overview of all extensions, see domain registration in Uganda.
The registry sets the policies, eligibility rules and document requirements for Ugandan domains, and it updates them from time to time. We confirm current requirements whenever we register a name, rather than relying on fixed lists.
Reasons to choose a .ug address
Clear local identity
Shows customers, donors and partners that you are based in Uganda and serve people here.
Short, memorable names
A direct .ug domain is short. Short names are easier to say, type and fit on signage and business cards.
Better name availability
Many good names are long gone in .com. The same name is often still available in .ug.
Brand protection
Registering your name in .ug stops others from using it to impersonate your organisation locally.
A .ug domain works exactly like any other domain technically. You can use it for a website, business email and Microsoft 365, and verify it with Google Search Console.
Understanding the Ugandan domain family
| Domain form | Typically used by | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| name.ug | Brands, businesses and organisations wanting the shortest Ugandan address | Generally open; current registry terms apply |
| name.co.ug | Companies and commercial entities operating in Uganda | Commercial use; the registry may ask for documents |
| name.or.ug | Non-profit and other organisations | Restricted; proof of status usually required |
| name.ac.ug | Universities and tertiary academic institutions | Restricted to eligible institutions |
| name.sc.ug | Schools | Restricted to schools; supporting documents usually required |
| name.go.ug | Government ministries, departments and agencies | Restricted to government bodies |
Restricted categories exist so people can trust, for example, that a .ac.ug address belongs to a genuine academic institution. If your organisation qualifies, these extensions carry real credibility; we’ll explain what proof the registry currently asks for and help you prepare it.
.ug or .com — or both?
The right choice depends on who your audience is and where they are.
| If you… | Consider |
|---|---|
| serve customers mainly in Uganda | A Ugandan domain (.ug or .co.ug) as your main address |
| serve customers across East Africa or internationally | .com as the main address, with the .ug version redirecting to it |
| are an NGO with international donors | .org, possibly with .or.ug or .ug for local credibility |
| want to protect your brand | Register the main variations and point them all at one website |
Registering more than one extension is common and sensible. Choose one as your main address for the website and email, and redirect the others to it so you don’t split your search visibility across duplicate sites.
Choosing the name itself
- match your organisation’s name, or the short name people actually use for you;
- keep it short enough to say clearly on the phone and fit comfortably in an email address;
- avoid hyphens, unusual spellings and numbers that cause confusion;
- check that no other organisation is well known by the same or a very similar name;
- say “info@yourname.ug” out loud — does it sound like you?
Send us a shortlist and we’ll check availability across .ug, .co.ug, .com and .org at the same time, so you can see your options together. Our guide, what to consider before registering a domain in Uganda, goes into more detail.
Documents and information you may need
Requirements depend on the extension and current registry policy. Commonly requested information includes:
- the organisation’s registered name and physical address;
- a contact person, telephone number and an email address your organisation controls;
- for companies, a certificate of incorporation or registration;
- for NGOs, schools, academic institutions and government bodies, proof of status for restricted categories;
- in some cases, a letter of request on the organisation’s letterhead.
We tell you exactly what’s needed for the specific domain before applying, so the application isn’t delayed by missing paperwork.
How we register a .ug domain for you
Check availability
We check your preferred names across the Ugandan family and other extensions.
Confirm requirements
We explain eligibility and any documents needed for the chosen extension.
Prepare the application
Registrant details are recorded with your organisation as the owner and an email address you control.
Submit and follow up
We submit the registration and follow up with the registry if documents need review.
Configure DNS
Once registered, we point the domain to your website and email and add the required records.
Record and remind
We note the expiry date and set renewal reminders, so the domain never lapses unnoticed.
Registered in your organisation’s name
The registrant — the legal holder of the domain — should always be your organisation, not an individual staff member, a relative or the company that registered it for you. When we register a .ug domain, your organisation is the registrant and the contact email is one your organisation controls, such as admin@ or it@ on your own domain, rather than a personal Gmail address. This protects you if staff change and makes renewals and transfers straightforward. If a domain you rely on is currently registered to someone else, see domain transfer.
