Uganda is preparing investment-ready projects and promoting technology transfer to attract more Irish investors, as Ireland commits to sustaining cooperation in education, health and agriculture. Mags Gaynor, Ireland's Ambassador to Uganda and Rwanda, made the commitment during a meeting with Col. Edith Nakalema, head of the State House Investors Protection Unit. Gaynor said Ireland would continue supporting Uganda's development through existing programmes in teacher development, health and climate-smart agriculture, including initiatives in the Karamoja subregion. She highlighted Irish-supported education programmes that have included annual visits by groups of Ugandan teachers to Ireland and efforts to strengthen learning communities. However, the ambassador did not announce new funding amounts or specific investment projects during the meeting.
The government is addressing barriers that discourage foreign investors, particularly the cost of conducting feasibility studies before determining whether proposed projects are commercially viable. The National Planning Authority (NPA) has uploaded projects under the Fourth National Development Plan to an electronic portal linked to the State House Investors Protection Unit, enabling prospective investors to examine available opportunities. The government has also established a Project Preparation Facility (PPF) to finance preliminary assessments and feasibility studies, helping develop bankable projects before investors commit their money. According to Hamis Mugendawala, senior manager for Population and Social Development Planning at the NPA, this arrangement is intended to reduce the financial burden on investors who previously had to undertake initial project assessments themselves.
Mugendawala explained that the approach puts the responsibility for project preparation on government rather than investors. "Now, all that has been taken over by government to do preparation of projects, such that when an investor comes, he just looks at the different portfolios of projects with all the necessary information and the market, such that they can make informed decisions," he said. The portal provides information on projects across government programmes, including expected rates of return and incentives available to investors. The NPA is working with the State House Investors Protection Unit to direct prospective investors towards opportunities matching their interests.
Nakalema said Gaynor had expressed interest in mobilising Irish investors following discussions about Uganda's investment environment. "She has promised that she is now going to mobilise many Irish investors. Soon we shall have our tent full of Irish investors," Nakalema said. She added that some prospective investors had previously lacked sufficient information about Uganda's investment procedures but were becoming more familiar with the country's investment environment. Nakalema noted that investors were increasingly interested in sharing technologies in agribusinesses, which could offer opportunities to improve agricultural production and strengthen the competitiveness of Ugandan enterprises.
Nakalema commended Ireland for maintaining its diplomatic presence and supporting development programmes in the country. However, the discussions did not establish how many Irish investors were expected, the value of prospective investments or when any new projects might begin. The proposed expansion of investment cooperation will ultimately depend on whether the prepared projects attract investors and whether the anticipated partnerships translate into concrete financial commitments, technology transfers and operational businesses.