The following is an outline of investment opportunities in some of the priority areas

Floriculture
Floriculture gives the most attractive return on investment in agriculture in Uganda (30-40%) but requires high investment. The industry requires expansion and new enterprises, and the market can absorb an increase in production. Opportunities include production and supply of propagation materials to farmers, manufacture of greenhouse construction and packaging materials,

Fish and Fish Farming Industry
The industry has emerged in recent years to become one of Uganda's leading foreign exchange earners. Opportunities include the processing of value added products such as canned fish, aquaculture, and fish leather processing.

Cotton and Textile Industry
A number of investment opportunities exist in the textile sector. These include growing of cotton for export, establishment of ginneries, supply of inputs to farmers and production of edible oil from cotton. Building and Construction Industry Opportunities include the provision of low cost housing in the urban and semi-urban areas, provision of housing and mortgage finance, and provision of construction equipment and build materials.

Foods and Beverages Sector
Investment opportunities do exist mainly utilization of local agricultural raw materials to manufacture agro-processed products with higher export potential. Additional opportunities exist for support industries to the sector for example in packaging, value added processing and cold storage at export points.

Education Sector
There are more opportunities in the education sector most especially at post primary level. These include secondary education, technical and vocational education, development of computer skills, managerial skills training.

Financial Services
Given the favorable climate, stable macro-economic environment and political stability, there is enormous potential in the following areas: Merchant Banking, Development Banking, Commercial Banking, Discount Houses, Insurance Services, Leasing, Mortgage Financing, Building Societies, Micro-Financing Services, Specialized Training Institutions

Fruits and Vegetables
Opportunities include commercial farming of fruits and vegetables, processing, production and export of de-hydrated fruits, cold storage facilities at collection points, organic farming, irrigation schemes for commercial farms to ensure harvest throughout the year Information Technology/ Electronics Sector Opportunities include the establishment of service centers for the available brand radio, television and power conditioning equipment and the manufacture and assembly of computer equipment targeting the local and regional markets.

Dairy Sector
Major investments opportunities exist in the production of powder milk and long life milk such as condensed milk or ultra heat-treated (UHT) milk, processing of dairy products such as butter, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and ghee. There also exist opportunities in dairy cattle and goat breeding and dairy farm management.

Tourism Sector
Opportunities in the sector include tour operations, water sports and related activities, accommodation, conferences and incentives travel, national park concessions, privatization, and joint ventures with existing players.

Mining
The mining sector in Uganda offers a variety of opportunities for investors. Important mineral occurrences have been located in several parts of Uganda. The mineral potential in Uganda includes copper-cobalt, nickel, iron ore, gold, tin, tungsten, vermiculite, limestone, phosphates, salts, glass sand, berrylium, columbite/tantitalite, chronite and many other minerals.

Printing and Packaging
The printing, publishing and packaging sector also has considerable potential. In the printing and publishing sub-sector, opportunities exist for the printing of textbooks for schools. Currently, over 90% of Uganda's textbook requirement (estimated at over U$7 million a year) is met by foreign suppliers. Given Uganda's situation as a predominantly agricultural country, there is potential for a vibrant packaging industry supplying the agro-processing industry.

Commercial Agriculture
Large-scale commercial agriculture is encouraged because Uganda is largely a fertile country with plenty of arable land that is currently unutilized. Uganda enjoys comparative advantage in agriculture because of the lesser requirement for inputs i.e. water (irrigation) and fertilizer. Foreign investors, however, require special cabinet approval to engage in commercial agriculture. UIA, however, can facilitate the process of securing this approval.

Agro-Processing
Agro-processing is a major opportunity in so far as it exploits local products by adding value through canning or manufacture of value added products. There is significant scope for export both to the regional and the international market. More details on investment opportunities are available in the Sector Profiles and copies are available with the Uganda Investment Authority.

Uganda Investment Authority
UIA is the Agency set up by Government to promote investment in Uganda, to market Uganda's investment opportunities to targeted investors all over the world, to coordinate the national investment-marketing program and to serve as a point of contact for investors interested in Uganda. As a business oriented Agency, UIA is manned by professional staff who help investors by facilitating them in implementing their planned investments with minimal problem. UIA also advises Government on appropriate investment friendly policies and is generally equipped to swiftly handle investors' requirements for information or action.

For further information on Investment in Iron ore , Phosphates , Cotton and Textiles, Agro Processing and any other sector / area of interest one can contact:

Uganda Investment Authority
P.O.Box 7418, Kampala.
Tel.256 41 251562 / 5 , 256 41 251854 / 5
Fax 256 41 342903
E-mail : [email protected]
Website : http:// www.ugandainvest.com