Domains

.co.ug versus .com for Ugandan businesses, which one to pick

A practical look at when a local domain wins, when a global one does, and what to do if you cannot decide.

.co.ug versus .com for Ugandan businesses, which one to pick

If you run a business in Uganda, one of the first decisions you face online is which domain extension to register. Should you go with the local .co.ug or the global .com? Here is how we help our clients decide.

Choose .co.ug when

  • Your customers are local. Most search behaviour in Uganda still favours .co.ug for trust signals.
  • You want to signal that you are a registered Ugandan entity.
  • The .com version of your name is already taken (very common).

Choose .com when

  • You serve international customers or sell exports.
  • You want a shorter, more memorable URL.
  • You plan to raise foreign investment, which favours .com on legal documents.

What about both

Many of our larger clients register both. The .com is the canonical site, and the .co.ug redirects to it. This costs about UGX 177,000 a year total and gives you the best of both worlds.

Pricing for reference

  • .com: UGX 46,700 a year
  • .co.ug: UGX 130,000 a year
  • .africa: UGX 60,000 a year (good middle ground)

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