By Felix Oketcho
The UK Investors Roundtable on Uganda was successfully held at Marlborough House, Commonwealth Secretariat, London. This pivotal event, organized jointly by the Uganda High Commission in London and the East African Association under the theme “Investors Roundtable on Uganda,” featured a high-level engagement of Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Uganda’s Prime Minister, with UK business leaders.
During her official visit to the UK, Prime Minister Nabbanja highlighted Uganda’s strategic emergence as a key investment hub in East Africa. Stressing the country’s political stability, improving infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies, she underscored abundant natural resources, vast arable land, and a young, skilled workforce as key assets. Priority sectors identified for sustainable investment included agriculture and agro-processing, renewable energy, manufacturing, tourism, and ICT.
Uganda is poised to be the beacon of investment in East Africa. Our commitment to political stability, investor-friendly reforms, and strategic partnerships provides a fertile ground for business success. We invite UK investors to join us in harnessing the vast opportunities in agriculture, renewable energy, manufacturing, and ICT, to build a prosperous future together,” Prime Minister Nabbanja said.
She invited investors to take advantage of ongoing reforms aimed at simplifying business processes, providing strong legal protections, and offering competitive tax incentives. The Prime Minister also emphasized the critical role of public-private partnerships, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and capacity building in fostering mutually beneficial investment relationships.
H.E. Ambassador Nimisha Madhvani, Uganda’s High Commissioner to the UK, praised the event as a reflection of the strong partnership between Uganda and the UK. “This roundtable embodies the strength of the Uganda-UK relationship. By bringing together investors, the diaspora, and government stakeholders, we create a powerful platform to accelerate Uganda’s development,” she said. “Our mission at the High Commission is to facilitate these vital connections and ensure a conducive environment for shared prosperity.”
As part of her visit, Prime Minister Nabbanja also met with members of the Ugandan diaspora to deepen connections and explore collaboration opportunities for national development, focusing on investment and shared responsibilities in Uganda’s growth.
Moses Mulimira, Global Health Partnerships Diaspora Engagement Advisor and Uganda UK Health Alliance Incountry Manager, highlighted the vital role of diaspora health professionals. “It’s clear that diaspora professionals are adding immense value to global health between Uganda and UK. There is ongoing support from Uganda High Commission London and Ministry of Health Uganda, but these efforts require continued coordinated support from Government of Uganda,” he stated.
Ben Simms, CEO of Global Health Partnerships, also attended, emphasizing the importance of strengthening health partnerships between the UK and Uganda.
The enthusiasm from UK investors and the Ugandan diaspora illustrates the great potential for mutually beneficial partnerships. Beyond driving investment, these collaborations are strengthening the bridge between the two countries.
This roundtable marks a significant milestone in deepening economic ties and advancing Uganda’s development agenda. With dynamic collaboration and shared vision, Uganda’s investment future looks promising and full of opportunity.