The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said if it were not for corruption, Uganda would be far more developed than it is now.
Speaking at the launch of the Electronic Investors Protection Portal (EIPP), a digital platform designed to safeguard investment processes in Uganda, Museveni said corruption is not only chasing away potential investors but also frustrates those already working in the country.“Here we have improved the investment atmosphere by number one- the policies like freedom of the private sector, second in the country, and thirdly- infrastructure; but the growth would be much faster if we didn’t have corruption. This corruption is a hindrance. The corruption practices include bribes, they tell investors that they shall not give you a license unless you bribe, and they shall not give you the procurement/ tender unless you bribe. I have been hearing that. Then the other practices are the delays,” he noted.“
Museveni added, “Also, it blocks investors who have got a multiplier potential. You remember in parliament how they were attacking the people who want to roast our coffee here instead of exporting unprocessed. The multinationals that are exporting our unprocessed coffee were using our people in parliament to scare away the people who wanted to roast our coffee here. Another form of corruption is wanting to get shares in companies of people who want to do business here. Even me, they offer me shares that I should invest with them. I don’t want to invest with you. You come and invest, leave me alone. That is also another form of corruption, even if they give you offers, don’t accept,” Museveni said.
The President also cautioned government agencies in the fight against corruption to emphasize integrity while conducting their recruitments.“Be careful about the people you recruit, don’t recruit people by looking at their papers. In these agencies, don’t bring papers but integrity. Don’t bring people who are looking for jobs. Don’t have too many of them, have few but reliable,” he said.
The portal which is an initiative of the State House Investors Protection Unit headed by Col. Edith Nakalema will among others; offer guidance to investors through access to authentic government sources, give a comprehensive reporting mechanism for investor inquiries and complaints, and offer robust enforcement and follow-up on reported issues, complemented by regular feedback to investors. It will also offer a valuable bridge connecting investors with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as well as language translation features to accommodate non-English speaking investors.
While commissioning the portal, Museveni commended Nakalema for the initiative that has come in handy to support Uganda to create prosperity.“This system, if there’s no way they can interfere with it, it will help. I therefore congratulate Col. Nakalema. I created the Investors Protection Unit because I wanted to focus. I told Nakalema not to become a judge. If investors are fighting over land in the courts, those are their issues, but you look at the government officials who are supposed to facilitate investment, and how they are facilitating or not facilitating that investment effort. That is all. Look at the investors in the industry, services and maybe to some extent, the commercial agricultural sector,” Museveni said.
The Minister of State for Investment and Privatisation, Evelyn Anite thanked Museveni for promoting Uganda’s socio-economic transformation agenda.“When you came into power in 1986, you assured Ugandans that your coming to power was not just a mere change of guard, but was a fundamental change. For that, you are a celebrated leader and I want to thank you for first of all liberating Uganda politically, and socially and for tirelessly fighting for the economic empowerment and liberation of Uganda out of poverty,” Anite said.
Anite also commended Col. Nakalema and the innovators for coming up with the digital solution that will be used by the President to monitor the investment climate in the country in real-time.“What is different this time is that the report is going to go directly to you, and you will be able to know who has failed Uganda,” she said.
Col. Nakalema informed the President that the electronic portal will solve the challenges that are being faced by investors in the country.“As per your guidance, we work closely with all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) responsible for promoting, supporting, and protecting investors in this country. While these MDAs are delivering on their respective mandate, some of the concerns raised by investors include delays in getting feedback from some of the MDAs and that at times they do not get or receive feedback at all,” Nakalema said.“
Nakalema said that they engaged the National Information Technology Authority- Uganda (NITA-U) and the key government stakeholders in the investment sector who worked diligently to develop EIPP for monitoring of all our agencies.
Col. Nakalema further noted that the EIPP will offer protection to investors by guiding them to government MDAs for authentic information and it will save them from falling into the hands of wrong elements like fraudsters.“The portal has a reporting mechanism through which investors can inquire or file complaints. The electronic portal also enables information and follow up on investors’ complaints as well as giving quick feedback to all the investors,” she asserted.
The Executive Director of NITA-U, Dr. Hatwib Mugasa told the President that the digital portal is easy to use, and will achieve its desired goal of protecting the investors.“Through the various brainstorming sessions with the government MDAs, and the private sector and using the concept that Dr. Ron Kawamara presented to the team, we had to come up with a solution that we got from an idea. NITA-U worked tirelessly with other agencies and key stakeholders in the investor ecosystem to ensure that the Investors are addressed through a digital solution,” he said.
The State House Investors Protection Unit was established early this year by President Museveni to promote and protect a thriving investment climate in Uganda.
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