Musasizi demands jobs, production from Uganda’s investments

Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has challenged the Uganda Investment Authority to ensure investments attracted into the country generate jobs, boost production and expand economic opportunities for Ugandans.

Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Henry Musasizi has challenged the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to ensure investments attracted into the country translate into jobs, increased production and greater economic participation by Ugandans.

Musasizi said UIA should move beyond counting investment licences and announced commitments and instead measure whether the investments are creating employment, promoting manufacturing, adding value to raw materials and increasing exports.

He made the remarks during an entry meeting with the UIA Board, led by Board Chairperson Dr Robert Kyamanywa, where he called for investment to support the Government’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy.

“Investment must go beyond licences and headline figures to deliver employment, increased production, value addition and greater participation of Ugandans,” Musasizi said.

He urged UIA to strengthen the attraction of both domestic and foreign investment while ensuring investors receive the support they need to establish and expand productive businesses.

The minister’s call comes as the Government seeks to accelerate industrialisation and increase the value of Uganda’s exports by promoting local processing and manufacturing.

Kyamanywa said UIA was strengthening its focus on domestic investment through nationwide mobilisation and profiling of investment opportunities.

He cited initiatives in Greater Masaka and Gulu aimed at encouraging Ugandans to invest in manufacturing and value addition.

Kyamanywa also said UIA had reduced the time taken to process investment licences from the previous 48-hour target to 24 hours.

He said the authority was seeking to reduce the processing time further to less than 20 hours where possible.

However, the board identified infrastructure and operational challenges that could constrain investment and the expansion of industrial parks.

These include land titling, poor roads, power tariffs, inadequate infrastructure, water and wastewater systems, as well as challenges at the Namanve wastewater treatment plant.

The board also called for improved digital systems and an electronic database to strengthen investment management and investor services.

Minister of State for Privatization and Investment Amina Mukalazi urged UIA to strengthen investor aftercare, saying the authority should remain engaged with businesses after issuing investment licences.

She said UIA should identify challenges facing investors and help address them to enable businesses to expand and create more jobs.

Mukalazi also called for one-stop investment centres to become fully operational and provide effective services to investors.

The meeting highlighted growing pressure on UIA to demonstrate the actual economic impact of investments facilitated by the authority, rather than relying mainly on investment commitments and licensing figures.

The Government expects investment to contribute to job creation, local content, manufacturing, exports, value addition and increased opportunities for Ugandans.