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Tag: Uganda Investment Authority (UIA)

  • Benefits of NAM Summit: UIA clinches $900m Investment deals in Diplomatic Partnerships

    Benefits of NAM Summit: UIA clinches $900m Investment deals in Diplomatic Partnerships

    Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), an autonomous body dedicated to promoting and facilitating investment in Uganda, has once again demonstrated its prowess by attracting investors from Egypt, Turkiye, Qatar, Morocco and India.

    During the recently concluded EA Investment Summit, organized alongside NAM, UIA’s top leaders and the Minister of State for Investment, Hon Evelyn Anite, effectively marketed and drew 58 investors from the aforementioned nations to set up in Uganda.

    The Uganda Investment Authority presented the country’s readiness for the investors by presenting 10 investment projects in mining, health, ICT/BPO, Agro-value addition worth USD 906,330,000. In addition, 9 public infrastructure projects in health, ports, road construction, development of airports were promoted.

    The delegation, led by Dato Arshad Mahmood, Chairman of the International Investment Consortium, later met with His Excellency President Museveni. During the meeting, the President emphasized the importance of robust infrastructure, such as roads, railways, and water systems, for successful business operations.

    H.E. the President also emphasized the robustness of Uganda’s agro-processing industry, advising investors to invest in the profitable opportunities such as mining, dairy, coffee roasting, textiles, and fruit processing.

    On a high key note, UIA management met with an eight-person group of Indian investors at the Kampala Industrial Business Park. The trip was led by Mr. Santosh Mathew, chairman of the business delegation under the apex body FICCI. The investors expressed interest in investing in Food processing, Farm mechanization, Manufacturing, BPO, Pharmaceuticals, Textiles, Energy, E-mobility and Tourism

    UIA’s efforts have gained global recognition, with Uganda achieving high ranking and prestigious awards and indices demonstrating significant improvements in the investment promotion and facilitation of investors. Notably, Uganda is ranked first in East Africa and second in Africa as the best investment destination.
    Other accolades achieved include;

    a) Award for the best Investment Catalyst in the world (Go Global Awards in Rhode Island USA 2023)
    b) 3rd most rewarding economy to invest in Africa, the most attractive Economy to invest in within EAC (Oxford Economics 2023)
    c) Best investment destination in East Africa (Annual Investment Meeting, Abu Dhab i , 2023)
    d) Top 10 in industrial development (Africa Development Bank (AfDB) Africa Industrialization Index 2022).

    In a diplomatic move, UIA-led delegations engaged in fruitful discussions during the Afro-Indian Investment Summit, resulting in investment commitments exceeding $169.5 million. These commitments spanned various sectors, including mineral value addition, beverage production, and manufacturing recycling paper waste and hygiene products.

    At the Dubai Expo 2020, Uganda, through UIA, made history by becoming the first participant country to publicly announce substantial investments worth over USD 650 million. These investments encompass renewable energy, logistics projects, mining and agro-value addition.

    Currently, UIA is actively promoting 0ver 70 bankable projects at different stages of development, offering a diverse range of investment options, including Public-Private Partnerships, joint ventures, greenfield/ or brownfield projects and over 250 small business projects.

    Moreover, Uganda received over USD 400 million in green investment commitments at COP28 in Dubai, focusing on renewable energy, water filtration, and forestry. Recognized companies such as Mandulis Energy, Spouts International, and Nexus Green, all UIA-licensed, pledged support during UIA’s green investment session, further solidifying Uganda’s commitment to sustainable development.

    Investors are drawn to Uganda’s favorable business climate, as evidenced by recent deals, including a $10 billion investment in the Oil and Gas sector post-COVID-19.

    UIA’s success in attracting investments is further complemented by its innovative facility and all-in-one “the One-Stop Centre’’ for Investors, designed to streamline and enhance investment and business processes. Established to offer efficient and innovative solutions, the One-Stop Centre plays a pivotal role in facilitating business activities.

    This centralized hub provides comprehensive investment and business support services under one roof, including business registration, investment licensing, tax registration, trade licensing, environmental impact assessment, land title verification, products and services certification, water and electricity services, immigration services, among others. The integration of these services aims to create a seamless experience for investors, fostering a business-friendly environment.

    The country’s stability and commitment to investor safety, coupled with enticing incentives such as a ten-year tax holiday, import duty exemptions, and free land for industrial park investors, make Uganda an unparalleled investment destination in Africa.

  • UK Minister for Africa meets President Museveni ahead of the UK-Africa Investment Summit

    UK Minister for Africa meets President Museveni ahead of the UK-Africa Investment Summit

    Namanve:  The United Kingdom Minister for Africa Andrew Stephenson MP was in Uganda on Sunday to meet His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and attend a ground-breaking ceremony at the Namanve Industrial Park.

