By Robert Ndawula
The convention was attended by VIP dignitaries including: Her Royal
Highness Queen Sylvia Nagginda, The Nnabagereka of the Kingdom of
Buganda, H.E. Prof. Joyce Kikafunda (Uganda’s High Commissioner to the
U.K.) Lord Sheikh (Baron Sheikh of Cornhill in the City of London), Dr.
Josephine Ojiambo (The Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth
Secretariat (Political)), Rt. Honourable Members of Parliament, Dr.
Louis Kasekende (Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Uganda) and other
distinguished guests.
The 5th annual Uganda-UK Convention (2015), was a truly remarkable
successful event. The quality of presentations was outstanding and
trying to make a resume of each paper will not do them all the justice
deserved. Both Lord Sheikh and Dr. Kasekende provided delegates with
some important views and figures in the financing and trade sectors as
well as the potential that Uganda offers in these areas which are still
to be embarked on for investment. “Trade instead of Aid” is something
that we have long aspired to achieve for Uganda although, it is clear
that the two are closely connected and ought to go hand in-hand.
Her Royal Highness, The Nnabagereka of Buganda, in her
ground-breaking address stated. “If growth is to be meaningful and
sustainable, then all the people should buy into it.”
She went on say; without providing specific roles for women in this
important process (inclusion and acceptance), it will not be successful
nor sustainable. It was befitting for the Nnabagereka to recognize the
powerful role of women as the engines of our society.
The warm enthusiastic delegates were welcomed and received at the
Convention–to put into perspective; some of the unrivaled attributes of
warmth, openness and all-embracing culture that make Uganda a favourite
destination for doing business, investment and tourism, was present.
The Government of Uganda celebrates occasions such as this when we can
all come together to work for the good of our country, solely on the
basis of our being Ugandan, irrespective of our religious convictions,
our tribal origins, our political affiliations, and anything else that
superficially unduly sometimes divides us. The Conventions deserves
commendation for putting Uganda before anything else. This is the
formula for success.
Business and development do not happen in a vacuum or where conflict and instability are prevalent. It would appear that we could coin a catch phrase; “No Development and Business without Peace.” For the last 30 years, the NRM Government has worked hard to create a peaceful environment with functional structures, rule of law and stability. We should use the peace and stability we enjoy now to develop new ideas and foster development.
Delegates were enlightened on how they ought to gain greater access
to the UK and the EU markets for Uganda exports. In case you did not
know, Uganda happens to be the largest exporter of Organic produce from
the African continent.
If we can partner with others and get them to invest in Uganda, not
only will this lead to improvement in the quality of our Ugandan
products (a fact which has in the past hampered trade), but our incomes
will tremendously change. This is especially true for the EU market,
where we are facing a threat of an embargo for our horti and
flori-cultural produce with the EU citing phyto-sanitary conditions as a
barrier.
Paying Taxes usually constitutes strong resistance from the masses,
but it has been edifying to learn that we only need to embrace the
system, understand it and explore the opportunities it offers including
attractive exemptions. The richest people in the world are those who
work with the system and pay their taxes. Therefore delegates were
advised to take advantage of the exemptions offered by Doris Akol, the
Commissioner General who stated: “Taxes are an abler for Business.”
Agri-business and food security would be a valuable addition to
secure Uganda’s GDP. The sky is the limit in Uganda as it is blessed
with such abundance of fertile soil and rich natural resources, which is unrivaled in the rest of Africa. The climate and fertility of this
beautiful land given by God, needs to be used for the benefit of all
Ugandans. We have not maximized this potential and have only began to
explore the possibilities, with a few already on the ground setting good
foundations in sectors such as: tourism, construction and small scale
manufacturing. Prosperity is what we strive for and we cannot achieve a
better life for all Ugandans unless we join hands. Indeed as was stated
by Hon. Wafula Oguttu, the re-emergence of the cooperative movement
is vital to maximize our potential in agriculture (for example).
Ugandans in the Diaspora have been formally recognized by the
Government as a formidable force in the country’s development. What
needs to be done is to ensure that the remittances and transfers that
they regularly make to their families and loved ones are to be
transformed into small investments, which will make their families
become independent. This will transform their lives so that they will
not have to rely on the handouts permanently but develop small cottage
industries which will become strong, growing feasible business
enterprises. These types of small cottage industries have eventually
brought the Asian tiger into a reality. Start small and grow bigger. As
Dennis Aguma stated, Uganda is the “most entrepreneurial country in the
world!”
Regional integration is the other matter to which Uganda is seriously
committed to. Let us focus on distribution and sale of our products in
the neighbouring countries as we now have the EAC and the Customs Union
and also in the wider region COMESA where our products are very much
needed and can be sold. ‘Think Africa’ (as the buyer of the end product
not the EU for example) and then make it happen. This should be a
realistic course of action. Embrace an industrial revolution that will
enable all industries to thrive and open trade and export within the
continent. In the end the UK, the EU and other blocks in developed
countries are making it more and more difficult for us Africans to
export out our goods due to non-tariff barriers as well as taxes. Let us
therefore focus on ourselves, our Uganda, then the EAC, the wider
region as there is so much that can be done.
The Chairman of this Uganda Convention, Mr. Willy Mutenza was
commended as a remarkable person who has a vision which works and is an
example to us all as he is the brain behind gathering the forces and
getting Ugandans in the UK to unite from different backgrounds to
actively participate in the firm development of Uganda.
Looking forward to seeing you again next year at the Uganda Convention in UK on the 10th Sept 2016 at Troxy.
For God and my country!
Ambassador Mirjam Blaak Sow
Head of Mission
Uganda Embassy Brussels
317 Avenue Tervuren
1150-Brussels, Belgium
