COUNTRY OVER VIEW

Uganda lies astride the equator and enjoys a unique location at the heart of Sub-Saharan Africa within the East African region. The country is bordered by Sudan in the north, Kenya in the east, the United Republic of Tanzania in the south, Rwanda in the southwest and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west. This location, though landlocked, gives the country a commanding base for regional trade and investment. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala.  The area was ruled by the British beginning in the late 1800s. Uganda gained independence from Britain on 9 October 1962. The official languages are English and Swahili, although multiple other languages are spoken in the country.

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. The country has largely untapped reserves of both crude oil and natural gas. While agriculture accounted for 56% of the economy in 1986, with coffee as its main export, it has now been surpassed by the services sector, which accounted for 52% of percent GDP. The GDP growth has been substantially maintained at over 6% per year, making it one of the fasted growing countries in the African sub-continent.

• Consistent growth rate and stable political environment.
• Country is still under developing phase which gives number of opportunities for foreign companies to introduce latest products and technologies & close the gaps.
• Regarded as the safest country of East African region in terms of investments and living conditions.
• Lots of investment incentives to key sectors by the govt encouraging investors to invest.
• Estimate of at least 3.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil, this can potentially double the govt. revenues in 10 years.
• Also traced big reserves of natural gas in the region.
• Sizeable mineral deposits of cobalt & copper in the region.
• Unit labor cost in Uganda is significantly lower than those of other emerging markets.

WHY TO INVEST IN UGANDA

1. Predictable Environment:

Uganda has been able to achieve macro economic stability when clouds of uncertainty rocked many regions of the world.

a) Inflation is single digit for over 10 years from a record high of 240% in 1988.
b) Stable annual economic growth averaging 6% per annum.
c) Market driven exchange ra

2. Market Access:

Uganda enjoys a unique location at the heart of Sub-Saharan Africa giving it a commanding base for regional trade and investment.
b) Uganda is a member of the commonwealth market for eastern and Southern African States (COMESA), a region with a market of over 300 million people in 20 countries.
c) Uganda is a member of the East African Community comprising Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
d) Duty and quota free access into the US (AGOA) and EU(EBA) markets.

3. Fully Liberalized Economy:

a) All sectors liberalized for investment andmarketing
b) Free inflow and outflow of capital
c) 100% foreign ownership of investment permitted

4. Strong natural Resource Base

a) Rich endowment of rainfall, soils, and favorable temperature range. A number of crops are grown organically.
b) Unexploited mineral deposits, and tourism opportunities Confirmed deposits include Gold, Zinc, Wolfram, Petroleum, diamond, vermiculite, silica etc.

5. Government Commitment to Private Sector

a) Government and private sector dialogue in policy formulation
b) Continuous improvement in providing infrastructure and other social services

6. Trainable Labour

a) Uganda presently produces over 10,000 University graduates per year
b) Quality of labor is one of the biggest attractions

7. Security of Investment

a) Guaranteed under the Constitution and the Investment Code 1991.
b) Uganda is a signatory to main international investment related institutions.
c) Multi-lateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).
d) Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) of US.
e) Convention on the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral award (CREFAA), ICSID, TRIMS, GATS, and TRIPS.

8. Investment Incentives

a) Investment Capital Allowances.
b) Investors who register as investment traders are entitled to VAT refund on building materials for industrial/commercial buildings.
c) Duty and Tax free import of Plant & Machinery.
d) First Arrival Privileges in the form of duty exemptions for personal effects and motor vehicle (previously owned for at least 12  months) to all investors and expatriates coming to Uganda.
e) Export Zones (Provisional).