    His visit comes a week before the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London on 20th January 2020. The summit, hosted by the UK Prime Minister will see the UK and African leaders, including President Museveni, create new lasting partnerships that will deliver more investment, jobs and growth.

    Minister Stephenson thanked the President for agreeing to attend the Summit. He briefed the President on preparations for the Summit, highlighting the UK’s commitment to investing in Uganda’s future, and discussed how the summit is an opportunity to strengthen trade and investment ties.

    During his visit, Minister Stephenson also attended a ground-breaking ceremony at Namanve Industrial Park alongside Honourable Evelyn Anite, Minister for Investment and Privatisation.

    Work will soon begin to upgrade the park, including construction of roads, water, electricity, waste treatment facilities, sewerage and drainage networks and optic fibre networks. The project is being led UK contractors Lagan Group Limited owned by Kevin Lagan. Estimates suggest the project will create 25,484 direct jobs in the construction phase, a further 39,800 in the short term and over 200,000 jobs in the long term.

    Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony in Namanve, Minister Stephenson said: “Uganda is an important partner for the UK and we are working together to deliver more investment, jobs and growth – benefitting the businesses and people of both our nations.

    “The UK supports Uganda’s ambition to become a middle-income country by 2040. Boosting infrastructure, enhancing investment and trade, and strengthening Uganda’s manufacturing base is vital. That is why I am delighted to be here at this ground-breaking for the construction of infrastructure for the Namanve Industrial Park.

    “The Prime Minister looks forward to welcoming Uganda at the UK-Africa Investment Summit later this month where we can deepen our investment partnership

    Honourable Evelyn Anite, Minister for Investment and Privatisation said:

    “We are proud of the ongoing investment opportunities between the UK and Uganda. Today’s ground-breaking event at Namanve is testament to the UK Uganda partnership. We look forward to discussing further investment deals between the UK and Uganda at the summit later this month which will help strengthen the shared prosperity between our countries’.

    Potential future investment opportunities that Hon Anite will explore at the summit include a boost to agri-business, sustainable power, bridges, and roads, which will help create jobs and boost development.

    Minister Stephenson also visited Great Lakes Coffee, a leading Ugandan speciality coffee exporting company, who have received £4 million UK aid funding via the Agriculture Development Corporation (AgDevCo). AgDevCo are a specialist investor in African agribusinesses, and globally have received £184 million in UK aid to help develop sustainable agribusiness in Africa.

    Great Lakes Coffee source from 22,236 registered Ugandan farmers under the Great Lakes Coffee Sustainable Coffee Program, providing agri-business training with a focus on price transparency, quality and traceability. They work closely with Falcon Coffees, a UK speciality coffee company who sell 65% of GLC’s coffee around the world, including to UK markets. Working together, AgDevCo, Great Lakes Coffee and Falcon Coffees make up a thriving coffee value chain, which is having a major impact on farmers in Uganda and taking Ugandan coffee to the UK and beyond.

  • UIA intensifies plans to set up Oraba Industrial Park, land secured

    UIA intensifies plans to set up Oraba Industrial Park, land secured

    Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has acquired a total of 78.2 hectares of land at Oraba, in Koboko district for the development of Oraba Industrial park which lies at the Ugandan border with South Sudan and DRC.

    The Minister of State for Finance in charge of Investments Hon. Anite Evelyn together with a team from Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), officials from the National Planning Authority (NPA), Koboko district and municipality leaders kick-started the process of feasibility study on the titled land in the villages of Ropoli, Lokajo, Drabara and Kakanya in Oraba parish.

    The Minister said Oraba Industrial park is one of the 22 Industrial Parks she was tasked to establish across the country in a bid to attract more investors and create jobs for Ugandans.
    It is strategically located in an area that is suitable for investors targeting to manufacture goods for Uganda and export to DR Congo, South Sudan and Central African Republic among other regions.

    She urged Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to expedite the process of constructing the industrial park.

    Among the factories to be set up at Oraba industrial park are;
    -A sunflower cooking oil processing plant,
    -A textile factory since the land is very fertile for cotton growing,
    -A biscuit factory,
    -A motorcycle assembling plant since a lot of motorcycles are imported.

    Some Investors from Thailand have already also shown interest in establishing a soap manufacturing factory at Oraba industrial Park.
    All these ventures will create jobs for the locals especially the youths in the district and other parts of the West Nile region.

