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The government of Uganda has welcomed with open hands an offer of free space at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, one of the business and industrial hubs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“The government of Uganda receives with open hands the offer for a free office space at the Abu Dhabi Department of Business Development and we pledge to utilize it to attract more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into Uganda,” said Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bagiire urged the Ugandan business community to improve on the way they package products for export to UAE, saying he had noticed that it was the only country that was accepting poorly packaged products from Uganda. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Uganda ambassador to UAE Zaake Kibedi, and PS Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vincent Bagiire Waiswa (C) receive a gift from the UAE head of delegation, Rasheed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi.

This followed the announcement of the offer by Rasheed Adbdulkarim Al Blooshi, the undersecretary for the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development at the closing of the four-day Uganda-UAE Business Forum at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Friday, October 13, 2023.

Bagiire said the space is anticipated to boost Uganda’s efforts her Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) from the Arab World mainly in the sectors of mineral exploration, agriculture, tourism, and industrial development.

Rasheed, who led a delegation that consisted of 23 companies, invited Uganda’s private sector to utilize the space to promote business between the two countries, saying he would play his part to encourage more entrepreneurs from the emirates to pick interest in investing in Uganda.

Rasheed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, the head of the delegation of the UAE remarks.

The delegates, according to Rasheed, enjoyed almost everything in Uganda. He compared Uganda to Jannah, which refers to Heaven or Paradise in Arabic. 

“We have enjoyed almost everything in Uganda, from the hospitality, the good weather to the greenery, the various cultures and society, all are excellent, this is like Jannah,” he said.

The delegation also visited several places including Oil fields in Hoima and visited Kabalega International Airport on Friday, where they were informed that there was still space for investment worth over $8 billion.

Several delegates turned up for the event.

“We have seen the infrastructure and the program, and all are clear, we have seen successful stories that every private sector should look at, we, therefore, encourage entrepreneurs from both sides to become more active on this mission,” he said, adding that he would try to organize and encourage more visits and trips between the two sides.

The Permanent Secretary said that during his interaction with Rasheed, he challenged him on the fact that Uganda had all the resources and the potential but still lacked the aggressiveness to promote herself.

“Before I responded, he made the offer of the free space at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.

Museveni with some of the entrepreneurs

“Indeed, we have started discussions with the Uganda Investment Authority, they must immediately take over this space,” he told the guests, adding that it was a big privilege for Uganda to have her presence in such a capital such as Abu Dhabi.

The government, he explained, would use the space to articulate Uganda’s investment potential as well as the incentives that are associated with such opportunities.

Bagiire said the ministry would push for small and big to use the forum to aggressively promote their businesses in the UAE. 

Henry Mayega, the consular general in Dubai.

Evelyn Anite, the Minister of State Privatization and Investment remarks.

He however urged the Ugandan business community to improve on the way they package products for export to UAE, saying he had noticed that it was the only country that was accepting poorly packaged products from Uganda. 

He also asked the businesspeople to ensure they capitalize on the market in UAE to improve people’s livelihoods.

Uganda’s ambassador to UAE, Zaake Kibedi, and the Consular General in Dubai, Henry Mayega, attended the closing function. 

W President Yoweri Museveni with some of the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Uganda Embassy in UAE.

The theme for this year’s forum was, “Uganda, the Gateway of Doing Business in the East African region.”

Ambassador Kibedi said the organizing team had been overwhelmed by the turn-up and interest Ugandans had picked in the forum, which attracted businesses, enterprises, and innovators, among others.

He said the delegation was most excited with their visit to the Oil Field and their findings about Uganda’s exploration program and encouraged the energy ministry to engage the delegation further after some of them picked interest in investing in the sector.

PS Bagiire hands over a gift of appreciation to Maurice Mugisha, the UBC deputy Managing Director.

The theme for this year’s forum was, “Uganda, the Gateway of Doing Business in the East African region.”

“It is important to note that UAE has become Uganda’s number one export destination in the Gulf countries and the Middle East, and number five globally, “he said.

According to Kibedi, in 2018, the DFI from UAE was worth $300m but it had grown to over $3 billion in 2022, because of increased involvement of the private sector.

Among other things, Kibedi said, the Uganda embassy was working on a program to support the Small and Medium Enterprises to increase their presence in the UAE.

The next forum is scheduled to take place between October 10th and 12th, 2024 in UAE and will attract mainly businesses from UAE and Uganda.

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Below is a highlight of pictures from the function, all by New Vision's Eddie Ssejjoba;

Delegates attend the Uganda-UAE Business Forum

Dignitaries interact 

The delegates, according to Rasheed, enjoyed almost everything in Uganda