Uganda has opened talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to have travel restrictions eased, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has said, as more investors in Dubai express interest in doing business in Uganda.
Nabbanja said the restrictions are affecting trade and investment between Uganda and the UAE because they are making it difficult for business people to travel between the two countries.
The prime minister made the remarks while in Dubai, where she met potential investors and government officials as part of Uganda’s efforts to attract more investment from the Gulf region.
Nabbanja said she used her visit to engage Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the travel restrictions affecting Ugandans.
“We are engaging with the UAE authorities to address the issue because these restrictions are affecting business between our two countries,” Nabbanja said.
Uganda’s engagement with the UAE comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the country free of Ebola on August 27, following 42 days without a new infection.
Despite the declaration, some countries have continued to maintain travel measures against travellers from Uganda, affecting movement and business.
Dubai is an important business and transit centre for Ugandans travelling to the Middle East and other parts of the world. Ugandan business people have also traditionally used the UAE as a major market and source of investment.
Nabbanja said resolving the travel restrictions would make it easier for investors to visit Uganda and explore business opportunities.
She also held bilateral meetings with representatives of more than 13 companies that have expressed interest in investing in Uganda.
The meetings followed Uganda’s presentation at the Annual Investment Meeting Congress in Dubai on September 7 where the government promoted the country’s investment opportunities.
Nabbanja said the presentation had attracted interest from several companies, with some investors now considering travelling to Uganda to assess opportunities for themselves.
“After our presentation at the Annual Investment Meeting, many companies have expressed interest in coming to Uganda,” she said.
Uganda Investment Authority executive director Robert Mukiza said the interest from investors covers different areas of the economy and that the government is working to turn the interest into actual investments.
Some of the investors who attended the meetings said they were waiting for travel restrictions to be eased before making trips to Uganda.
Uganda’s Ambassador to the UAE, Zake Kibedi, said the embassy would continue following up with the companies to ensure that the interest expressed in Dubai translates into actual visits and investments in Uganda.
He said the embassy would help connect the potential investors with the relevant Ugandan authorities and follow up on their plans to invest in the country.
