Why Invest in Uganda

Overview

Uganda offers an exceptional opportunity for your business in the heart of Africa. Located almost in the center of the widespread African Market, Uganda is already the preferred home of several leading Global Corporations and International Organizations. Uganda is one of the fastest growing economies (+6%) and one of the most liberal countries for foreign investment in Africa. A place where opportunities for business are plenty, it is an ideal place to set up a bridgehead to access Africa. Uganda Investment Authority provides pro-active assistance in all aspects for investing in Uganda. Uganda entrusts to you the decision to chose which industry to invest in. Because the country's economy is still young, the potential and the choice of investment opportunities is much wider for the prospective investor than would be the case in more developed economies. Uganda's existing comparative advantage is heavily concentrated in agriculture, forestry and mineral resources and their primary processing. The identified potential investment opportunities are based on the availability of domestic natural resources and intermediaries, the existence of surplus domestic labour, the good market prospects, the "high value low transport costs" to export markets as well as the relative competitive advantage of Uganda vis a vis her main trading partners in the region.

These are the reasons to consider Uganda;

1. Predictable Environment: Uganda has been able to achieve macro-economic stability when clouds of uncertainty rocked many regions of the world.

  • Inflation is single digit for over 10 years from a record high of 240% in 1988
  • Stable annual economic growth averaging 6% per annum
  • Market driven exchange rates. 

2. Fully Liberalized Economy:

  • All sectors liberalized for investment and marketing
  • Free inflow and outflow of capital
  • 100% foreign ownership of investment permitted

3. Market Access:

  • Uganda enjoys a unique location at the heart of Sub-Saharan Africa giving it a commanding base for regional trade and investment
  • Uganda is a member of the commonwealth market for eastern and Southern African States (COMESA), a region with a market of over 300 million people in 20 countries
  • Uganda is a member of the East African Community comprising Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi
  • Duty and quota free access into the US (AGOA) and EU (EBA) markets.

4. Strong Natural Resource Base

  • Rich endowment of rainfall, soils, and favorable temperature range. A number of crops are grown organically
  • Unexploited mineral deposits, and tourism opportunities. Confirmed deposits include Gold, Zinc, Wolfram, Petroleum, diamond, vermiculite, silica etc

5. Government Commitment to Private Sector

  • Government and private sector dialogue in policy formulation
  • Continuous improvement in providing infrastructure and other social services

6. Trainable Labour

  • Uganda presently produces over 10,000 University graduates per year
  • Quality of labour is one of the biggest attractions

7. Security of Investment

  • Guaranteed under the Constitution and the Investment Code 1991.
  • Uganda is a signatory to main international investment related institutions
  • Multi lateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
  • Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) of US
  • Convention on the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral award (CREFAA), ICSID, TRIMS, GATS, and TRIPS

8. Investment Incentives

a. Investment Capital Allowances

  • Initial Allowance on plant and machinery 50-75%
  • Start up cost spread over 4 years 25% p.a.
  • Scientific research expenditure 100%
  • Training expenditure 100%
  • Mineral exploration expenditure 100%
  • Initial Allowance on Hotel and Industrial Buildings 20%
  • Depreciation rates of assets range 20-40% 
  • Depreciation rate for Hotels, Industrial Buildings & Hospitals 5%

b. Investors who register as investment traders are entitled to VAT refund on building materials for industrial/commercial buildings

c. Duty and Tax free import of Plant & Machinery

d. First Arrival Privileges in the form of duty exemptions for personal effects and motor vehicle (previously owned for at least 12 months) to all investors and expatriates coming to Uganda

e. Export Zones (Provisional) 
* A ten year corporation tax holiday
* Duty exemption on raw materials, plant and machinery and other inputs
* Stamp duty exemption
* Duty draw back to apply on input of goods from domestic tariff area
* No export tax
* Exemption of with holding tax on interest on external loans
* Dividends repatriated to get relief from double taxation

9. Where should you invest?

Investment opportunities are abound in the following areas

  • Agriculture
  • Livestock
  • Fisheries
  • Forestry
  • Manufacturing
  • Mining
  • Infrastructure
  • Financial services
  • Tourism
  • Printing and publishing
  • Oil and Gas

For more information regarding investing in Uganda go to: