A name ending in .ug sits directly under Uganda's country-code domain. A name ending in .co.ug sits under the co.ug namespace. Both can be used as the address for a website and for domain-based email. Choose a name your customers can remember, then check availability and the applicable registration terms.
Choose the name before choosing extras
Compare the full spelling aloud, especially if customers will hear it on the phone or radio. Check for confusion with another organisation's name. A short domain can be easier to type, while a familiar company-name spelling can be easier to recognise. Neither extension guarantees a better Google ranking.
Use Bulamu's domain search and current price table to compare registration, renewal and transfer costs. Domain availability changes, and a search result is not confirmation of a completed registration. The .UG Registry is the primary source for registry information.
Keep the business in control
- Use accurate registrant and organisation details.
- Keep access to the domain-management account under the business's control.
- Use a monitored contact email and document who receives renewal notices.
- Record the expiry date and renewal responsibility.
- If an agency manages the domain, agree how access will be handed over.
A domain registration is time-limited. Do not wait for a website outage to discover that a renewal notice went to a former employee. Ask about the applicable expiry and recovery procedure before relying on a grace period.
Registration, hosting and email are separate
Registering a domain reserves the name for the agreed term. It does not by itself build a website or create mailboxes. Connect it to website hosting, business email, or both. Your website and email do not need to use the same provider.
Transfer the domain or just change its DNS?
A registrar transfer changes who manages the registration. A DNS change directs services to a different destination. A nameserver change changes where DNS is managed. These are different actions, and moving a website does not always require all three.
Before a transfer, confirm access to the current account, the domain's status, expiry, required approval or authorisation procedure, price and whether the term changes. Requirements vary by extension. Do not apply generic .com transfer rules to .ug without checking the current procedure.
Before changing nameservers, preserve the full DNS zone. Missing MX, SPF, DKIM or verification records can disrupt email even when the new website loads correctly. Follow the website migration checklist or ask Bulamu for help.
Reviewed 3 October 2026. Live prices and applicable terms should be checked before an order.