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Our WorldWednesday, August 6, 2014

S e e t h i s r e

p o r t a t

w o r l d f

o l i o . c o . u k

#AfricaSummit #Uganda

Our World Insert is produced by United World. USA Today did not participate in its preparation and is not responsible for its content

The discovery of oiland gas reservesin Uganda hashelped the EastAfrican nation to

develop into a key territory inone of the worlds fastest grow-ing economic regions. Build-ing on these industries is nowat the cornerstone of Ugandasexpansion plans as it seeks toexploit its natural resourcesto improve both the socialand economic fortunes of itscitizens. While agriculture hastraditionally been a mainstayfor the nations economy, thediscovery of such natural re-sources has more recently provided Uganda with an impetusto drive forward economic im-provements.

Developing the oil and gasindustry further remains keyto Ugandas future, and theindustries lie behind the coun-trys current National Devel-opment Plan, which aims toimprove prospects by buildingbetter transport links, improv-ing electricity supplies, and developing a network of effectivepipeline delivery systems.

At the heart of much of thisdevelopment has been a large-ly stable and secure politicalenvironment under PresidentYoweri Kaguta Museveni andthe ruling National ResistanceMovement. Democracy firstarrived in the former Britishcolony in 1986, but it is morerecent investments in infra-

structure and market reformsthat have enabled Uganda tobecome an economic force inthe region.

One of the things thatUganda has done to make itgrow so rapidly is to improveits policy framework, saysOliver Wonekha, UgandanAmbassador to the U.S. Thecountry has very sound mac-roeconomic policies. The lib-eralization of the economy hasbeen followed by a strongeremphasis on private sector-ledgrowth and the expansion ofmarkets through regional in-tegration.

Recent reforms of Ugandaseconomic systems include thecreation of markets for foreignexchange and stocks, whichhave helped to bolster confi-dence in the country as a placefor investment and attract for-eign business interests.

Allied to this has been thecreation of the Power AfricaInitiative (PAI) and Trade Afri-ca Initiative (TAI), which havestrengthened ties between theAmerican and African conti-nents. Ms. Wonekha says thepartnerships have opened upnew avenues for investors, par-

ticularly in road, rail and watertransportation, oil and gas ex-ploration and extraction, andalso with the development ofnew electrical and hydropow-er installations. Firms such asthe China National OffshoreOil Corporation (CNOOC),Total, and Tullow Oil are all

currently in discussions withUgandan authorities to ex-pand their business operationsin the country.

Pre-existing investmentshave already helped to trans-

form Ugandas economic make-up, with the agricultural sectornow constituting 45% of thecountrys GDP, down from 85%.

In its place has been a hugegrowth spurt in the services in-dustries, which have ratchetedup their contribution to thecountrys GDP as both oil andgas exploration has increased.

Agriculture remains animportant sector in Uganda,however, and one targeted formore growth by the countrysgovernment, with the 4 mil-lion bags of coffee producedeach year providing one ofthe countrys greatest sourcesof employment. Future planshave been targeted to ramp upexports four-fold, in order tocompete with the likes of major producers such as Brazil.

These aims are part of plansto deliver a diversified andstable economy, somethingthe countrys Prime MinisterAmama Mbabazi says is cen-tral to the countrys future ex-pansion.

Recent oil developmentsare good, but it should notkeep us from having to di- versify the economy, he says.This requires more training

programs, solutions to currentenergy issues, and a willing-ness to open the market fur-ther. Wealth derived from oilprovides us with the perfectopportunity to do all that anddiversify the economy. It al-lows us to invest in industry sothat we have employment forour people.

Ugandas agriculture, oil, andgas industries are not the onlyareas providing possibilities forinvestors, with diverse sectorsranging from tourism to gold,phosphate and diamond min-ing all providing opportunities.

We have plenty of touristattractions, says Mr. Musev-eni. We have wildlife and na-ture paths, mountains, gorillas,and we have the resources fortourism attraction. The miss-ing link was security, which isthere now, and the other thingis infrastructure and accessibil-ity to tourist areas.

The Prime Minister is alsofocusing his attention on developing the countrys manu-

facturing industries, to ensurethe raw materials produced including the aforementionedUgandan coffee and otherproducts such as cotton arenot simply grown in the coun-try but processed and then ex-ported for added value.

We need to do more man-ufacturing and build morefactories, says Mr. Museveni.Now, we still have the prob-lem of exporting raw materials.That is a big problem, because,on the one hand you get lessmoney, and on the other hand you export jobs. If I export cot-ton unprocessed, that meansthe jobs for spinning, weaving,and making garments are allexported. That is our secondbig problem. We need morefactories to add value to theraw materials; we need indus-trialization.

With returns on investmentprojected at 6% to 7%, that tar-get seems as if it could soon bewithin Ugandas grasp. Am-bassador Wonekha says thenation intends to be a middle-income country by 2017 anda first-world country by 2050,and it is clear that Uganda isnow keen to embrace furtherinvestments to make the mostof the favorable market condi-tions it has created.

A UNITED WORLD SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY:

Andrew Machaj, Fernando Mora,Belen Buenaventura and Polet Piones

Oil and gas discoveries have helped Uganda to become a keyplayer in the rapidly expanding economic region of East Africa,

with a series of ambitious infrastructure developments nowplanned to bolster that growth for future generations.

SECTORS ARE CLEAR,AND PROFITABILITY ISHIGH. THE INTERNALRATE OF RETURN INAFRICA, COMPAREDTO EUROPE OR ASIA,is high. i dontWANT PEOPLE TOCOME HERE TO LOSEMONEY; THEY MUSTCOME HERE TO MAKEMONEY

YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI,President of Uganda

UGANDA

This supplement to USA TODAY was produced by United World Ltd., Suite 179, 34 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RH Tel: +44 20 7409 3106 ou

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ment. The EACs goal to pur-sue this growth.

One of the three originalmembers of an associationleading to the EACs forma-tion, Uganda is positionedto become a regional leaderthanks to its drive to succeed,its cooperation with othernations and its experience ininternational relations, whichincludes working with theUnited States and other na-tions in the global war againstterrorism.

Uganda, the third-largesteconomy in the EAC (Kenyaand Tanzania occupy the firstand second places), is expect-ed to grow more in the com-ing years due to its undevel-oped potential in agriculture,oil, mining and hospitality

and tourism. With the rightamount of investment andwork, Uganda, and thereforeits people, could experiencea great period of growth andeconomic stability.

The agriculture industrygenerates 68% of Ugandaslabor force and 46% of its ex-port earnings. While 80% ofthe nations land is arable, cur-rently only 35% of it is cultivat-ed. Most of the cultivation issubsistence farming, but thereis good output growth poten-tial in both coffee and corn. Infact, support from the govern-ment has helped Uganda be-come an East African leaderin coffee exports. The govern-ment is particularly interestedin encouraging growth in theareas of fruit and vegetableprocessing, such as producingand canning juice concentrateand frozen pulp from tropicalfruits. Investors can also helpstrengthen the nations agri-cultural subsections, such asthe processing and prepara-tion of crops like tea, coffee,tobacco, and cotton.

