Butagira, Hassan best
Dec 01, 2002
Francis Butagira, Uganda’s high commissioner to Kenya has been selected by the Uganda Investment Authority(UIA) as the best Ugandan diplomat and promoter for the year 2002
By Emmy Olaki
Francis Butagira, Uganda’s high commissioner to Kenya has been selected by the Uganda Investment Authority(UIA) as the best Ugandan diplomat and promoter for the year 2002.
Because of his efforts, 39 projects from Kenya were licensed in one year with investment estimated at $39.2m.
Hassan Bassajabalaba a local business tycoon received a certificate of merit for being one of the local investors to diversify their investments into most of the priority sectors.
“He responded to calls for more investments in the country. Bassajabalaba Hides and Skins started in a simple way, but diversified into other priority sectors,†UIA executive director Maggie Kigozi said.
“ Today, he has created jobs for over 1,600 Ugandans among other things. So we are giving him special recognition for his exemplary contribution to the Ugandan economy,†she said.
uganda telecom won the gold award at the colourful ceremony presided over by finance minister, Gerald Sendaula at Didis World in Kampala on Friday.
Business people of all categories attended the ceremony.
“The company responded to the call for investment in the Telecoms sector. With an investment of about $80m, they have improved efficiency in the Telecoms sector making it one of the biggest projects in Uganda,†Kigozi said.
“They have also created jobs for over 1000 Ugandans and built a strong telecom infrastructure. For these and other reasons, uganda telecom, is the winner of the investor of the year 2002 award,†she said.
The investor of the year award is an annual event organised by theUIA to recognise investments in priority sectors of the economy, companies that create jobs for Ugandans and practice good governance among other things.
The silver award went to Kaweri Coffee Company in Mubende, a project that was licensed in March last year and has invested about $2.5m in the coffee sector thereby increasing investments in the sector.
It was selected among other reasons for being one of the first foreign firms to invest in large commercial agriculture.
The group has built two schools in the area of operation, improved health services and built boreholes for the locals. Phenix Logistics, garments and textile manufacturers, took bronze.
Licensed in September 2000, Phenix invested about $6m in the former UGIL, and is currently employing over 200 Ugandans.
They have added value to Uganda’s cotton which was before this exported in its raw form.
They are also the first company to export to the US market under the quota and tariff free African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), trade initiative.
Other winners were Carnmin resources based in Mbale.
Licensed in December last year, Carnmin resources increased investments in the mining sector by investing about $195,000 in the exploitation of Vermiculite, which they are already exporting. They were best investors in the medium scale category.
Safiq Marble company, a local company based in Jinja that makes ceramic products was the best investor in the small scale category.
Other finalists who received awards Africaone, Alpha diary products, Basiho industries, Busia millers, delight Uganda, Erimu company, Euroflex, Future technologies, Harvest farm seeds, Hotel Zawedi from Adjumani, Kenfrieght Uganda Ltd, Kobil Ltd. Mbale resort, Uganda Crop Industries, Wagagai Ltd and Bokomo.
Francis Butagira, Uganda’s high commissioner to Kenya has been selected by the Uganda Investment Authority(UIA) as the best Ugandan diplomat and promoter for the year 2002.
Because of his efforts, 39 projects from Kenya were licensed in one year with investment estimated at $39.2m.
Hassan Bassajabalaba a local business tycoon received a certificate of merit for being one of the local investors to diversify their investments into most of the priority sectors.
“He responded to calls for more investments in the country. Bassajabalaba Hides and Skins started in a simple way, but diversified into other priority sectors,†UIA executive director Maggie Kigozi said.
“ Today, he has created jobs for over 1,600 Ugandans among other things. So we are giving him special recognition for his exemplary contribution to the Ugandan economy,†she said.
uganda telecom won the gold award at the colourful ceremony presided over by finance minister, Gerald Sendaula at Didis World in Kampala on Friday.
Business people of all categories attended the ceremony.
“The company responded to the call for investment in the Telecoms sector. With an investment of about $80m, they have improved efficiency in the Telecoms sector making it one of the biggest projects in Uganda,†Kigozi said.
“They have also created jobs for over 1000 Ugandans and built a strong telecom infrastructure. For these and other reasons, uganda telecom, is the winner of the investor of the year 2002 award,†she said.
The investor of the year award is an annual event organised by theUIA to recognise investments in priority sectors of the economy, companies that create jobs for Ugandans and practice good governance among other things.
The silver award went to Kaweri Coffee Company in Mubende, a project that was licensed in March last year and has invested about $2.5m in the coffee sector thereby increasing investments in the sector.
It was selected among other reasons for being one of the first foreign firms to invest in large commercial agriculture.
The group has built two schools in the area of operation, improved health services and built boreholes for the locals. Phenix Logistics, garments and textile manufacturers, took bronze.
Licensed in September 2000, Phenix invested about $6m in the former UGIL, and is currently employing over 200 Ugandans.
They have added value to Uganda’s cotton which was before this exported in its raw form.
They are also the first company to export to the US market under the quota and tariff free African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), trade initiative.
Other winners were Carnmin resources based in Mbale.
Licensed in December last year, Carnmin resources increased investments in the mining sector by investing about $195,000 in the exploitation of Vermiculite, which they are already exporting. They were best investors in the medium scale category.
Safiq Marble company, a local company based in Jinja that makes ceramic products was the best investor in the small scale category.
Other finalists who received awards Africaone, Alpha diary products, Basiho industries, Busia millers, delight Uganda, Erimu company, Euroflex, Future technologies, Harvest farm seeds, Hotel Zawedi from Adjumani, Kenfrieght Uganda Ltd, Kobil Ltd. Mbale resort, Uganda Crop Industries, Wagagai Ltd and Bokomo.