Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and the Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Col. Edith Nakalema, on Friday stepped up Uganda’s bid to woo foreign capital, holding back-to-back meetings with a delegation of American and Indian investors in Kampala.
The high-level engagements, first at SHIPU headquarters and later at the Office of the Prime Minister, were aimed at deepening trade and investment ties between Uganda and the visiting delegation, which included players in agriculture, technology, housing, and finance.
Speaking on behalf of President Museveni, Nabbanja told the investors that Uganda is “gifted by nature, peaceful and very favorable for investment.” She highlighted government incentives such as a 10-year tax holiday, duty-free importation of value-addition machinery, and full repatriation of profits.
She stressed Uganda’s youthful labor force, expanding infrastructure, and access to a 1.5 billion-people continental market through the African free trade area.
“Our economy is on the move. Uganda ranks among the fastest-growing economies globally, with improved roads, electricity supply, and lower business costs,” Nabbanja said, directing the Uganda Investment Authority to fast-track investor registration so that projects are operational within three months.
Col. Nakalema, whose SHIPU unit was created in 2023 to address investor bottlenecks, assured the delegation of government protection for their ventures.
She noted that SHIPU operates an Electronic Investors Protection Portal to guard against fraud, provide credible information, and ensure accountability. “Uganda has been repeatedly recognized as one of Africa’s most attractive investment destinations. Our job is to make sure you succeed here,” she said.
The investors responded with firm commitments. Dr. J.A. Chowdary, Chair of the Blockchain Committee at India’s Bureau of Standards and head of the delegation, announced plans to deploy an AI-powered traffic management system for Uganda, free of charge.
He also pledged to rally global investors and confirmed that Uganda would host a Global AI Conference in 2026, drawing 300 top industry leaders.
Dr. Siva Mahesh Tangutooru of IndBhoomi Agro Products pledged over USD 200 million in agro-industrial projects to create jobs, while Mr. Ravi Daparthi of Signitives, USA, expressed readiness to invest in advanced ICT solutions for service delivery. Mr. Sri Atluri, President of the Quality Engineering Foundation, said his group was excited to support Uganda’s economic growth. Mr. Krishan Charan Singh, CEO of an essential oils plant, revealed his firm is already cultivating 1,000 acres of lemon grass for processing.
Uganda Investment Authority official Peter Muramira pledged expedited facilitation for all projects, while the meeting also drew attendance from former Attorney General Fred Ruhindi, former Ethics Minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo, Gateway Uganda’s Daniel Nsaba Buturo, and senior officials from UIA, URSB, and NITA-U.
The charm offensive comes at a time when Uganda is doubling down on efforts to attract foreign direct investment, leveraging its stability, policy incentives, and growing regional market to position itself as East Africa’s premier business hub.
