On Wednesday, October 20, 2024, the 3rd Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference was held in Kampala, Uganda. Uganda Investment Authority’s Ag. Director of Investment Promotion and Business Development, Peter Muramira, represented the Director General, Robert Mukiza. Below is a slightly edited version of the presentation.
Why invest in Uganda
Uganda has been named the best investment destination in Africa and East Africa by the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in UAE in 2024 and 2023.
Uganda has abundant natural resources as well as various investment and business opportunities.
It is strategically located not only in the centre of the East African Community but also Africa, making it a key investment, business, and logistical hub.
Uganda is among the Top 10 in industrial development in Africa, according to the African Development Bank.
CNN named Uganda one of the best tourist destinations in the world in 2023.
Uganda is the third most rewarding and profitable economy to invest in Africa, according to Oxford Economics (2023).
Uganda allows 100% repatriation of profits.
Uganda is the 2nd most biodiverse country in Africa and with high green investment and carbon offset potential.
In Uganda, the security of persons and property is guaranteed. Uganda is a beacon of security in the region and investors can be sure that they will be safe in Uganda and their property is secure.
Uganda has quota-free and tariff-free access to key regional and global markets: The East African Community with 300+ million people; COMESA with over 600 million people; the Africa Continental Free Trade Area with a population of 1.3 billion; Trade deals with the European Union on everything but arms; Trade deals with China and India. You can access all these markets by domiciling in Uganda.
Uganda allows 100% project ownership for foreign companies.
Uganda has the youngest population in the region with an average age of 17.5 years; a higher population of advanced degrees after South Africa and Egypt; a highly trainable and adaptable labour force.
Uganda has the lowest labour cost in the region at $400 per year.
The country has the most stable currency in the region.
Ongoing partnerships in the tourism sector
The Uganda Investment Authority and Uganda Wildlife Authority collaborate to promote and attract investments in the tourism sector, especially high-end tourism investments in protected areas. Twenty-five investors have positively responded to the invitation to invest.
Priority sectors and investment opportunities
- Tourism – Potential areas for investment in this sector include the establishment of white sand resort beaches, the establishment of a tourism and hospitality training institute, and the construction of wildlife/forest lodges, amongst others.
- Commercial agriculture and agro-processing – Opportunities include commercial farming and value addition, manufacture of inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.), supply of agricultural machinery, establishment of cold storage facilities as well as the production of packing materials.
- Mineral beneficiation – Uganda has large under-exploited mineral deposits of gold, oil, high-grade tin, tungsten, wolfram, salt, cobalt, iron-ore, glass sand, vermiculite, phosphates, uranium, limestone, and rare earth elements.
- Oil, gas, and energy – Investment opportunities include petroleum exploration, production, and distribution, as well as other local opportunities to provide goods, works, and services to the oil and gas sector. Energy investment opportunities are in renewable energy (hydropower, solar, geothermal) as well as biogas, wind energy, and nuclear energy.
- Information Communication Technology (ICT) – Opportunities include setting up ICT infrastructure in telecommunications, Business Process Outsourcing, National IT Parks, software and hardware, digital streaming services, postcode and addressing systems.
- Infrastructure – Infrastructure is a key priority of the Ugandan Government. During the past few years, infrastructure development has contributed immensely to increased productivity by facilitating efficient connectivity and easing the movement of goods and the provision of services. Investment opportunities exist in constructing roads and bridges, power lines, railroads, inland water transport, air travel, and cargo, as well as upgrading upcountry airports.
Generous tax incentive regime
The non-tax incentives include:
- Securing free land for industrial development.
- Securing free land for agricultural development (commercial farming and value addition).
- Access to industrial water and electricity, roads, etc.
- Access to lower tariffs for power for investors in industrial parks.
- Facilitating investors to access infrastructure development in industrial parks.
- Offering investment and business support services to investors through the One-Stop Centre.
Fiscal tax incentives:
- All goods imported for use in hotels and the tourism sector attract 0% import duty (full exemption on import duties).
- Tourism-specific vehicles are exempt from import tax.
- VAT is exempt on accommodation in tourist lodges located upcountry.
- 10-year tax exemption is given to investors in commercial agriculture and value addition.
- All machinery for value addition attracts 0% import duty.
- A 10-year tax holiday is offered to all manufacturers of consumer and capital goods who export 80% of the goods beyond the East African Community.
- There is a 100% deduction of income tax for scientific research expenditure.
- There is a 100% deduction of income tax for training expenditure (employers who train permanent residents or provide tertiary education not exceeding in the aggregate five years)
- Supply of goods and services to contractors and subcontractors of hydroelectric power, solar power, geothermal power, or biogas and wind energy projects is exempt from VAT.
Ease of doing business through a one-stop shop
In efforts to ease doing business in Uganda, the Uganda Investment Authority is a One-Stop Centre that provides both physical and virtual investment and business services to investors.
Services offered include investment licensing, business registration, tax advisory and registration, land verification, building approvals, provision of work permits, immigration services, environmental impact assessment, free zones services, utility supply, banking services, employee-employer services, and conservation tourism opportunities. This has significantly reduced setup time and costs of doing business in Uganda.
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