The potential exists forgreater agricultural exports ifthe industrys challenges canbe overcome; these include a

lack of technology and coldstorage facilities, insufficientextension services, croppests and diseases, and infra-structure inadequate for thecountrys current needs andtherefore insufficient for anygrowth that will take place.

The oil industry is poised toimprove Ugandas economyas well. While exploration ef-forts had been hampered for years due to regional and civilconflicts, the pace of explora-

tion is now quickening due tothe regions increased stabilityand peacekeeping efforts byUgandas President, YoweriKaguta Museveni. The coun-trys oil export earnings areexpected to nearly doublewhen commercial crude oilproduction begins by 2016. Infact, oil revenues are expectedto replace and even surpassthe nations donor contribu-tions.

The national governmentaids this development. Forexample, the energy budgetfor the fiscal year 2012-2013was tripled so that several vi-tal projects related to the oilindustry could be started, in-cluding oil refinery construc-tion, hydroelectric powerprojects, and an oil distribu-tion network. Still, challengesexist, like the lack of an exportoil pipeline, so full-scale oilproduction must wait for thisinfrastructure.

The oil industrys forecast-ed growth will benefit Ugan-das hospitality and tourismindustry in business-relatedtravel, and travel for pleasurewill increase when business visitors combine work with

leisure. Uganda welcomes600,000 visitors every year,many to its 10 national parksand 12 wildlife reserves. In2011 the industrys revenueswere $805 million, the sec-ond-largest source of foreignrevenue, after coffee exports.Insufficient infrastructure isthe industrys greatest chal-lenge: traffic growth exceedsroad growth and existingroads are inadequately main-tained.

As these industries grow,telecommunications needswill also increase. Ugandasmobile penetration rate wasless than 50% in June 2013. In-creasing the range and qual-ity of coverage in rural areas(where the majority of thepopulation lives) is necessary,but offering high-value services, such as 4G LTE, in ur-ban areas is more profitable.

To meet banking needs,the number of financial insti-tution branches has almostdoubled in just the past three years, and new projects in-clude mobile and internet services to make banking moreaccessible and convenient.Uganda was mostly protectedfrom the global credit crisis,and as a result its financialinstitutions are in relativelygood shape. In fact, the Bankof Uganda, one of the coun-trys 24 banks, is one of thesub-Saharan Africas most re-spected central banks.

With Ugandas will to im-prove its economy, its hard-earned stability and its greatpotential, the country is well-positioned to be a regionalleader.


Uganda has been a major engine of the East African Community, a market of150,000,000 people, rich in natural resources, known for its touristic attractions,and full of untapped potential to be discovered

UGANDA, THE THIRD-LARGEST ECONOMY INTHE EAC, IS EXPECTED TO GROW MORE IN THECOMING YEARS DUE TO ITS UNDEVELOPEDPOTENTIAL IN AGRICULTURE, OIL, MININGAND HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

One of the continents safest countriesSECURITY AND INVESTMENT

Uganda is a key U.S.strategic partner,particularly through itscontribution to the AfricanUnion Mission in Somalia;a a k y ally U.s.campaign against Islamicextremism. The U.S. isU a a la b la aldonor: through USAID,the United States hashelped improve the lives ofhundreds of thousands ofUgandans, by supportingtheir development,agriculture, health andeducation

2 Wednesday, August 6, 2014 Distributed by USA UGANDA

The gatewayto the EastAfricanCommunity

YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVEPresident of Uganda

One of Africasmain inter-governmentalorganizations,the East Af-

rican Community madeup of the United Republic ofTanzania and the Republicsof Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya,and Burundi encouragescooperation among membernations in economics, trade,infrastructure, travel, and pol-itics. The East African regionis one of the continents fast-est growing regions and hasample room for even greatergrowth and foreign invest-

l INDEPENDENCE:October 9, 1962

l TOTAL AREA: 241,038square kilometers

l POPULATION: 35.92m

l

CAPITAL: Kampalal GDP (PPP): $54.37 bil-lion (2013 est.)

l CURRENCY: Ugandanshilling (UGX)

l EXPORTS: coffee, fishand fish products, tea, cot-ton, flowers, horticulturalproducts, gold

l EXPORTS VALUE: $3.16billion (2013 est.)

l IMPORTS: capital equip-ment, vehicles, petroleum,medical supplies, cereals

l IMPORTS VALUE: $4.86billion (2013 est.)

l EXPORT PARTNERS: Ken-ya 12.3%, Rwanda 10.3%,UAE 10.2%, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo9.4%, Netherlands 6.1%,Germany 5.6%, Italy 4.4%(2012)

l IMPORT PARTNERS: Ken-ya 15.6%, UAE 15.4%,China 12.8%, India11.7%, South Africa 4.1%,

Japan 4% (2012)

28 years ofstable economicrenaissance

When Ugandas PresidentYoweri Kaguta Musevenifirst took office in 1986, hiscountry wasnt as stable asit is today. He has workedhard to bring Uganda outof its political and eco-nomic devastation. Now,through universal educa-tion literacy has increased,and the economy has sta-bilized. Inflation is downand industries are openingup to more foreign invest-ment.

The United States hasalso helped: money hashelped the nations eco-nomic development, itsagriculture and the healthand education of its citi-

zens. Thanks to the jointefforts between the UnitedStates and Uganda, Ugan-dans enjoy a relatively sta-ble country.

Mr. Museveni has active-ly involved his country inensuring peace and securi-ty throughout Africa, Iraq,and Afghanistan as well.In the early 1990s, Ugan-da was part of the ArushaPeace Talks for Rwanda,and it has been part of theInter-Governmental Au-thority on Developmentfor Sudan and the PeaceInitiative for the Demo-cratic Republic of Congo.Furthermore, Uganda helda non-permanent seat on

ALL OUR ACTIVITIESARE GEARED TOWARDSPROTECTING THEWELFARE OF OURCITIZENS AND MAKINGLIFE IN THE COUNTRYBETTER

WILSON MURUULI MUKASA,Minister of Security

the U.N. Security Coun-cil during the 2009-2010term, using the seat to ad- vocate for inc reased pro-tection for people affectedby war and for financialcompensation for dam-ages incurred from war. Inaddition, Ugandans haveserved in Iraq and Afghan-istan in the war againstterrorism.

Private security orga-nizations also play a vitalrole in Ugandas security.For development in itsgrowing oil and infrastruc-ture industries to contin-ue, foreign investors needconfidence in Ugandas se-curity.

