Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Col. Edith Nakalema, head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), met with American and Indian investors in Kampala to explore trade and investment opportunities.
The delegation represented sectors including agriculture, technology, housing, and finance.
Nabbanja welcomed the investors, highlighting Uganda’s favorable investment climate, including a 10-year tax holiday, tax-free importation of value-addition machinery, profit repatriation, and a young, energetic workforce.
She emphasized Uganda’s natural endowments, stable economy, and growing infrastructure, noting its ranking as a top investment destination in Africa. Nabbanja encouraged investment in tourism, IT, and value addition, particularly in coffee, given Africa’s 1.5 billion-strong market.
“We are gifted by nature. We have the best weather in the world. You can also invest in other areas like IT. We are going digital, we now produce cars, we are also into pharmaceuticals,” she said.
Col. Nakalema outlined SHIPU’s role, established in 2023 to address investor concerns efficiently, in line with Uganda’s constitutional mandate.
She highlighted the Electronic Investors Protection Portal, which ensures investor protection and provides reliable information.
“The role of this unit is to coordinate with Ministries, Departments and Agencies ((MDAs) to ensure that investor’s concerns are resolved without unnecessary delays which frustrate wealth creators,” she said.
She reaffirmed Uganda’s appeal, citing its recognition at the 2023 Global Annual Investment Meeting and its high ranking in the 2023 Africa Risk-Reward Index.
Dr. J. A. Chowdary, head of the delegation and Chairman of India’s Blockchain Committee, pledged to bring more investors to Uganda and offered a pro-bono IT-powered Traffic Management System.
“We want to help your country to increase economic activity and tax collection. We shall create employment opportunities for the youth in Uganda. Most of them are good English speakers so we have opportunities for them. Job creation is the most important aspect of any country,” said Dr. Chowdary, who is also the Co-Founder of Portal Player.
He also announced plans for a 2026 Global AI Conference in Uganda, featuring 300 industry leaders. Other investors, including Mr. Sri Atluri and Dr. Siva Mahesh Tangutooru, expressed enthusiasm for Uganda’s economic potential, with plans to invest over USD 200 million and create jobs.
Ravi Daparthi committed to supporting ICT initiatives, while Krishan Charan Singh discussed his firm’s lemon grass cultivation for essential oils.
The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), represented by Peter Muramira, assured investors of streamlined processes to facilitate investments within three months.
The meeting included former Attorney General Hon. Fred Ruhindi, Hon. Dr. Nsaba Buturo, and officials from UIA, URSB, and NITA-U.
