Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has urged Ugandans in diaspora to take advantage of the conducive investment environment in Uganda to invest back home saying in future it might be difficult as Uganda is turning out as a leading global investment destination.
Ssekandi told Ugandans to make use of their connections to link with agencies and companies for possible partnerships and funding opportunities to invest in the various sectors of Uganda economy which he said will also support and motivate Ugandans to come home and use the expertise attained abroad for the development of the country.
The Vice President who was on September 18 speaking at the 7th Uganda – UK investment Convention at Troxy Conference Centre in London, said Uganda’s vision 2020 of wealth creation for all by 2020 can easily be achieved if all Ugandans contributed to the efforts of moving Uganda to middle income status by 2040.
He said was grateful that the theme of the Convention, “Partnering for wealth creation” was in line with Government aspiration towards a better Uganda through investment adding that it is the reason why Government has invested heavily in infrastructure development as an amenity for investment.
Ssekandi assured the business executives at the convention that Uganda with a readily available young, educated and innovative workforce, abundant raw materials for industrial development and a favorable climate was ready for any volume of investment and also assured returns.
Speaking at the same event, the British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Uganda and Rwanda, Lord Dolar Popat re-affirmed Britain’s support through investment saying that though prominent UK companies are already in Uganda, more are still interested in Uganda and disclosed that he will be leading a business delegation to Uganda by the end of this year.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga who also attended the convention told Ugandans that government is registering Ugandans to be issued with national IDs and dual-citizenship but urged Ugandans to be patriotic and pay the stipulated US$ 400.
She also assured the Ugandans in the diaspora and the multinationals of friendly legislative investment environment in Uganda in which everyone wins saying the security of their investment is guaranteed.
The chairman Uganda – UK Investment Convention, Willy Mutenza assured government of continued support in promoting Uganda as the land of opportunity and expanding the role of the diaspora from family remittance to financial and social investment by exposing Ugandans to various partners in development.
Other speakers at event included, Minister for Presidency, Esther Mbayo, State Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Isaaca Musumba and Uganda’s High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland Julius Peter Moto.