Firms like Askar Secu-rity Services provide this.According to the com-panys Managing DirectorKellen Kayonga, the secu-rity industry collaborateswith government bodiessuch as internal affairs, de-fense, and the presidency,together with external andinternal security organiza-tions (ESO and ISO), theChieftaincy Military In-telligence (CMI), and private sec uri tie s groups , allto ensure that Uganda is asafe place to live, work andinvest.

Askar also works withthe governments and se-curity groups of other na-tions. It is important towork as a group (particu-larly in the East AfricanCommunity) as the se-curity of one country de-pends on the security of

its neighbors, she statesUganda is a nation thatshould be taken serious-ly in terms of its capa-bilities. We are so deter-mined that we do not letobstacles keep us fromdoing what we have setout to do.

UGANDA SHOULDBE TAKEN SERIOUSLYIN TERMS OF ITSCAPABILITIES. ITSPEOPLE ARE HIGHLYTRAINABLE. WE ARE SOdetermined, we dontLET OBSTACLES KEEP USFROM DOING WHAT WEHAVE SET OUT TO DO

KELLEN KAYONGA, Managing DirecAskar Security Services


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If youre a coffee drinkerchances are you may havesampled some UgandaRobusta, but not so wellknown is the fact that

Uganda grows some of themost delicious pineapples in the

world, a commodity that it hopesto turn into sweet currency.Ugandan pineapples are

sweet and fresh with the high-est concentration of Vitamin C, you do not need supplements,says Amelia Anne Kyambadde,Minister of Trade, Industry andCooperatives a post shes heldsince 2011.

Pineapples and Ugandan ag-ricultural business are amongthe litany of areas that the coun-try is looking to develop to keepeconomic growth in step withits population growth.

Uganda has a population of36.5 million as of 2012 and a

population growth of 3.4%. OurGDP is between $25 to $26 bil-lion, with a growth rate of up to7%, says Ms. Kyambadde. Sowe are working very hard tomake sure that we correlate thepopulation growth with infra-

structure development.Already one of the fast-est growing economies in theworld, Uganda once referredto as the Pearl of Africa by SirWinston Churchill has a set ofunique attributes that offers awealth of potential investmentopportunities. The country isreplete with natural resources,including fertile soils, abundantrainfall, sizeable deposits ofcopper, cobalt and other miner-als, untapped oil reserves, andcheap land.

We used to give out the landfreely, but that was controver-sial, says Ms. Kyambadde.

Now we offer it on an equitybasis. We have industrial parks,

which are a potential target forinvestment. You pay a certainfee, which is really minimal; it is just a token, a commitment feethat is deposited with the Ugan-da Investment Authority beforethey process your lease for the49 years. The chunk of land youget is a minimum of five acres.

Bargain basement prices forspace are just some of the incen-tives that Uganda is offering tolure some much needed dollarsto help key sectors like agricul-ture, energy and manufacturing

Investors can expect a wellregulated highly liberalizedeconomy where they can re-

Unexplored horizons for being discovered. Uganda isblessed with abundant natural resources, including fertilesoils, regular rainfall, deposits of copper, gold, and otherminerals, and recently discovered oil. Agriculture is themost important sector of the economy, employing over80% of the workforce

3Wednesday, August 6, 2014Distributed by USA TODAY UGANDA


Centuries ago,Ugandan warriorswould chew coffeebeans before goinginto battle so they

could feel strong and invincible.Today Ugandans look to cof-fees potency again, this time tostrengthen their economy byincreasing production of theworlds most sought-after com-modity next to oil.

Coffee, coffee, coffee... it hasa strong tradition and culturein Uganda, says Henry Ngabi-rano, Managing Director of theUganda Coffee DevelopmentAuthority. While touristscome to Uganda for differentreasons, every tourist every daymight invariably use coffee.

As the head of the governingbody responsible for the pro-motion and marketing of coffeeproduction in Uganda, Mr. Ng-abirano is proud of his countrysnumber one export crop, whilealso being keenly aware of thechallenges that go with it.

When African leaders meetfor a three-day summit inWashington D.C. next month,Mr. Ngabirano hopes one of theitems on the presidential agen-da will be coffee production.

It would be great if their dis-

cussions could include improv-ing farmer coffee incomes, hesays. The global coffee indus-try is rightly demanding moreand more sustainable coffeeproduction systems, includingenvironmentally friendly stan-dards, which are not affordablefor small-scale farmers becausethey dont earn enough fromcoffee to meet those standards.The government must supportthem particularly in the area ofwater and soil management.

Uganda is Africas second-biggest coffee producer afterEthiopia and eighth largest cof-fee producer in the world, andthe worlds fourth largest Ro-busta producer.

The variety of wild Robustacoffees growing in Ugandasrainforests are thought to besome of the rarest examples ofnaturally occurring coffee treesanywhere in the world. It is abirthright that Mr. Ngabiranohopes to capitalize on.

In the last few years, Ugandahas been at the forefront in theRobusta differentiation process,and I am glad that the consum-ers are now agreeable to theidea of differentiated Robusta,he says.

Cotton, the most environ-mentally friendly fiber usedin making textiles and ap-parel, has been produced inUganda since 1903 and isgrown by small-scale farmersin two-thirds of the country.Uganda produces a medium-long staple fiber, which is

hand picked, roller ginned,and is of premium quality.Ugandas cotton quality stan-dards are affiliated to mostinternational bodies, such asthe International Cotton As-sociation, Bremen Cotton Ex-change, and U.S. Departmentof Agriculture. Uganda is alsoa member of the InternationalCotton Advisory Committee.

Cotton marketing and pro-cessing have been liberalizedsince 1994 and Uganda hasfostered its position as thesecond largest producer ofcotton in East Africa by creat-ing an enabling environmentfor production and invest-ment in value addition.

Following the liberalizationof marketing and process-ing, the Cotton DevelopmentOrganization, a governmentagency under the Ministry ofAgriculture, Animal Industryand Fisheries, was created tomonitor and promote cot-ton production, processing,marketing, and regulation.

In collaboration with privatesector stakeholders, mainlythe ginners, capacity has beencreated for producing highquality cotton, thereby ensur-ing a continuous supply ofraw material for cotton-basedindustries.

Cottons by-products oflint and cottonseed form thebasis for investment in thecotton value chain. Hitherto,there has been limited for-eign direct investment in thespinning and textiles sectors,resulting in the export of lintas a raw material, which inturn affects farm-gate prices

and job creation, and erodesthe full economic benefits ofthe value chain from farm tofashion industry.

Supported by a 2009 Na-tional Textile Policy, the gov-ernment has put in place afavorable investment climateby offering several incentivesto manufacturers. Security ofpeople and property is guar-anteed, foreign exchange isliberalized, and infrastruc-ture development is beingfast-tracked. In addition,Uganda has a young, train-able, English-speaking work-force, readily available utili-ties (electricity and water),and an extensive nationalroad network, all of whichcombines to provide excel-lent investment opportuni-ties in the Ugandan cotton value chain.

