A joint British and Indian business delegation is in Uganda to explore investment opportunities across key sectors of the economy.
The delegation comprises members of the Westminster Africa Business Association (WABA) and the South Asian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The team has conducted site visits in Kapeeka and Jinja as part of efforts to assess Uganda’s industrial and manufacturing potential.
During an interaction meeting at Kampala Sheraton Hotel aimed at linking the visitors with Uganda’s business community, the British High Commissioner to Uganda, Lisa Chesney, underscored the significance of the visit, which was organised by the British Chamber of Commerce Uganda.
“What we in the UK and our colleagues in the Government of Uganda want to see is British, Indian, and other companies looking beyond government deals and infrastructure contracts towards business-to-business opportunities in Uganda’s economy. Private sector investment is what will drive tenfold growth, and the potential is enormous,” Chesney said.
She noted that British and Indian firms bring complementary strengths that could help unlock Uganda’s economic potential.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimisha Madhvani, urged British and Indian investors to channel more capital into Uganda, saying the country’s economic fundamentals remain strong.
She revealed that efforts are underway to work with MPs and former MPs in the UK to establish a parliamentary platform aimed at promoting Ugandan products in the British market.
“We are working to set up an all-party parliamentary group in the UK Parliament. When you have your own Uganda platform, you can introduce Uganda products, show what Uganda is, and how we can attract buyers of Uganda products,” Madhvani said.
Mahendrasinh Jadeja, the chairman of the South Asian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the delegation was encouraged by what it had seen during the site visits and was ready to invest, but called for the establishment of a one-stop business centre to ease processes.
“I wanted to make sure that we get good support from the state. We need a one-stop solution for business. If you do not have that one window, then we get stuck,” Jadeja said.
Hillary Musoke, the presidential adviser on agribusiness and value addition, described the visit as a strategic engagement bringing together multiple constituencies.
“This delegation is a three-in-one. It involves Indians in the UK, Ugandans in Kampala, and UK citizens. This meeting is a result of the previous interaction we had last year in London. We are happy they agreed to come,” Musoke said.
The investors are exploring opportunities in manufacturing, energy, and agribusiness as Uganda seeks to attract more private sector-led investment.
