Introduccion: en Colombia no se ha reportado ningun caso de ulcera de Buruli (UB), aun teniendo regiones con caracteristicas similares a zonas endemicas. En nuestro medio, la proximidad geografica y las condiciones ambientales similares con los paises de Sur y Centro America donde se han reportado casos, motivan a buscar activamente pacientes sospechosos de UB, y aplicar tecnicas de laboratorio moleculares especificas para brindar un adecuado diagnostico. Objetivo: buscar casos de ulcera de Buruli (UB) en Uraba chocoano y antioqueno, (Colombia) durante el ano 2006. Materiales y metodos: se estudiaron casos provenientes de las areas de estudio, para establecer la causa etiologica de las lesiones utilizando metodos de diagnostico clinico, microbiologico, histopatologico y molecular. Resultados: en cinco pacientes (6 %) no se pudo establecer la causa etiologica de la ulcera (leishmaniosis, micosis, ulceras venosas o arteriales, cancer). El examen clinico de estos pacientes no fue concluyente de UB, sin embargo debido a la falta de documentacion de casos en Colombia, se proceso biopsia de la lesion para detectar ADN de Mycobacterium ulcerans por reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). Todas las pruebas de PCR fueron negativas para ADN de Mycobacterium ulcerans. Conclusiones: debido a indicadores epidemiologicos que senalan a Colombia con condiciones geograficas y ambientales similares a las que se presentan en regiones endemicas, como Peru, Guyana Francesa, Mexico, Surinam, es necesario continuar con su busqueda. ABSTRACT Introduction: in Colombia there are no reported cases of Buruli ulcer (BU), however the geographic and environmental characteristics are similar to endemic regions, and the proximity to other countries in South and Central America where there are reported cases, makes it an important issue to search for them, using molecular techniques specific for BU diagnostic. Objectives: to search for Buruli ulcer (BU) at the Uraba region of Choco and Antioquia in Colombia, during 2006. Materials and methods: patients with skin ulcer from the study region were tested to establish the etiologic cause of the lesions, using clinical, microbiological, pathological and molecular methods. Results: Five patients were tested for BU using PCR test, since other etiologic causes of the ulcer (leishmaniosis, mycosis, venous or arterial ulcer, others) were not determined. Clinical examination of the patients was not conclusive of BU; but due to the lack of documented cases in Colombia, biopsies were taken from patients for detection of M. ulcerans by PCR. All the samples samples tested negative for DNA of Mycobacterium ulcerans. Conclusions: due to the epidemiological indicators that show that Colombia has the geographic and environmental conditions similar to endemic regions, as Peru, French Guyana, Mexico and Surinam it is necessary to continue with the search.