The white gold:100% Ugandan cotton

patriate their funds as theywish, says Ms. Kyambadde.

They get to enjoy a numberof incentives, for examplethey can bring in machin-ery without paying taxes.Likewise they are exemptfrom corporation taxes for10 years. Unlike other ad-ministrations in the region,the Ugandan governmentdoes not require a 50%ownership.

But the business environ-ment is not all rosy. Instabil-ity in South Sudan is a riskfor the Ugandan economy,with Sudanese refugeesseeking to escape violentconflicts in northern Ugan-da. Unreliable power, highenergy costs, inadequatetransportation, infrastruc-ture and corruption are alsofactors in inhibiting eco-nomic development andinvestor confidence. Someof these challenges Ms. Ky-ambadde and her ministryare meeting head on.

In a bid to fight corrup-tion, we have had peopleaudited and taken to court.Disputes are taken to thecommercial court and theInspector General of Gov-ernment. We have repre-sentatives in every officewho monitor operations.Not everybody is keenabout it. But I like it because

it increases accountabilityand helps end corruption,she affirms.

In recent years, Ugandahas increased exports tothe United States from $26million in 2004, to $45.8million in 2011 and $47million in 2013. Conversely,the country has importedmore than $110 millionworth of U.S. goods.

To further increase tradeand take advantage ofUgandas abundant naturalresources and strategic lo-cation, Dr. Ben Manyindo,Executive Director of theUganda National Bureau ofStandards (UNBS), identi-fies four things are needed:fixed standards for prod-ucts and services; technol-

ogy; skilled labor; and infra-structure.

Progress is evident. Dr.Manyindo says that a to-tal of 1,212 East Africanstandards have been har-monized and are currentlyunder implementation and

benchmarked to interna-tional best practices. Headds that investors shouldtake a wider view of theopportunities on offer andlook at three main markets:the Common Market forEastern and Southern Af-rica (COMESA), East Af-rican Community (EAC),and Southern African De- velopment Community(SADC).

The regional market isgetting bigger and biggerand the possibilities of thesetrade areas are unexplored.Ugandas business environ-ment is very friendly, mar-ket oriented and with lot ofincentives, says Dr. Many-indo. We are your passportto the marketplace.

Blessed with huge

natural resources

Fisherman in Lake Victoria

Spreadingthe aromafrom thesource ofthe Nile

COFFEE COFFEECOFFEEIT HAS ASTRONG TRADITIONAND CULTURE INUGANDA. EVERYTOURIST EVERY DAYMIGHT INVARIABLY USECOFFEE

HENRY NGABIRANO,Managing Diof the Uganda Coffee DevelopmentAuthority

Tea plantations in Toro Kingdom

WE WOULD LIKE TOCOVER THE ENTIREVALUE CHAIN OF

SOME OF OURCOMMODITIES,ESPECIALLY INAGRICULTURE, BUTALSO IN MINING,TOURISM, INDUSTRYAND ENERGY

AMELIA ANNE KYAMBADDE,Minister of Trade, Industryand Cooperatives

WE ARE YOURPASSPORT TO THEMARKETPLACE

DR. BEN MANYINDO,Executive Director of the UNBS


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i v u c a a l abl a al a k fac l a c u y c c v l p a bu l al a

The government is workingon mapping the lake to seethe safe routes and highlightstrategic places where it can buildlanding sites while attractingforeign investors to Lake Victoriatransportation


The road to unlocking

holding back wider regionalintegration within the EastAfrican Community.

The country depends onits agricultural sector to provide livelihoods for 60% of itspeople, yet it is difficult to getproduce and crops to market.One single, two-lane roadinto Kenya takes about 80%of Ugandas exports, so justone road accident can cut offoverseas business.

Gasoline is very expensivebecause of the high cost oftransporting it around thecountry on dilapidated roads, yet this is a country withbarely-exploited oil reserves.

Tourism is underdevel-oped, communities and re-gions suffer from a lack ofaccessibility, and countlesseconomic opportunities gounexploited, all because ofdeficient roads.

It is difficult to think ofany other economic sectorin Uganda where investmentcould so quickly and so radi-

cally transform the countrys

U ganda is amongthe worldscountries mostdependent onits roads net-

work. It is a big country, about90% of the size of Californiain both area and popula-tion. But whereas Californiahas close to 90,000 miles ofmaintained non-urban roads,Uganda has a little more than2,000 miles of paved roads,with most of these beingof only a single lane or twolanes. Moreover, landlockedUganda has little in the wayof alternative rail or air trans-port facilities, so that roadsare just about the only optionavailable for people to movearound and to transport in-ternally, or to export goodsand produce. Therefore, theinsufficient and precariousstate of the nations roads isclearly impacting negativelyon economic and social prog-ress and hindering the fulldevelopment of the countrys

natural resources, besides

development prospects andthe life perspectives of itscitizens, through the cata-lytic role investment in roadscould play in this countryand the economic multipliereffect that careful and priori-tized investment would pro-duce.

The government has al-located about $4 billion topave some 40 priority roads.James Abraham Byandaala,the Minister of Works andTransportation, recogniz-es the scale of the task thecountry faces, with fundingbeing a problem , despiteassistance provided fromthe World Bank and the Af-rican Development Bank.The World Bank-supportedUganda Transport SectorDevelopment Project, an ini-tiative aimed at improvinglinks with some neighboringcountries to the west, willnow end in early 2016. Thegovernment has concludedan agreement with Chinas

Exim Bank to finance an ex-

pressway between Kampalaand Entebbe at a cost of $450million, and is one the minis-ter expects to be a toll road.It is a model of public-privatepartnership that is a fairlynew initiative to Uganda.

Starting along the rightroadIn 2008, the Uganda NationalRoads Authority (UNRA)started operations with theresponsibility for the man-agement, operation, develop-ment and maintenance of thecountrys classified road net-work. The move has alreadyproduced improvements,with more than 600 miles ofroads having been completedin the last five years and 750miles more now under con-struction. UNRAs ExecutiveDirector, Arthur SsebbuggaKimeze, recognizes that thisis only a start in this land-locked country where roadsconstitute the predominant

mode of transport with 90%

of cargo movements and90% of passenger journeysbeing made by road andwhere roads impact everyaspect of socio-economicdevelopment. Mr. Kimezeemphasizes, however, thatthe Authoritys Road MasterPlan is not only national inits perspective but that it alsoaims to bring about the mod-ernization of the corridorsthat link with neighboringcountries because they sup-port regional growth.

