Ugandans residing in Southern Africa and elsewhere in the world have been urged to tap into investment opportunities in their home country.
Speaking during the first-ever symposium on attracting investors to Uganda organized by the NRM Southern Africa Chapter in Pretoria, South Africa, Phillip Kakuru, a senior presidential advisor on trade said government has out in place a conducive environment to encourage investors.
“The investments are immense in commercial agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, mineral value addition, tourism, ICT, infrastructure development and many others that you can invest in for your benefit,”Kakuru said.
“There are ready markets within the East African community of about 300 million people, COMESA which is about 600 million people, African Continental Freed Trade Area of about 1.3 billion people from 55 countries with a combined GDP of about USD 3.4 trillion. This is a big opportunity.”
He said it is high time Ugandans abroad took part in developing their own country by investing back home.
The Ugandan High Commissioner to South Africa, Paul Amoru emphasized the immense opportunities for Ugandans to invest in back home.
He also mentioned incentives like a 10 year tax holiday for investors in agro processing operating in the gazette industrial parks, 0% import duty on plant and machinery for use in agro processing, but also a 10 year income tax holiday for exporters of finished consumer and capital goods.
The NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong urged Ugandans in the diaspora to love their country by doing what is good for it.
He said by investing back home, Ugandans can help add a building block onto the development of their country but to also help create employment opportunities for fellow Ugandans.
Isma Luzige, the chairperson of the NRM Southern Africa Chapter urged Ugandans in the diaspora to be united but also encourage each other to tap into opportunities back home.
He also urged government through the Electoral Commission to consider allowing Ugandans in the diaspora participate in national elections.