TESO INVESTMENT FORUM 2

Teso Investment Forum 2016

UIA has established District Investment Committees (DICs) in the Teso region districts of Soroti, Katakwi, Amuria, Serere, Kaberamaido, Kumi, Ngona and Bukedea as tools to not only identify investment opportunities in these areas but to also engage local governments and the private sector in the districts so that they are actively engaged in Investment promotion, facilitation and aftercare services in their areas.

As the month of April closed, an investment forum organized by Uganda Investment Authority took place on 28th April 2016 with the main objective of introducing part of the Team Uganda i.e. Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda National Bureau of Standards and Uganda Development Corporation, to the different regional DICs in Teso region. Team Uganda comprises over 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies relevant to investment.

This Investment Forum was graced by the presence of Hon. Christine Amongin Aporu, Minister of State for Internal  Affairs. She appreciated UIA’s effort in promoting Teso and other regions as investment destinations and urged the committee members to assist in placing Teso region in a strategic position where it can tap investment. “We need to put our house right and ready to tap into the investment opportunities created by Government to increase our investment potentials. This is the only way production and productivity can be increased, as well as markets being established and developed beyond Uganda’s borders.” She said.

John Musajakawa, a Senior Investment Executive at the UIA informed particpants that the role of the DICS was to oversee the investment promotion and facilitation services in the district and to spearhead provision of infrastructure for investment in the districts e.g. serviced land, utilities and feeder roads.

The Team Uganda representatives presented the different services offered to investors and SMEs to facilitate their growth and stay in business. UNBS’s Mr Maurice Musunga said that all investors must know the standard quality of a product before it is sold out for consumption. He detailed these standards as:

  • Food and agriculture standards e.g. sorghum, millet, fruit juice
  • Engineering standards, e.g. farm implements
  • Chemicals and consumer product standards, e.g. soap
  • Management system standards, e.g. corporate social responsibility, ISO 9001, customer care, etc.

The forum was an opportune learning and networking experience for the participants who came from the various districts of Teso region. As requested by Honourable minister, UIA will continue to sensitize the business community in the region towards investment and the government services available to them as they implement their businesses. UIA will also continue to promote the region as a viable investment location in agro processing among other sectors.

Some of the participants at the Forum