The national budget for2013-2014 allocated some$720 million to UNRA fornew roads, the greatestamount the Authority hadever had and proof of thegovernments commitmentto seriously tackling theproblem. At the same time,UNRA has been developinga model of contractor-fa-cilitated financing procure-ment, effectively an initiativeto bring additional private-sector capital into the na-

tions roads. UNRA has also

WHEREASCALIFORNIAHAS CLOSE TO90,000 MILES OFMAINTAINED NON-URBAN ROADS,UGANDA HAS LITTLEMORE THAN 2,000MILES OF PAVEDROADS


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Ugandas potential

instituted a highly transpar-ent and accountable tender-

ing and adjudication proce-dure, including the extensiveuse of foreign engineeringconsultants to fully vet allaspects before a contract isawarded. Mr. Kimeze statesthat this has given our sys-tem credibility and biddersare confident that the play-ing field is level. He is proudof UNRAs mission and of itsachievements so far, statingthat roads directly supportthe economy, they keep thecountry together, allowingits citizens to work as a unit,roads unite us.

International experiencedelivering qualityOne of the internationalcompanies with a majorpresence in Uganda is Ko-lin Construction Companyfrom Turkey. Country Man-ager Bruhan Nassur statesthat Kolin is not in Ugandaonly for one particular con-tract, but that it has been inthe country since 2010, withone of the attractions beingthe fair, clear and attractivetendering process followedby UNRA.

The Kolin group alreadyhas an extensive record ofcontracts carried out in anumber of other countries inAfrica, including Libya, Ethio-pia and Mozambique.

Mr. Nassur emphasizesthat his group always usesfirst-rate materials, as wellas construction equipmentfrom USA and Germany. Hepoints out that their roads last20 years a very important

THE OPPORTUNITIESARE HERE IF YOULOOK AT THE EASUB-REGION, RIGHTFROM ETHIOPIA TOKENYA, TANZANIA,UGANDA, ANDMOZAMBIQUE. THEEARLIER YOU COMETO INVEST, THEBETTER

JAMES ABRAHAM BYANDAALA,Minister of Works and Transportation

ROADS DIRECTLYSUPPORT THEECONOMY, THEYKEEP THE COUNTRYTOGETHER,ALLOWING ITSCITIZENS TO WORKAS A UNIT. ROADSUNITE US.

ARTHUR SSEBBUGGA KIMIEZE,Executive Director of UNRA

I THINK THAT KOLINWAS THE FIRSTCONTRACTOR INUGANDA TO DELIVERTHE COMPLETED

JOB BEFORE THEDEADLINE

BRUHAN NASSUR,Country Director of KolinConstruction, Tourism, Industry and Trading Co. Inc.

AN INTERNATIONALPARTNER WOULDBE ABLE TO BENEFITFROM OUR VASTEXPERIECNE ANDKNOWLEDGE OF

THE INDUSTRY WHILELEARNING MOREABOUT UGANDA

BAGUMA CRESCENT,Director of BCR General Ltd.

consideration with the heavyuse that is usual in Africa.Kolin already has 800 staff inUganda, of which 90% are lo-cal people, a measure of theircommitment to contributingto long-term growth in thecountry.

Kolin pre-qualified for threetenders in Uganda and it is nowundertaking the upgrading ofthe countrys 57-mile Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya road, from gravelto first-class tarmac.

Mr. Nassur says that theirintention from the start wasto deliver a high-quality jobusing skilled expatriate engi-neers and to intensively trainUgandan staff so as to buildup a strong local capabil-ity. He emphasizes that thisinvolved bringing in a newwork culture, one of work-ing to international qualitystandards while still meetingtough deadlines.

Mr. Nassur adds, I thinkthat Kolin was the first con-tractor in Uganda to deliverthe completed job before thedeadline. Kolin has a long-term vision to build a verysizable presence in the coun-try, perhaps going beyondconstruction projects andinto other areas in which thegroup has expertise.

According to Mr. Nassur,possibilities include cementproduction, tourism, min-ing and energy. He adds thatfocusing on infrastructure isthe right way to go.

Building local skills andcapability The government is keen todevelop a local capability inthe roads sector and UNRAsMr. Kimeze emphasizes thatthis ambition extends tocontractors, consultants andsuppliers.

It is also seeking to strength-en regulatory and professionalinstitutions involved in theconstruction industry.

He states that there is alarge scope for local partici-pation in roadworks, but atthe moment, the local firmsare mainly engaged in low- value road maintenance.

He adds that UNRAwould like to develop themso that they could competefor new works and for thereconstruction of existingroads.

Mr. Kimeze also mentions

the possibility of small localfirms partnering with inter-national companies in ten-dering for bigger work, thusgrowing their own capabil-ity as the work is executed,also making reference to thegovernments CrossroadsProgram, which helps smallcontractors in the provisionof the tender security theyneed to supply when puttingin bids for work.

One local firm that hasbuilt a strong presence inroad-building is BCR Gen-eral (Uganda) Ltd., whoseManaging Director BagumaCrescent Rusoke explainsthat they take on the small-er, more local jobs, becauseof funding reasons; we onlytake on jobs that we can seethrough to the end.

Mr. Rusoke states, how-ever, that quality is always a

prime consideration for hiscompany and he adds thatlinking with an overseascompany would be mutuallybeneficial, saying, An inter-national partner would beable to benefit from our vastexperience and knowledge ofthe industry while learningmore about Uganda.

He agrees with the idea ofempowering local contrac-tors, referring to the trickle-down effect on local com-munities that this wouldgenerate. BCR General pres-ently has three contractswith UNRA and has alreadyworked on a variety of roadsprojects totaling more than2,500 miles a good exampleof local entrepreneurship.

Looking straight aheadJames Abraham Byandaala,the Minister of Works andTransportation, notes the ef-forts made by Uganda overthe last five years to upgradeits roads.

The government sees this

investment as a precursor tothe countrys social and eco-nomic development, com-ments the minister.

He adds that specific pri-ority has been given to roadsin agriculturally productiveareas, to regions with oil po-tential and to tourism loca-tions, besides of course thecountrys export routes.

The minister and alsoUNRA now want to build onthis to involve major interna-tional companies more ex-tensively, while also fosteringthe development of an indig-enous capability.

The management struc-ture is in place, the tender-ing and adjudication processis recognized as exemplary.This is a young country withunexploited resources andtremendous potential in aregion of great strategic im-portance; it is a country withhopes and ambitions, anda belief in doing things theright way.

THIS IS A YOUNG COUNTRY WITH UNEXPLOTED RESOURCES ANDTREMENDOUS POTENTAL IN A REGION OF GREAT STRATEGICIMPORTANCE; IT IS A COUNTRY WITH HOPES AND AMBITIONS, AND ABELIEF IN DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY

Road in Toro Kingdom that connects to Rwanda and Congo

Kolin Construction uses first-rate materials and equipment to build the countrys new roads, such as the Hoima-Kaiso road in western Uganda

Kampala city view

The Jinja Road flyover project will debottleneck Kampala city by 2019


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agriculture, mineral devel-opment and processing, andcreate transit-oriented devel-opment, Mr. Kateeba says.

