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Central region, a centre for young entrepreneurs investment hub
30 August 2023, 12:13 pm
Byamukama Alozious
Gudie Leisure Farm has announced the 8th National Region Spotlight – the Central Region Spotlight – a showcase and celebration of the wealth of investment opportunities in and culture of the region that will be take place on the 3rd and 4th September, 2023 at Gudie Leisure Farm in Najjeera II – Kira, Wakiso.
The Central Region Spotlight is a private sector-led initiative organized to enlighten local and foreign investors about the investment opportunities that exist in the region, to generate support for the young entrepreneurs that are already investing in it, and to celebrate its rich cultural heritage. It will feature 2 major events; – the Central Cultural Immersion & Talent Show taking place on Sunday 3rd September, 2023 and the Central Region Business Symposium that will take place on Monday 4th September, 2023.
“The main goal of our investment promotion initiatives is to facilitate development across the country by promoting its regions to potential investors and fostering the formation of win-win partnerships between them and the local communities, especially young people in business,” Prof. Gudula Naiga Basaza, Founder and Managing Director of Gudie Leisure Farm said. “Buganda in particular is the most hospitable and diverse region in the country and its progressive and entrepreneurial nature has and continues to attract the best investors – local and foreign – to the country. This region’s continued development and success is pertinent to the growth and sustainability of other regions in Uganda. We hope, therefore, that with this event, we will be able to competently highlight the wealth of the region and its people and by so doing, spark increased interest in and active investment by all Ugandans and foreign partners in its development, especially its young entrepreneurs.”
Ms. Florence Nampeera, one of Gudie Leisure Farm’s region coordinators said, “The Central Region hosts the Capital and is Uganda’s main business and trade hub. It is where most of the country’s biggest business deals are made. It is necessary, therefore, that as the private sector, we enlighten the country and potential foreign investors, especially the youth, about the opportunities that abound in the region and the ecosystem of support that exists to help them succeed.”
“We are proud of the fact that as young entrepreneurs from this region, we too are proactively investing in our country’s development! It is indeed important that private sector actors like Gudie Leisure Farm as well as the government create platforms such as these where young people like us get to interact and form strategic partnerships with key players in industry. The relationships we have created especially with young entrepreneurs that come from other parts of the country through these Spotlights and other business activities are going to play a significant role in driving meaningful trade across the regions, innovation, food security, tolerance and economic development. We therefore welcome all Ugandans, especially ambitious youth, to participate in this event!”
About Gudie Leisure Farm
Gudie Leisure Farm (GLF) is a social enterprise providing various agribusiness development services to youth-owned micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the agricultural sector, and in particular, those operating in the white meat and related value chains. Established in 2009, the company, since its inception, has been providing the MSMEs with the technical and business training they need to produce and distribute high quality white meat products and services through its agribusiness incubation centre, linking them to markets in and outside their districts of operation that can deliver them with the returns they expect from their investments and business development services (BDS) providers in the public and private sectors that can support the growth and sustainability of their enterprises.
The entity has built a network of 112,900 youth in 750 parishes in all regions of Uganda across 30 districts including; – Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso, Lwengo, Kyotera, Masaka, Kiryandongo, Luweero, Dokolo, Moroto, Arua, Amolatar, Nwoya, Soroti, Jinja, Namisindwa, Tororo, Hoima, Mbarara, Isingiro, Kabale, Kisoro, Kikuube, Fort Portal, Kamwenge and Kassanda, Rubanda, Butambala, Kabongo, Rakai and operates in 6 refugee settlements – Rwamwanja, Kiryandongo, Maaji, Nakivale, Rhino and Kyangwali.
Within the Central region, Gudie Leisure Farm has incubated 108 Youth Agripreneur Champions from 18 parishes. These have since returned to the region and incubated over 9,000 Youth Agripreneur Champions (out of school youth) and 2,160 Youth Agri-Club Agripreneurs (youth in school). All the youth have embracing the role of transforming their region by being proactive, productive, planned and profitable. They are engaged in value chain linked agribusiness. They have held district skilling fairs for communities within the region and train community members on a weekly basis in their Parish Entrepreneurship Learning Associations (PELAs) and Divisions.