By Rising Nation Magazine
KAMPALA | Uganda reaffirmed its commitment to foreign investors this week as Col. Edith Nakalema, head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), met with members of the Netherlands–Uganda Trade and Investment Platform (NUTIP) in Kampala to address investor concerns and reinforce economic confidence.
“Collaborating with government ministries, departments, and agencies to maintain investor confidence at an all-time high is the raison d’être of SHIPU,” Col. Nakalema said, describing the initiative as a direct assurance from President Yoweri Museveni to investors.
The Netherlands remains Uganda’s largest source of foreign direct investment. The meeting, attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Uganda Investment Authority, the Uganda Revenue Authority, and the Kampala Capital City Authority reflected the government’s growing effort to sustain investor confidence amid ambitious economic expansion plans.
Uganda’s economy, valued at about $62 billion, is targeting a tenfold increase to $500 billion by 2040 under a new national growth strategy. “It’s good to be in Uganda at this time when we are seeing the take-off of this country,” said Moses Kaggwa, Director of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance. “We have managed to keep inflation under control, below four percent, and the fundamentals remain strong.”
Uganda’s investment profile has risen steadily in recent years. The country was named Africa’s top investment destination by AIM UAE in both 2023 and 2024, and won the Investment Catalyst Award at the Go Global Awards 2023 by the International Trade Council.
Still, Dutch investors raised concerns over bureaucratic delays and inconsistencies in government processes. In response, the Uganda Revenue Authority announced the establishment of a Stakeholder Relations Office to manage investor issues more efficiently.
The Netherlands’ Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Bouwe-Jan Smeding, welcomed the dialogue, calling it crucial for strengthening business trust. “Businesses will only thrive if stakeholders know how things are done,” he said, noting that while Uganda’s investment environment is conducive, “challenges like disputes can threaten investor confidence.”
Beyond trade, Uganda and the Netherlands share deep ties in agriculture. Col. Nakalema commended the Dutch Embassy’s support through the Best Farmers Initiative, a decade-long agribusiness exchange program that has exposed Ugandan farmers to modern and sustainable agricultural practices.
“The Netherlands has long stood out as an agricultural powerhouse,” she said. “Uganda, as an agricultural economy, stands to gain immensely from such cooperation.”
As Uganda strengthens its partnerships with international investors, officials emphasized a consistent message: the country remains open for business and determined to protect it.