Moving from one locationto another is a basic needshared by passengers, freightand information. James By-andala, Ugandas Minister ofWorks and Transportation,sees a correlation betweenmobility and greater oppor-tunity to develop on macroand microeconomic levels.When transport systemsare efficient, they provideeconomic and social op-portunities and benefitsthat impact throughout theeconomy, he says. Mobilityis a reliable indicator of development.

Transportation and mo-bility are linked to a levelof output, employment andincome that reflects thewhole economy, he adds,commenting: In many developed countries, transpor-

tation accounts for between6% and 12% of GDP.Transportation is also

linked to producer, consum-er, and production costs. Forthis reason, the importanceof specific transport activi-ties and infrastructure canthus be assessed for eachsector of the economy.

Mr. Kateeba says the proj-ects greatest value lies intransport price reductionfor Ugandas industries andexporters. We have a lot ofminerals and agriculturalproduce, he says. However,much of this cannot be developed because of the ex-pensive UTC.

SGRs completion will yield big development re-turns, but rail wont meet allof Ugandas transport needs.


W ith an ex-p e c t e deconomicb e n e f i tof $118

billion by 2040, Uganda istransporting itself into thefuture via high-capacity,high-speed rail. Seeking tocorrect past mistakes, thecountry is planning to invest $8.5 billion into theconstruction of a standard-gauge railway (SGR) that willturn the landlocked countryinto a land link and allow forcheaper transport of importsand exports throughout theAfrican continent.

We are sitting at the east-ern edge of the DemocraticRepublic of Congo (DRC),which has vast reserves ofiron ore, gold, tin, nickel,copper, and much more, saysCharles Kateeba, ManagingDirector of Uganda Rail-ways Corporation (URC).Most investors hesitate atthe notion of transportingthese minerals through un-developed roadways froma country that is triple thesize of France, he says. Butbringing the SGR throughUganda and connecting it tothe DRC could be a solutionto this problem.

Additionally, plans forthe SGR include connectingUganda to oil-rich areas inwestern Uganda, southernSudan, and northern Kenya,and moving through Rwandadown to Mombasa. This willease the current cost and in-frastructure burden that all-land transport incurs.

This railway is not only abig step toward the future,

but also a big move towardcorrecting past mistakes.Because of the African con-tinents multiple rail gauges,long-range rail transport isdifficult and expensive.

You see, most of our rail-way systems were built as co-lonial avenues of transport,says Mr. Kateeba. The mainobjective was to transportraw materials from the in-teriors to the coast, and fin-ished goods from the coastto the interiors. Because ofa miscommunication dur-ing the British constructionof East African Railways(EAR), however, the conti-nent ended up with threegauges between Cairo andCape Town.

The history of URC isintertwined with Ugandaitself. The railway was cre-ated to strengthen the Brit-ish hold on the nation. Itwas reasoned that a reli-able transport system wasnecessary to bring in goodsand extract raw materi-als. Though this move wasdebated at the time, theBritish anchored both theconstruction of URC andthe capture of Uganda ontwo points: the abolition ofthe slave trade, which madeit necessary to construct

transport rather than rely-

ing on human labor, and re-exportation of cash crops.

Now, Uganda is workingto collaborate with differentgovernments to boost theSGR project, which is pro- jected to create 50,000 jobsdirectly and 150,000 indi-rectly during construction.Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda andSouth Sudan have signeda cooperation agreementthat lays down the rulesand procedures of the URCcorporation; however, sinceTanzania has not signed theagreement due to infrastruc-ture concerns, the coun-tries have adopted the termNorth Corridor rather thanEast African Community.

URC views the North Cor-ridor SGR as a special cor-ridor development project.The railway is deliberatelydesigned to create townshipsand business hubs aroundthe most productive areas ofthe region. By doing that, we

want to stimulate growth in

The future runs on railsWith investments of $8.5 billion prioritized for astandard-gauge railway, Uganda is set to become alandlinked country rather than landlocked

This is why Uganda is striv-ing to develop its aviationsector as well, which hasgrown from 118,000 inter-national passengers to 1.4million in 2013. There are13 domestic airports andone international airport inUganda, but a second inter-national airport is plannedthat will serve an oil refin-ery in Hoima. That airportwill be needed by December2015, two years before theoil refinery is constructed.

The Civil Aviation Au-thority (CAA) has set up adepartment of marketingand commercial services toencourage export of Ugandasagriculture, livestock andfisheries. Dr. WenceslausRama Makuza, ManagingDirector of the CAA, says,In our plan for upgradingand expansion of the interna-tional airport, the first facilitywe will look into is the con-struction of a modern cargo

center. The design is alreadyin place with a capacity for100,000 tons at a time. Headds that this export poten-tial lies in the European andMiddle Eastern markets.

At the same time, 60% ofair travelers are tourists glob-ally, Dr. Makuza says. Wewant to tap into that, headds. It is an area in whichthere could be minimum investment with high returns.

By rail or by air, Uganda isbolstering its transportationsector and looking towardthe future. There are invest-ment opportunities in all ar-eas, Mr. Kateeba says. Ourideal situation would be tohave a railway public-privatepartnership (PPP) that willinvolve infrastructure, op-erations, and maintenance.

WE WANT TOSTIMULATE GROWTHIN AGRICULTURE,MINERALDEVELOPMENTAND PROCESSING,AND CREATETRANSIT-ORIENTEDDEVELOPMENT

CHARLES A. KATEEBA,Managing Director of the URC

[AVIATION] IS ANAREA IN WHICHTHERE COULDBE MINIMUMINVESTMENT WITHHIGH RETURNS

DR. WENCESLAUS RAMA MAKUZA,Managing Director of the CAA

Multibillion-dollar railway investments,and upgrades at Entebbe InternationalAirport (pictured above, right), as wellas plans for a second internationalairport are putting Uganda on trackto becoming one of the regions mostadvanced economies

A COLLABORATIONOF VARIOUSREGIONALGOVERNMENTS,THE SINGLE-GAUGERAIL PROJECT ISPROJECTED TOCREATE 50,000

JOBS DIRECTLYAND 150,000INDIRECTLY DURINGCONSTRUCTION

Check-in UgandaThe modernization plans of Entebbe International Airport will turnUganda into the logistic hub and tourism entrance reference of the EAC


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Vibrantenergy onthe moveVarious energy and mineral projects aim to tap intoU a a u c - c l lp cdemand for power and add value to its mineral stocks

For years Uganda hasregarded its ICTsector as a driver ofeconomic growth.With more than

80% of the population livingoutside cities, the govern-ment created the Rural Com-munications DevelopmentFund (RCDF) in 2003 to de-ploy telephone, Internet andpostal services in rural areas.The aim was to promote so-cial equity and cohesion

Omnipresence universalaccess rural areasThe RCDF has, in just over adecade, helped to provide ev-ery public secondary schoolin Uganda with computerlabs, ICT Minister NyombiThembo says, adding that,We are also connectingthem to the internet.