  • ‘Mbale Industrial Park is taking shape’ – Morrison Rwakakamba

    ‘Mbale Industrial Park is taking shape’ – Morrison Rwakakamba

    Uganda Investments Authority (UIA) board member Morrison Rwakakamba has said Mbale Industrial Park is taking shape.
    Morrison alongside other board members and Minister of State for finance in charge of Investments Hon. Anite Evelyn on Tuesday this week inspected Sino -Uganda Industrial Park in Mbale and were impressed by the progress of the park.
    “The work at the park is impressive and in less than a year, 6 factories have already been set up with 400 plus jobs,” Rwakakamba said.
    According to Rwakakamba, the success of the Park is also attributed to Mbale local leadership which is fully united in support of the set up and organizing to reap value driven by industrial linkages and ecosystem.
    “Sino-Uganda Industrial park in Mbale is taking shape. When, H.E Kaguta Museveni in 2016 told Ugandans that journey to accelerated industrialisation was unstoppable, he was serious. In less than a year, Mr. Paul Zang and his team have already set up 6 factories with +400 direct jobs. We inspected progress today.  Mbale local leadership is fully united and organising to reap value driven by industrial linkages and ecosystem. SME ‘s infrastructure, capacity and facilitation is embedded in park design and execution,” Morrison Rwakakamba said.
  • Anite, UIA board inspect Mbale Industrial Park

    Anite, UIA board inspect Mbale Industrial Park

    The Minister of State for Finance in charge of Investments Hon. Anite Evelyn has today with members of Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) inspected Mbale Industrial Park.
    The team was on a mission to check the progress of the Park and they were impressed by the work being done in the park. The park has already attracted 11 investors with 3 factories already running creating more than 600 jobs.
    “Earlier today, some Uganda Investment Authority Board members and I inspected Mbale industrial park which was commissioned by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in March 2018.
    Since then, tremendous progress has been made. The Geological survey was done, power was connected and internal roads are under construction. Mbale industrial Park has so far attracted 11 investors with 3 factories already up and running. These include; Pearlight technology Ltd, Union technology Ltd and
    Victoria cable Ltd which manufacture LED light bulbs, detergents, painting products, wire cables…e.t.c
    The factories in Mbale industrial park have already created more than 600 jobs locally.
    A small and medium enterprises incubation base is also being constructed at the park.
    Once complete, it is likely to attract about 15 investors and create over 3000 jobs.
    Mbale Industrial Park is one of the parks that was earmarked by Government of Uganda for development across the country to spur industrial production as a precursor to job creation and equitable economic transformation of all regions by 2020
    I applaud Mr Paul zhang the chairman Mbale industrial park for upholding ethical business practices and also urge everyone in the workforce to shun corrupt business practices such as grifting because this not only affects business operations but also inhibits economic growth,” Hon. Anite said.
  • dfcu Bank’s Rising Woman Initiative extends efforts to empower female entrepreneurs to Northern Uganda

    dfcu Bank’s Rising Woman Initiative extends efforts to empower female entrepreneurs to Northern Uganda

    dfcu Bank in partnership with Monitor Publications Limited’s (MPL) flagship brand Monitor and Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) completed a two-day training in Gulu district, Northern Uganda as the initiative continues in its efforts to equip and empower and female entrepreneurs across the country.

    Over 300 women attended the two-day sessions which was facilitated by key experts.

    The training was the third and second last of the regional activities which are all aimed at imparting skills necessary to run and maintain successful businesses to women involved in various ventures. Previous trainings were heldin Mbale and Ishaka districts.

    An initiative under dfcu Bank’s Women in Business program, ‘Rising Woman’ seeks to recognize, celebrate and promote a culture of mentorship among women in business in Uganda. This year marks the initiative’s second season, following last year’s successful inaugural activity that attracted thousands of women who took part in different activities including; trainings, the Rising Woman Expo, Awards Gala and study tour to Nairobi.

    dfcu Bank’s Gladys Nalukenge noted that the theme for this year’s Rising Woman Initiative, ‘Taking your business ahead’ is focused on “…providing female entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and abilities to improve the way in which they operate their businesses; with a goal of enabling them to create profitable operations.”

    “Through this initiative, we are focused on buildingwomen’s financial literacy skills, creating awareness ofavailable opportunities, widening their networks, and enabling access to credit and financial support,” Nalukenge added.

    While many of the barriers faced by entrepreneurs are common to both men and women, in many cases, they are more significant for women. Fear of failure discourages most women from entering the entrepreneurship arena. Women also tend to perceive that they lack entrepreneurship skills in addition to challenges such as difficulty in accessing finance. Equally, tax policies can discourage female labour market participation, including entrepreneurship.

