SHIPU's Nakalema pledges to resolve investors' bottlenecks

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The State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), under the leadership of Col. Edith Nakalema, has met with officials from Nuvira Investments Uganda Ltd, which has operated in Uganda for over 13 years and their development partners to address long-standing challenges affecting their operations in the districts of Nakasongola and Mukono.

Nakalema says President Yoweri Museveni personally monitors SHIPU’s work and expects all investor concerns to be resolved promptly.

During the meeting, Nakalema assured the investors that SHIPU is ready to intervene in any ministry, department, or agency causing delays in investment processes.

The Korean delegation was represented by Chairman Song Wanjoo of the Seohyun Foundation, CEO Song Joohno of Nuvira Investments, COO Song Joon Soo of Nuvira Investments, and Pendo Yusuf, Director of Nuvira Investments Uganda Ltd, along with the director of training and mobilisation, Rt. Maj. Gen. Daud Wakaalo.

The delegation shared that the Seohyun Foundation runs two schools, five churches and a large farm in Nakasongola, employing over 100 Ugandans. The foundation’s founder, who visits Uganda annually, has invested heavily in humanitarian and development projects but has faced challenges, particularly with tax exemptions and land administration processes.

In Nakasongola, the company operates a juice factory producing mango juice, a shea butter processing facility, and production lines for dry mangoes and chilli powder covering 3,000 acres. The investments in the district also provide employment opportunities for more than 100 Ugandans and support extensive agricultural activities across approximately three square miles, including mango farming and cattle rearing.

In Mukono, the company is finalising the acquisition of 279 acres of land for a Korean Industrial Complex, similar to the Kapeka Industrial Park. They also plan to establish a coffee processing and grading factory, with equipment already en route to Uganda.

Chairman Song explained that the motivation behind the industrial complex project stems from Korea’s own history. Korea was once a poverty-stricken nation, and its founder personally benefited from international aid. He now seeks to give back by supporting Uganda’s industrialisation and creating opportunities for Ugandans.

Despite these investments, Yusuf outlined several challenges affecting the company’s operations. These included delayed permits and licences, land conflicts and administrative hurdles.

“We have many challenges, including delayed permits and licences, and land issues in both Nakasongola and Mukono. But we are grateful that SHIPU has given us hope, and we now have a follow-up meeting scheduled for the 24th of this month to address these concerns,” Yusuf said.

A major issue relates to land administration, where conflicting guidance from the lands ministry and the Nakasongola District Land Board has delayed renewal payments for the company’s three square miles of land. Additionally, while the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) issued an export licence for coffee, the company still faces hurdles in obtaining the GSEC registration required for access to the Chinese market.

“The UCDA has been very friendly, and we were able to get the export licence. But after that, we must still undergo additional registration GSEC handles through the Ministry of Agriculture. That process has become a stumbling block because some people demand facilitation,” Yusuf explained.

Nakalema commended the investors for their vision, emphasising that SHIPU will ensure a smooth investment journey. She pledged to convene meetings with all relevant government agencies to resolve pending issues, including land administration and tax exemption concerns.

She further assured the delegation that the upcoming follow-up meeting on November 24 will bring together responsible government actors to address all bottlenecks comprehensively.

Nakalema reiterated Museveni’s directive that investors adding value to the country must always receive full protection and priority support, underscoring the government’s commitment to promoting Uganda as a reliable and investor-friendly destination.