Download an investment summit on 19 th December 2014, at which HE the

Press Release
4th November 2014
The 7th Diaspora Home is the Best Summit
On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I would like to announce that the annual
Home is Best events geared towards our fellow brothers and sisters in the
Diaspora will be taking place in Gulu from 15th to 19th December 2014.
This year, 2014, Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) in collaboration with other
relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) is organizing a one week
multi-activity event including a products and services exhibition, cultural gala,
seminars, business to business meetings, and to crown it all an investment
summit on 19th December 2014, at which H.E. the President is invited to be
Chief Guest.
The summit is expected to attract 200 to 400 people and will show case Northern
Uganda as a viable and safe location to invest, as well as present success stories of
Diaspora investment and untapped vast business opportunities. Business people
from the EAC member countries and the immediate beyond are expected to
attend, considering that the Northern region is strategically located to enable easy
access to show goers and exhibitors from Kenya, Southern Sudan and the DR
Congo.
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It is hoped that the Home is Best Summit will change the stereo type notion that
Northern Uganda is war ravaged and unsafe. The Government of Uganda is
committed to ensuring that the sustained peace in the region will continue to
provide a conducive environment for trade and investment. Our fellow Ugandans
in the Diaspora and all those resident here from all over the country are
encouraged to make the trip to Gulu to explore the business opportunities in agro
processing, mining, tourism and real estate, among others. Northern Uganda,
which comprises thirty four (34) districts, is rich in arable land for agriculture,
affordable skilled and manual labour, as well as improved infrastructure.
On behalf of Uganda Investment Authority and Government, I salute the
investment efforts from the Ugandans in the Diapsora, the business community in
Uganda (which increasingly drives the development of the country’s economy)
and call upon all Ugandans seeking to invest their money, to consider this time
round attending the Summit at which new networks may result into significant
investment, which at the of the day contributes to the development needs of the
country. Remittances from the Diaspora continue to prove to be an invaluable
source of investment funds despite the difficult economic times abroad. For the
last four years Ugandans have been bringing in an average of more than US$ 700
million annually according to Bank of Uganda, which is a big improvement from
US$ 165 in 1998.
I also take this opportunity to thank UNDP for their continued support at funding
Uganda’s Diapora projects implemented by the Uganda Investment Authority and
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We also appreciate the efforts of Bank of Uganda,
with whom UIA has partnered in various Diaspora projects. This year, the Bank
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has come on board to sponsor and take part in the planning process. International
Alert has also sponsored the event significantly, for which UIA is grateful. Other
friends like Ecobank and others are looking at the event quite positively.
Thank you
Eng Dr Frank Sebbowa
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tel: 0414 301110 / 301111 / 301114
Email: [email protected]
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