Uganda Investment Authority launches Investment Facilitation and Protection Campaign for investors

29 March 2024, 1:50 pm

Byamukama Alozious

In order to protect investors and industrial parks, Uganda Investment Authority launched a six months Investment Facilitation and Protection Campaign where UIA is to visits all the parks and investors to appreciate their needs.

Speaking to media, Robert Mukiza, the director general UIA said that this campaign is in line with the directive by H.E the President to ensure that at least 25 industrial parks are fully built and are functional by 2026.

He pointed out that some industrial park land is facing challenges as some people are encroaching on it , he added that some act like blockers and charge money from investors yet the land is for free. ‘’Industrial park is free any frauders must face courts of law’’ He said

The campaign further seeks to entrench Government’s industrialization agenda, catalyze import substitution and promote exports. It will also ensure that Uganda continues to be the leading investment destination in East Africa, as recently confirmed by the Annual Investment Awards in Abu Dhabi in 2023. In this campaign, timely support will be provided to local and foreign investors in benefitting from the generous incentive package that Uganda offers, including access to industrial park land.

Uganda is ranked top 10 in industrial development and currently is the best investment destination in East Africa. The keys sectors available for investment include Agro-Value, Minerals, Infrastructures, manufacturing, ICT, Tourism among others.

During this campaign, UIA will work with other relevant Government agencies such as: the Uganda Revenue Authority, the State House Investors Protection Unit, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, NWSC, UMEME and others to ensure that services to investors are provided in a timely way. As such, any roadblocks, delays or red tape that investors face will be dealt with swiftly. “Shall be making spot visits to investors in all industrial parks to appraise myself with any challenges they may be facing and come-up with relevant solutions”

Mukiza urges potential investors, especially indigenous Ugandans that the Government of Uganda has made available 81 square miles of land in our gazetted industrial parks countrywide.

“If you have an interesting value addition project, please feel free to approach us with your idea or project. Ugandans should be aware that all land in industrial parks is free of charge. However, once it is allocated to you, you are expected to follow certain terms and conditions, including starting to develop it in 18 months, constructing factory/office buildings in 2 years, roofing the structures in 3 years and installing machinery in 4 years”.

Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the withdrawal of allocated land (through public notices).

At Namanve industrial Park, 60 % 0f the businesses are locally owned, additionary Uganda is looking forward to having 500 industries to employ to provide 200,000 directly and currently only 160 are functional.

Interacting with William Byandusa, a local investor under Masterwood who is setting up an exhibition center at Namanve said is facing a challenges of poor road connectivity. ‘’The road here is bad and impassable when it rains and dust which is likely to enter into the exhibition centers’’ He added that his investment is about 99% ready and is waiting for UIA to make the road. In response to his challenges Mukiza said that the road is currently under construction and that it will be complete soon.