Providing rural schoolswith hardware, getting themonline and tweaking the cur-riculum has helped children

in remote communities tocompete academically withtheir urban counterparts,who have traditionally out-shone the country young-sters, Mr. Thembo says.

ICT has also positivelyimpacted the agriculturalsector, in which eight in 10Ugandans make a living.Developers have come upwith a smartphone app thatidentifies plant diseases andrecommends a cure, for in-stance. And a group of youngUgandans won last yearsWomens EmpowermentAward at Microsofts globalstudent software competi-tion, the Imagine Cup, inRussia. The Ugandan young-sters developed an app thatallows anyone with a smart-

phone and a custom piece ofsoftware to see if they havemalaria, without drawingblood or waiting days for labresults. That project is look-ing for investors.

Mobile financial services

Mobile money services havehelped to give the unbanked many of whom live in ru-ral areas access to finan-cial services. The number ofmobile money subscribersrose from 8.87 million in De-cember 2012 to 14.2 million a year later.

Ugandas burgeoning tele-communications sector isregulated by the UgandaCommunications Commis-sion (UCC), whose mandatecovers broadcasting, tele-communications and postal/courier services. GodfreyMutabazi, Executive Direc-tor at the UCC, says, UCCstechnology-neutral and firmregulatory oversight has ledto significant decreases inretail prices of communica-

tions services in Uganda,among others, invariably en-abling Ugandans to enjoy af-

fordable and easily accessiblecommunications services.

The regulator is also pro-

actively promoting state-of-the-art telecom servicesnationwide, working withuniversities and regularlyparticipating in local eventprojects. We are sponsoringmobile-telephone distribu-tion, and soon we shall cover

the entire country. We areone of the few countries thathave achieved 100% GSMcoverage, and a penetrationof over 95%, says Mr. Muta-bazi.

E-GovernmentWhile Ugandas burgeoningtelecommunications sector ishaving a visible positive im-pact on peoples lives, it is alsobenefiting them in ways thatthey do not immediately see.ICT makes it easier to com-municate with members ofthe government, because eachministry is required to have aworking, up-to-date website.

Investment attractionThe governments role in ICTdevelopment is to ensure that

policies are investor-friendlyso that we get more capitalcoming into the sector, Mr.Thembo says.

We can see that commu-nications is actually trans-forming our country. Taxcontribution is close to about400 billion Ugandan shillings(around $150 billion). Theindustry employs more thana million people (directlyand indirectly). It is truly theprime mover of the economy,and we are happy to be partof that revolution, he adds.

Currently, Uganda hasseven cell phone service pro- viders and around 19 millionphone lines for a popula-tion of around 36 million.Internet penetration is onlyaround 22%.

When you consider thesize and demographic of thepopulation of the country more than 65% below theage of 15 this creates a hugepotential for future demand,says Mr. Thembo. So, too,does the fact that economistsare forecasting that Ugandawill be a middle-incomecountry in just over a decade.

Uganda is also looking forinvestors to roll out fiber-op-tic cable around the country,to enable 4G technology tobe deployed. At present, onlyaround 8,000 kilometers offiber-optic cable have beenlaid in the country of 240,000square kilometers.

U.S. ICT companies arealready present in Uganda,supplying the East Africancountry with hardware, soft-ware and infrastructure, butthere is room for even moreoutside investment in Ugan-dan ICT.

With an increasing popu-lation, improving standardsof living, expanded infra-structure deployments andinvestment, high literacyand quality education, and a young tech-savvy population,the sky is the limit, says Mr.Mutabazi.

We are actively encour-aging value-added servicesdeployments and innovativetechnology adoption, andwe foresee a bright future forUganda.

ICT: a global investment pull


Energy. Uganda hasit in abundance.However the gov-ernment sees en-ergy not just as a

source of power and revenue,but also as a prerequisite fordevelopment.

A driving force behindUgandas push to develop itsenergy sources is the need tobring electricity to the 85% ofthe population who does nothave it at present. To achievethat goal, the government hasmade rural electrification apriority and has signed up tobe one of the pilot countriesfor the United Nations Sus-tainable Energy for All initia-tive a program that aims toprovide universal access tomodern energy services, toimprove energy efficiency,and to grow renewable en-ergys share of the global en-ergy pie.

Power to the peopleUganda is tapping into mul-tiple energy sources to meet

domestic demand, whichis growing by around 10% a year.

The government has linedup a number of projects inthe energy sector, says IreneMuloni, the Minister of En-ergy and Min-eral Develop-ment. Projectsof interest in-clude tappingrenewable en-ergy sourceslike hydro,solar, geother-mal, biomass,wind and bio-gas. Nuclearenergy is alsoan option forthe future.

The callof oilThe first com-mercial dis-covery of oilwas made as recently as 2006.In just eight years, Ugandahas gone from no reserves

to proven crudeoil reserves of 2.5billion barrels,according to theU.S. Energy Infor-mation Adminis-tration. Ms. Mu-loni says reservesare closer to 3.5billion barrels,and are located

on just 40% of the AlbertineGraben near Lake Albert inwestern Uganda meaningthe other 60% is waiting to beexplored.

In February of this year,Uganda signed deals withTullow Oil of Britain, FrancesTotal, and the China NationalOffshore Oil Corporation(CNOOC) to develop itsreserves. Production is ex-

pected to start in two to three years, and the oil will be usedinitially for domestic powergeneration, according to theMinister. Eventually, how-ever, Uganda plans to sell itsoil internationally. Any rev-enues the country earns fromits oil will be ploughed intoinfrastructure developmentso that all Ugandans benefitfrom this resource because itbelongs to us all, Ms. Muloni

says.By 2017,

U g a n d aplans to havea refinerycapable ofe v e n t u a l l yp rocess ing60,000 bar-rels a day.

As thec o u n t r y soil industrygrows, theU g a n d a ngovernmentis setting upa regulatoryagency anda nationaloil company

that will do business on itsbehalf. There are also plansin the works to hold biddingrounds for exploration licens-es for the unexplored parts ofthe Albertine Graben.

Ms. Muloni notes that withone of the lowest costs in theworld for finding oil lessthan $1 per barrel and oneof the highest drilling successrates, at 85%, Uganda is an at-tractive destination for inter-national investors.

Mineral boomThere is also an alphabet soupof mineral riches to draw investors to Uganda, everythingfrom bismuth to copper andcoltan, gold and granite, ironore and vermiculite, as ex-amples.

Aerial magnetic surveyshave been conducted on 80%

of Uganda, allow-ing the authoritiesto better identifywhich minerals arewhere.

By being ableto identify thingsbetter, we are in abetter position forinvestors to comein, conduct explo-rations and add

value, says Ms.Muloni.Uganda is look-

ing for investors who can add value to its raw materials, in-cluding its minerals. Ugandawould benefit by selling its re-sources and investors wouldbenefit from the 18% returnon investment.

