UIA names 2010 best investors
Dec 13, 2010
UGANDA Investment Authority (UIA) has asked the Government to emphasise well-planned physical infrastructure to support industrial investments and export sector development.
By David Mugabe
UGANDA Investment Authority (UIA) has asked the Government to emphasise well-planned physical infrastructure to support industrial investments and export sector development.
“Uganda’s long-term growth requires the development of a competitive manufacturing and industrial sector,†said UIA board chairman Patrick Bitature at the annual Investor of the Year Awards on Friday at Hotel Africana, Kampala.
It was a special night that took note of leading Ugandan managers.
Among them was Juma Kisaame, the managing director of dfcu Bank, which he has helped transform into one of the top five banks in the country.
The other was Simon Lugoloobi, the chief executive officer of Crown Beverages and Ndema Rukandema, the Coca-Cola Company general manager for the Horn Islands and Middle Africa, covering 12 countries.
Rukandema was also the first Ugandan appointed as managing director of Century Bottling Company.
Hima’s $120m investment in the new modern factory won the overall investor of the year gold award.
Over 500 Ugandans were employed during the construction of the plant.
The Kasese-based factory has improved cement production from 350,000 tonnes to 850,000.
The company, part of Bamburi, was commended for saving foreign currency that was used in importing cement and related building materials.
Chobe Safari Lodge, which employs 130 people took silver, while Pearl Development Group won bronze.
Chobe is a subsidiary of the Madhvani Group.
Its top officials commended the Government for restoring peace in the north, the enclave of most of their investments in tourism.
Most of the companies recognised implemented their investments over the last year.
Winners were considered for saving forex for the country, job-creation, environmental management, multiplier effect of projects, use of local materials and social contribution.
Bitature observed that UIA had licensed 313 projects worth $1.7b of planned investment estimated to create employment for 149,709 people.
The New Vision grabbed the business media house of the year accolade.
It also received a certificate of participation in the awards.
Godfrey Mulengi,
The Vision Group head of advertising, pointed out that investments in the group had pushed it to command the biggest number of audiences across the country.
In all, 22 companies from manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and services sectors competed for the awards.
Uganda’s embassy in Libya was recognised for best promotional efforts for what the planning state minister Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu called “commercial diplomacy.â€
Kamuntu said the Government’s target was transition from a predominantly peasant economy to a middle- income country in 30 years.
Representing President Yoweri Museveni at the awards, investments state minister Aston Kajara, said the country was beginning the long road to prosperity.
“Past winners have gone on to achieve much more.
“There is need to consult entrepreneurs’ opinion in the investment climate,†said Kajara.
He said the Government would continue to honour companies with good corporate practices in their business.
Roofings Rolling Mills was recognised for its innovative introduction of a new $13m wire galvanising plant, the first of its kind in the sub-Saharan region.
Julian Omalla emerged woman job-creator of the year for the over 800 jobs in her juice and real estate projects.
The woman entrepreneur of the year was Annic Uytterhaegen, the proprietor of Chemiphar, a leading analytical laboratory with scientific and technical innovation. The lab employs 30 Ugandans.
UGANDA Investment Authority (UIA) has asked the Government to emphasise well-planned physical infrastructure to support industrial investments and export sector development.
“Uganda’s long-term growth requires the development of a competitive manufacturing and industrial sector,†said UIA board chairman Patrick Bitature at the annual Investor of the Year Awards on Friday at Hotel Africana, Kampala.
It was a special night that took note of leading Ugandan managers.
Among them was Juma Kisaame, the managing director of dfcu Bank, which he has helped transform into one of the top five banks in the country.
The other was Simon Lugoloobi, the chief executive officer of Crown Beverages and Ndema Rukandema, the Coca-Cola Company general manager for the Horn Islands and Middle Africa, covering 12 countries.
Rukandema was also the first Ugandan appointed as managing director of Century Bottling Company.
Hima’s $120m investment in the new modern factory won the overall investor of the year gold award.
Over 500 Ugandans were employed during the construction of the plant.
The Kasese-based factory has improved cement production from 350,000 tonnes to 850,000.
The company, part of Bamburi, was commended for saving foreign currency that was used in importing cement and related building materials.
Chobe Safari Lodge, which employs 130 people took silver, while Pearl Development Group won bronze.
Chobe is a subsidiary of the Madhvani Group.
Its top officials commended the Government for restoring peace in the north, the enclave of most of their investments in tourism.
Most of the companies recognised implemented their investments over the last year.
Winners were considered for saving forex for the country, job-creation, environmental management, multiplier effect of projects, use of local materials and social contribution.
Bitature observed that UIA had licensed 313 projects worth $1.7b of planned investment estimated to create employment for 149,709 people.
The New Vision grabbed the business media house of the year accolade.
It also received a certificate of participation in the awards.
Godfrey Mulengi,
The Vision Group head of advertising, pointed out that investments in the group had pushed it to command the biggest number of audiences across the country.
In all, 22 companies from manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and services sectors competed for the awards.
Uganda’s embassy in Libya was recognised for best promotional efforts for what the planning state minister Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu called “commercial diplomacy.â€
Kamuntu said the Government’s target was transition from a predominantly peasant economy to a middle- income country in 30 years.
Representing President Yoweri Museveni at the awards, investments state minister Aston Kajara, said the country was beginning the long road to prosperity.
“Past winners have gone on to achieve much more.
“There is need to consult entrepreneurs’ opinion in the investment climate,†said Kajara.
He said the Government would continue to honour companies with good corporate practices in their business.
Roofings Rolling Mills was recognised for its innovative introduction of a new $13m wire galvanising plant, the first of its kind in the sub-Saharan region.
Julian Omalla emerged woman job-creator of the year for the over 800 jobs in her juice and real estate projects.
The woman entrepreneur of the year was Annic Uytterhaegen, the proprietor of Chemiphar, a leading analytical laboratory with scientific and technical innovation. The lab employs 30 Ugandans.