A team of cabinet members and members of Parliament were in the United States on a mission to convince investors to consider Uganda as a preferred investment destination. The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga while speaking at the North America Association Annual Trade and Business Investment Forum that took place in Seattle US, appealed to both Americans and Ugandan living in the diaspora to invest in Uganda.

“So what we have had today was a presentation from SCAFCO who have a capacity to manufacture silos of different sizes which I think we can partner as a parliament to buy for our constituents so that they are able to store the food and cater for the price fluctuations.” Said, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga – Speaker of Parliament.

This year’s Trade and Business Investment Forum kick-started the 2018 UNAA Convention which marked 30 years since the association of Ugandans living in North America was formed. “The Ugandan diaspora all over the world last year contributed 1.4 billion USD. And I think they were number two, from North America alone, they sent home more than 100 million USD.” Said, Katende Sebujja – Uganda Ambassador to the USA.

During the forum, the Speaker asked the United States government to support Uganda to move from exporting raw materials to producing products as a way of transforming the country’s economy. "We have been struggling with AGOWA because there is no arrangement for Ugandans to access AGOWA.

So here we see some information about some possibilities and we are going to get in touch with some of the operators here, some of whom are Ugandans to work on that chain to link us from the local people to the market here in America." Said, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga – Speaker of Parliament.

The Speaker was also responding to a presentation on investments by the US State Officer in charge of East African Affairs Derek Wright who had castigated Uganda as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.“There is more robust coffee grown in Uganda as in Arabica coffee. And that doesn’t mean that is no opportunity, Robusta coffee is used in brands throughout the world.

There is a lot of opportunities when it gets branded, people will be arguing that this is Ugandan Robusta.” Said, Derek Wright – US State Officer-in-charge of East African Affairs. “I think we have the best fish in the world with our Lake Victoria and the many in our 160 lakes in Uganda.

This is an area where we need to see many investors come and invest in aquaculture.” Said, Ruth Nankabirwa – Government Chief Whip. The forum identified areas of interest by the diaspora such real estate, value addition to agricultural produce, mining, tourism facilities, and fisheries.