Uganda- A potential investor considering investing in Uganda, will find a well regulated highly liberalized economy in which all sectors are open for investment and there is a free movement of capital to and from the country. Uganda is the sixth largest in population size in sub-Saharan Africa. It is also home to great energy potential
1. Construction
Owing to the rapidly increasing number of new buildings and structures in Uganda, demand for construction products and services has increased significantly. With a capital of less than $1000, you can start a business that makes and sells cement blocks or stabilized earth bricks.
With more than $10,000, you can venture into concrete pipes making or start a business that leases construction machinery such as trucks, asphalt mixers, bulldozers, concrete mixers, concrete vibrators, etc. If you have capital exceeding $50,000, you can establish a plant that makes concrete slabs, beams, and pillars. Better yet, you can lease even more sophisticated construction machines.
2. Real estate
The Real estate sector in Uganda is another viable option that investors can explore. Potential investors can invest in low cost houses for the majority low-income earners by offering low-cost houses for sale. Selling medium cost houses would require a capital somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000. And for high cost houses such as residential villas, apartment complexes, office complexes, and housing estates, you will require a startup capital above $100,000.
3. Tourism and hospitality
Uganda plays host to many visitors annually, it is one of the most visited countries in Africa. There are opportunities for investors to make money off these visitors. You can decide to set up a resort or lodge for tourists. You can also set up a hotel or motel that gives the visitors a feeling of home even when they are miles away from home. If you have very little capital, you can turn your home or unused space into a bed and breakfast lodge for tourists. It is estimated that 50% of the world’s population of mountain gorillas lives in Uganda.
It is therefore not surprising that even during the British colonialist times; Uganda’s unique character and incomparable beauty were recognized by Sir Winston Churchill who described Uganda as the “The Pearl of Africa”, a coined phrase that depicts Uganda today
4. Commercial Agriculture and Agro processing
Uganda has the unparalled potential to be the food basket of the East African Community, with more investment, Uganda can export processed food stuffs to the wider COMESA economic bloc. Uganda is among the leading producers of coffee and bananas. It is also a major producer of tobacco, tea, cereals, cotton (including organic cotton), oilseeds (simsim, soya, sunflower, etc), fresh and preserved fruit, vegetables and nuts, essential oils, orchids, flowers and sericulture (silk). Opportunities exist for commercial farming and value addition, as well as the manufacture of inputs (fertilizers, pesticides etc.), supply of agricultural machinery and the establishment of cold storage facilities as well as the production of packing materials.
5. Solar energy
More and more people are becoming aware of the advantages of solar energy. Huge opportunities exist for businesses that offer solar panel installations and those that sell solar power accessories.
6. Oil and gas
21 oil and/or gas discoveries have been made in Uganda to date according to reports. 87 oil wells have been drilled and there are 21 fields in existence. Currently over 3.5 billion barrels of STOIIP have been discovered. However, appraisal of the discoveries is still ongoing.
Investment opportunities in upstream sector are available in the following area:
• Licensing for petroleum exploration and production
• Heated crude oil pipelines to refinery
• Joint Ventures and farm-in arrangements in existing licenses
• Environmental services. Waste treatment and disposal for both solids and liquids is critical