And that, says Ms. Muloni,is going to be a win-win situ-ation.

ALL UGANDANS[WILL] BENEFITFROM THIS [OIL]RESOURCE BECAUSEIT BELONGS TOUS ALL

IRENE MULONI,Minister of Energy and MineralDevelopment

INVESTORS ARE BEING SOUGHT TO ROLL OUT FIBER-OPTIC CABLE AROUND THE COUNTRY, TO ENABLE 4GTECHNOLOGY TO BE DEPLOYED. AT PRESENT, ONLYAROUND 8,000 KILOMETERS OF FIBER-OPTIC CABLEHAVE BEEN LAID IN THE 240,000KM2 COUNTRY

WE ARE ACTIVELYENCOURAGINGVALUE-ADDEDSERVICESDEPLOYMENTSAND INNOVATIVETECHNOLOGYADOPTION. THE SKYIS THE LIMIT

GODFREY MUTABAZI,Executive Director of the UCC

ICT IS ACTUALLYTRANSFORMINGOUR COUNTRY. ITIS TRULY THE PRIMEMOVER OF THEECONOMY, ANDWE ARE HAPPY TOBE PART OF THATREVOLUTION

NYOMBI THEMBO,Minister of State of ICT

t a f aand communication tech-nology (ICT) sector hasregistered astronomicalgrowth over the years,and is ranked amongst thefastest growing in Africa.Uganda and its friendlybusiness environment bringa wide range of hi-techopportunities in areas suchas data, mobile banking,and fiber-optics


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Snow on the equator,the largest fresh-water lake in Af-rica, and the longestriver in the world.

Organic, pesticide-free pro-duce and 30 different typesof banana. This is Uganda fortourists, where lush vegeta-tion, wild game, and friendlylocals come together to makeUganda an inviting home-away-from-home for travelersin search of everything fromcultural interaction to wildgame to extraordinary beauty.

Even during British colonial-ist times, Ugandas unique char-acter and incomparable beautywere recognized. Sir WinstonChurchill coined the phraseThe Pearl of Africa when hedescribed the country in hisbook, and the country has em-braced this moniker.

Fifty-two years after gain-ing independence, Ugandais seeking to share its naturalgifts on a global scale by at-tracting tourists to the travelexperience the country offers.

With its strategic location, thecountry is easily accessiblefrom other continents. Oncetourists touch down, Ugandacan be a gateway to other EastAfrican Community touristdestinations. Strategic locationis just one of many qualitiesthat make a trip to Uganda anattractive vacation experience.

Uganda is known for its fo-cus on peace, and its citizens

are known as the happiest inthe world. Fifty-two ethnicgroups coexist amid kingdomsthat were established up to 400 years ago, and Uganda con-sciously works to conserve their

lifestyles, traditions, and cui-sines. Friendly Batwa pygmieshave come out of the forest andallow tourists to peek into theirlives, sharing wisdom that theyhave learned from ancestorswho used to live in the forest.

Spanish-speaking touristsmight also find a pleasantly sur-prising connection with a sub-group of the Karamajong peo-

ple in Uganda. Though theseagro-pastoral herders hail fromthe northeast of the Africancountry, there is a sub-groupwhose language is understand-able for Spanish speakers.

To support each regions dif-ferent ethnic groups, beliefsand cultures, the Board of theUganda Wildlife Authoritygives 20% of income generatedfrom national parks to localcommunities. Additionally,some groups are given access tomedical grants, allowing themto treat themselves. Because ofthis allotment, both commu-nities and national parks havegrown in the country, allowingfor schools, heritage centers,and access to nearby markets.

Still, Ugandas diversity isonly part of its tourist appeal.In addition to its friendly locals,Uganda is one of two countriesin the world through which theequator passes. This actuallygives the country a huge advan-tage climate-wise, because thecountry is on the equator, but ata high altitude, meaning year-

round comfortable weatherand mountains with snowat their peaks, like the famedMount Kilimanjaro.

Snow is at the top, but wateris on the ground, and plenty ofit. Uganda is the source of theNile River, the longest riverin the world. Addition-ally, the country is hometo the only Great LakeRegion in the world

outside of the U.S., Lake Victo-ria. Ugandas high altitudes andnumerous mountains have alsocreated several waterfalls. At onespot, the Nile passes throughfour meters of rock, creatingthe Murchison Falls. Adventuretourists can include kayakingor white-water rafting in theirtravel itineraries, then they canbalance the adrenaline rush (orsoothe aching limbs) in one ofUgandas natural hot springs.

To take in some of the re-publics famed flora and fauna,tourists can also choose from10 national parks to visit. In acountry that is one-third water,biodiversity thrives, and it ishome to more than 1,000 spe-cies of birds, several of whichare unique only to Uganda.This makes the country hometo the highest concentrationof birds on the African con-tinent, and a famedbird-watching des-tination globally.

Additionally,Uganda has theBig 50 the

largest concentration of theendangered mountain gorillason the planet. The country isone of only three in the worldwhere these gorillas reside. It isalso home to 13 other types ofprimates, including the chim-panzee. Visitors can view theseanimals in their habitats, or onthe uniquely Ugandan boat sa-fari, where they can observe wildgame without the risk of distur-bance that a noisy car creates.

Uganda views tourism asan economic game-changer,and considering that tourismis the worlds largest employer,its easy to see why. In addition,the tourist sector can influ-ence all other sectors. Tourismdevelopment can lead to not

only employment, but also development in Ugandas ruralareas, where most of the tour-ism sites are located. Even now,the country has a strong servicesector that brings in foreign ex-change.

In Uganda, East AfricanSavannah meets West Afri-can jungle to create an ex-perience that is unlike anyother. In this country, tour-ists can shape whatever ex-perience they are looking for,from culturally-expandinginteraction with smiling lo-cals to gorilla tracking, bun-gee jumping and relaxing inhot springs while eating or-ganic produce. Or they cando all of the above.


THE EAST AFRICASINGLE TOURISM VISAIS A STRONG SIGNALOF THE EAST AFRICANCOMMITMENT TOMARKETING EASTAFRICA AS A SINGLEDESTINATION

MARIA MUTAGAMBA,Minister of Tourism, Wildlife andAntiques

Destination Uganda

Sesse Islands, white sand beaches on Lake Victoria

Uganda is the sourceof the Nile, the longestriver in Africa

The RwenzoriMountains, orMountains of

the Moon, arepermanentlysnow capped

Over 50% of the bird speciesin Africa live in Uganda

Some 54% of theworlds mountaingorillas reside in

Uganda

The uniqueclimbing lions ofQueen ElizabethNational Park

Beats and rhythms, Kampala nightlife

Forest andsavannahelephants

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Diversity of culture, history and heritage

Wild adventure at Kidepo National Park, Africas leading National P

ug in usa media

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