Transcript PRESENTATION ON BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTHERN UGANDA

BY PHILIP OTIM
D C O APAC
Introduction.
Northern Uganda (in this paper the greater North)
comprises of the following sub regions.
Lango Sub region (Apac , Lira, Dokolo, Kole , Oyam,
Amolatar, Alebtong and Otuke districts)
Acholi Subregion (Gulu, Kitgum, Pader,Agago, Amuru,
Nwoya, Lamwo and Agago districts).
West Nile Sub region (Arua, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe,
Koboko, Zombo, Nebbi, Marado, and Jonam districts.
Karamoja Sub region ( Moroto, Kotido, Abim,
Nakapiripiri, Kabong, Napak, Amudat districts.
2.0 Business Opportunities.
This is categorized under the following sectors;
Agriculture.
Before the start of the insurgency (which spanned 20
years), Northern Uganda was known as the “grain
basket” for Uganda. It has areas of good soil, flat terrain
and good precipitations. However, since the end of the
insurgency in 2006 it is regaining its former glory as the
food basket of Uganda. On top of grain crops, it has
seriously embarked on production of oil crops, and there
is also increased production of livestock.
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Agriculture continues……
 The following are the major enterprises in the area: Maize, Sorghum, Soyabeans, Sunflower, Simsim,
Groundnuts, Cotton, Coffee (Nebbi), fruits and
vegetables, and tobacco.
livestock
 Under livestock, production of the following is on the
increase.
 Cattle (Beef and Diary).
 Goats.
 Poultry
 Fish
 Honey
 Business opportunities therefore exist in the area of
investment in agro-processing facilities and plant for
any of the above products since markets exist locally
(e.g. Kampala) regionally (e.g. South Sudan), and
internationally (e.g. European markets).
Maize milling in
Apac
 2.2 Manufacturing Sector
 The Manufacturing Sector is one of the main sectors in
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the Uganda economy and it is divided into formal and
informal manufacturing industries. The businesses
opportunities covered in this sector are;
Processing of Meat,
Fish and Dairy Products around Lake Kioga, River
Nile
Coffee Processing
Bakery and Manufacture of Other Food Products
Manufacturing sector continues…
 Manufacture of Beverages & Tobacco
 Manufacture of Textiles and Leather Products
 Sawmilling,
 Printing & Publishing
 Chemicals and Chemical Products
 Manufacture of Plastics
 Manufacture of Furniture
 Trade
 Trade refers to buying and re-sale (sale without
transformation) of new and used goods.
 It includes activities of general and specialized
businesses done in shops, departmental stores, stalls,
gasoline among others. The sector maintained an
average contribution of GDP of approximately 10-20 %
to Uganda economy
Trade continues….
 In Lango sub- region, Acoli- sub region and West Nile
Sub region, this sector is endowed with trading
opportunities in the areas of;
 Sale, Maintenance and Repair of Motor Vehicles,
Motor Cycles
 Household Goods
 Wholesale Trade
 Retail Trade
Retail Trade in
General
Merchandise in
Apac
Financial Sector.
 Business in the various sectors have picked up in the
region. This calls for the need to finance investments
at all levels and safe custody of funds. Financial
institutions are required in each of the new districts
but as of now most of the banks are concentrated in
the major old towns like Lira, Gulu and Arua, There is
need to open branches/ service centers in these new
towns to bring services nearer to the people and
provide financial service e.g., mortgages.
Education Sector.
 Most universities are in the central but have opened up
a few branches in the North. As of now the available
universities in the North include, Gulu University, All
Saints University of Lango (Lira) Muni University
(Arua). Even vocational training institutions are
required since the population is on the rise.
 At secondary level the current trend is that parents are
leaving government aided schools and going for
private schools in search of quality education.
 As such there are opportunities for investments in the
education sector.
Successful cases
Agribusiness.
 Mukwano Ltd is an organization which provides oil crops
as its raw materials. On top of production it purchases
from farmers after giving inputs like seeds to farmers. It has
a numbers of bulking stores. From the stores the sunflower
seeds are transported to its mill in Lira town for processing.
After processing products such as oil, cakes etc are
produced.
 First class oil is normally exported and the lower gradrs are
sold locally.
 Mukwano has employed over 1500 people which include
extension staff, agronomists, technicians, distribution and
marketing staff amongst many others.
3.2 Cooperatives
 Successful cases include the following; Alukot SACCO
whuch has membership of 5287, shares of
155,000,000/= and savings of 370,000,000/=; Pakwac
Nam SACCO ( Nebbi) is also another successful one
with relatively high savings and membership.
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3.3 Tourism
There are a number of sites in northern Uganda which are yet
to be developed e.g. Fort Patiko in Gulu, the late Dr. A. M.
Obote’s Burial ground in Apac, Kangai (where King
Mwanga and King Kabalega were arrested by the British)
The following tourism facilities are among the successfull one
available in the region
 Acohli in Gulu
 Bomah Hotel in kitgum and Gulu
 S. T Lira Hotel in Lira
 Margarita Hotel in Lira
Strategies to link Districts/ regions
 Study tours and exchange visits
 Establishment of an effective markets information
systems
 Production of news letters
 Etc.
THE END
Thanks for listening.
Supplements
 Nebbi District
 Tourism:
 Emin Pasha Fort :German embassy commissioned the
place,opportunities for guest houses
 Hot spring at ………no facilities
 Great Nile River with many fish species eg Angala
 Nebbi district Dream;
How to get peasants from subsistence way of life
Plan on using the rainbow model
Lira:
Lira is the Greater North Business Hub
Tourism sites to be developed;rocks,caves
Moyo;
Gravity flow water from the mountains
Cement potential terrain,iron ore deposit,bamboo forest
 Tourism;
 Burial place for Emin Pashas girlfriends burial place
 Nyambira plant
 Market for bitter honey in Kabale