    A participant in the training session, Ms. Josephine P’Ochen, Proprietor of Tour De North, said the marketing and customer care skills tips acquired were enlightening. “At times we fail our businesses just because we cannot get the small things right. I have learnt that appreciating customer and understanding their individual needs provides my business with additional value, which in turn builds loyalty and maintains my customer base.”

    During the sessions, women are equipped with various business skills including; business planning; enterprise management, positioning for access to credit and marketing to help them leverage on existing opportunities.

    Ms. Fausta Akech, a business woman in the coconut oil business noted that the training on standardization of the products was timely and eye-opening. “Many businesses tend to ignore standards; as we don’t often realize that standardization plays an important role in building and maintaining both a brand and a business.

    The fourth and last regional training will take place at Hotel Africana in Kampala district on 2nd and 3rd October 2019. Women entrepreneurs are encouraged to participate in proposal writing which runs up to 20th September 2019.

    The top 3 winners of this year’s Rising Woman Initiative will win UGX 15 million, 10 million and 5 million respectively. The Top 10 participants will go on an all-expense-paid study tour in Nairobi in January 2020.

    Guidelines for participation and submission of proposals can be found at: https://www.dfcugroup.com/rising-woman/

  • Uganda Investment Authority at the centre of positive industrial change

    Uganda Investment Authority at the centre of positive industrial change

    The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) Ag Director General, Mr. Lawrence Byensi is spearheading the authority that is changing the face of Uganda’s economy and engineering industrial revolution.

    There is a positive industrial change taking place in Uganda and Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is at its centre. The three industrial parks in Kampala (Namanve, Bweyogerere and Luzira) are up and running, well facilitated by UIA. The parks have also attracted many other factories on private land, but all serviced by UIA. The new UIA Board of Directors, headed by Dr Emely Kugonza, recently toured the UIA-operated industrial parks to assess, first-hand, the developments going on. They visited Namanve, Bweyogerere and Luzira, and were quite impressed with the progress.

    “If there is one thing UIA has not done well it is publicizing its significant achievements, especially in the development of industrial parks in Uganda,” Board members said.

    There are 38 Investment projects (read factories) now operational at Kampala Industrial and Business Park, popularly known as Namanve and 99 are in development stage, like Mukwano Industries. The products being produced Namanve range from steel products to truck and bus assembling – yes MAN truck and bus assembling, and much more like blankets, gas cylinders. In a few years, the Namanve Park will be a sight to behold. The blankets are made from recycled plastic bottles and wool, then sold locally and regionally.

    Upcountry Industrial parks

    After the leap of disarmament in Karamoja, dawn of economic liberation is at hand. There are 417 acres of planned Karamoja Industrial and Business Park land under stewardship of Uganda Investment Authority. Those in need of land for investments, go and invest.

    Kiira Motors assembly plant is taking shape in Jinja Industrial & Business Park. Board of UIA visited the site recently to assess progress & listen to men & women on ground. It is expected to assemble 150,000 vehicles per year. 140 community jobs already on the site. 150 companies, some in Katwe to manufacture parts.

    Soroti Industrial and Business Park now has its flagship project – the Soroti Fruit Factory – which produces Orange and Mango juices, amongst others. The park is operated by UIA, which gave land to Uganda Development Corporation to set up the factory. The Directors of the UIA Board and top managers visited the park and met managers of the fruit factory led by chief executive Douglas Ndawula (including having sips of the juices produced).

    The UIA team was led by the Chair of the Board, Dr Emely Kugonza, and comprised members Naima Obombasa, Morrison Rwakakamba, Fred Opolot and Dr Joshua Mutambi. Thereafter, the team also paid a courtesy call on the Soroti District Chairperson, Girigori Mikairi Egunyu, and the Resident District Commissioner, William Atukei. Of all industrial parks operated by UIA, Soroti has the least cases of land conflicts, according to UIA Ag Director General, Mr. Lawrence Byensi. Kudos to Soroti.

    Luzira Industrial and Business Park, operated by UIA, is now fully operational, with the signature project being Quality Chemicals-Cipla, as well as others like Graphic Systems and Oryx Petroleum. The park is fully serviced by UIA and has since attracted many other projects, adjacent to the park, including a Scania plant and warehousing. The new Board of Directors of UIA, led by Dr Emely Kugonza and UIA top managers visited the park to appreciate the goings on. They visited an electricity sub-station and Graphic Systems, which makes packaging products, branded clothing, product labels, envelopes, etc. Many labels on popular products on supermarket shelves are actually made in the Luzira Park.