Uganda offers lucrative foreign investment potential across sectors like infrastructure, oil & gas, tourism, and financial services that are undergoing privatization and reform.
Infrastructure development is a top priority, with opportunities in upgrading and building roads, railway lines, airports, power generation plants, electricity transmission lines. Attractive investment mechanisms like Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are being offered for projects to improve Uganda’s transportation and power infrastructure.
Upstream oil development in the Albertine Graben and refining and logistics offer lucrative prospects given Uganda’s 6.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. As production starts in 2025, billions will be invested in associated facilities like pipelines, storage tanks, pumping stations. Firms can benefit via licensing deals, subcontracts, and joint ventures.
Uganda is also prioritizing tourism by upgrading national parks, reserves, museums and promoting conferences and events. Investors can capitalize by setting up hotels, lodges, resorts, and related hospitality services.
Financial sector reforms are expanding banking, insurance, pensions and capital markets. Interest rate caps have been removed and agent banking promoted to improve financial inclusion. The new free trade area also enables regional expansion.
Manufacturing for exports will be boosted by Uganda’s competitive labor costs, special economic zones and access to the EAC and COMESA markets. Opportunities exist in agro-processing, textiles, construction materials and other light industries.
With all these opportunities, coupled with Uganda’s young and growing population, investor interest is rising. Incentives like tax holidays provided in certain sectors also make it worthwhile for foreign firms.
Financial services – banking, insurance, pensions and capital markets are being modernized and expanded under new regulations. Opportunities for foreign financial institutions.
Manufacturing – Uganda offers a low-cost manufacturing base and access to the EAC and COMESA markets. Opportunities in agro-processing, textiles, construction materials and other light industries. The government provides incentives like tax holidays and exemptions for certain sectors. Improvements in infrastructure, electricity access, security and the ease of doing business make Uganda an attractive investment destination.