Connecting your .ug domain to a website and email
Once registered, a domain needs DNS records before it does anything useful. We configure:
- records pointing the domain and its www version to your website hosting;
- MX records directing email to your chosen platform — business email hosting or Microsoft 365;
- SPF, DKIM and DMARC records, so recipients trust your email and criminals find it harder to impersonate;
- verification records for services such as Google Search Console and Microsoft 365.
See DNS management for how we handle these records, and business email hosting to set up addresses on your new domain.
Renewing your .ug domain
Domains are registered for a period and must be renewed before they expire. When a domain lapses, the website and email attached to it stop working, and if it remains unrenewed the name may eventually become available to someone else. We track renewal dates for every domain we manage and remind you well ahead of time. Renewing for several years at a time, where the registry allows, reduces administration and risk. See domain renewal.
Protecting your name from misuse
Fraudsters sometimes register look-alike domains with a different extension, a missing letter or an added hyphen. Then they use them to send fake invoices or job offers. You can’t register every possible variation, but registering your main name in the key extensions (for example .ug, .co.ug and .com) closes the most obvious gaps. Combining this with email authentication records makes impersonation harder, and gives you grounds to act quickly if a look-alike domain appears.
.ug domains and local search
Country-code domains are a signal to search engines that a site is relevant to that country. A .ug domain can therefore reinforce local relevance for searches in Uganda, although the content of the site, its Google Business Profile and its reputation matter far more than the extension alone. If your audience is mainly in Uganda, a .ug or .co.ug address fits naturally with a local SEO strategy. See SEO services.
Using .ug for campaigns and memorable addresses
Direct .ug names are short, so they also work well as memorable addresses for campaigns, events and products. They are easy to say on radio, print on a poster or put on a vehicle. Point a campaign domain at the right page on your main website instead of building a separate site. Visitors then arrive somewhere current, and your search visibility stays in one place. When the campaign ends, keep the domain registered and pointing somewhere useful for a while: printed materials stay in circulation long after a campaign finishes.
What affects the cost
A direct .ug domain costs UGX 90,000 a year with us, and restricted domains such as .ac.ug and .sc.ug also cost UGX 90,000 a year. A .co.ug costs UGX 120,000 a year. You can register for several years at once. Your invoice lists the registration cost separately from any setup work such as email or DNS configuration, so you can see exactly what you’re paying for. See every extension on our domain prices page.
Already have a .ug domain somewhere else?
If you already hold a .ug domain with another provider, we can manage it, update its DNS, or transfer it. Then one team handles all your domains, hosting and email. Before any change we document the existing records so your website and email keep working. If nobody knows where you registered the domain, we can usually trace it from public registration records and help you regain control.
Your next step
Send us two or three names you are considering. We will check them across .ug, .co.ug and other extensions, explain the eligibility rules and documents for any restricted zone, and register your choice in your organisation’s name with DNS ready for email and a website.
.ug domain questions
Can anyone register a .ug domain?
Direct .ug names are generally available to organisations and individuals under current registry terms. Restricted zones such as .ac.ug, .sc.ug and .go.ug require proof of eligibility.
Is a .ug domain as good as a .com?
Technically they work identically. A .ug domain signals Ugandan identity; .com is more international. Many organisations register both.
How long does .ug registration take?
Straightforward registrations can be quick; those requiring document review take longer. We confirm timing when we check your name.
Can I use a .ug domain with Microsoft 365?
Yes. You can verify any domain you control in Microsoft 365 and use it for email.
Who owns the domain after registration?
Your organisation, as the registrant. We record the registration in your organisation’s name with a contact email address you control.
Can my school or university use .ug?
Yes, though eligible institutions often prefer the restricted .sc.ug or .ac.ug extensions, which signal verified status. We’ll explain the documents each requires.
Can I point my .ug domain to my existing .com website?
Yes. A permanent redirect sends visitors from the .ug address to your main site, and email can use either domain.
Can I register a .ug domain from outside Uganda?
Often, yes, depending on current registry terms for the extension. Restricted categories have their own eligibility rules. Tell us where your organisation is based and we’ll confirm.
What if the name I want is already taken?
We’ll suggest alternatives — a different extension, a shorter form of your name or a descriptive variation — and check them together.