Uganda

IFAs considering relocating to Uganda will not be disappointed.

The country offers a wealth of the more ‘usual’ attractions, including terrific business possibilities, a high quality of living and a bustling and exciting nightlife. Equally enticing, however, are the country’s more unusual offerings – including stupendous safaris and awe-inspiring wildlife.

Officially the Republic of Uganda, the nation is a land-locked country located in East Africa, bordered by Kenya in the east, Sudan in the north, the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west, Rwanda in the southwest and Tanzania in the south.

The nation, which has an area of close to 250,000 square kilometres, is strategically positioned within East and Central Africa. The territory consists of some of Africa’s most economically significant and resource-rich countries.

In recent years, Uganda has been transformed into a politically stable country with a dynamic economy based on free market principles.

Located close to the centre of the extensive African Market, by many assessments, Uganda offers the most outstanding business opportunities in Africa. One of the fastest growing economies, the country is currently the chosen base of many leading Global Firms and International Organisations.

Adding to the nation’s attractiveness as a business locale is that fact that it is one of Africa’s most liberal countries for foreign investment.

Kampala

Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The City which has retained its traditional charm and remains the greenest in Africa is now a vibrant modern metropolis adorned with gardens and parks providing colorful oases for its citizens.

Kampala has a diverse ethnic population, although the Baganda - the local ethnic group - make up over 60% of the greater Kampala region. The broad range of cultures in Uganda is reflected in the wide choice of restaurants in the city.

The main campus of Makerere University, one of East and Central Africa's premier institutes of higher learning, can be found in the Makerere Hill area of the City. Kampala is also home to the headquarters of the East African Development Bank, located on Nakasero Hill

Economy

In terms of its economy, the country began implementing a number of economic policies in recent years, designed to restore price stability, improve infrastructure and capacity utilization. These policies produced positive results and inflation was significantly reduced in recent years. The Ugandan Government has also worked with donor countries to reschedule or cancel substantial portions of the country's external debts. The country is a member of the WTO.

Kampala features a tropical wet and dry climate, however due to city’s higher altitudes, average temperatures are noticeably cooler than what is typically seen in other cities with this type of climate. Kampala seldom gets very hot during the course of the year, it’s warmest month being January.

The Government’s major role in Uganda’s private sector-driven economy has been mainly to provide the necessary legal policy and physical infrastructure for private investment to flourish. This strategy, endorsed by the World Bank, other donors and the private sector, is already showing results as witnessed by the country’s strong economic performance in the last ten years.

During the past 15 years, more than 2,000 projects have committed over US$2 billion in investments in Uganda, including multinational firms such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola, South African Breweries, Shell, BAT Industries and Unilever.

In addition, many other large businesses are investing millions of dollars in expanding their operations in Uganda, targeting this African nation as their next significant investment frontier. Investment Incentives

Among the long list of reasons cited by those in-the-know for doing business in Uganda:

• Uganda has been able to achieve macro-economic stability, compared to the uncertainty that is rife in many other regions of the world.
• Inflation has been in single-digits for more than ten years, down from a record high of 240% in 1988.
• Stable annual economic growth averaging 6% per annum
• Stable annual economic growth averaging 6% per annum
• Market-driven exchange rates
• No restrictions on 100% foreign ownership of investments and no barriers to remittance of dividends
• Uganda’s shilling is fully convertible and has remained stable over the last years.
• The country is one of only five countries in Africa that have no restrictions on capital amount transfers.
• The environment for private sector investment has improved significantly with the formal economy growing in importance.

Uganda today has a solid peoples’ parliament and a self-determining judiciary. Together, these institutions have been able to guarantee stability, providing investors with a high degree of certainty for their future planning. ‘Africa’s Friendliest Country’

Uganda is extremely proud of its reputation as ‘Africa’s Friendliest Country’. The country’s prestigious status is widely associated with its tradition of warm hospitality, a very low crime rate, eco-friendly policies, and its promotion of women’s rights. The climate, too, is extremely agreeable. Have Fun, Too!

While Uganda is a great place to work, it also offers more than its fair share of fun-time activities.

Apart from terrific restaurants, pubs, nightclubs and casinos – as well as a host of sporting and generally ‘regular’ pursuits, such as cinemas and golf courses, - Uganda offers a slew of leisure activities off-the-beaten-track, both literally and figuratively speaking.

The beautiful island-speckled Lake Victoria region underscores the country’s attraction as a favourite safari destination. Centuries-old botanical gardens abound with a vast array of primates and colourful tropical birds. Take time to travel across tropical channels teeming with hippo and crocodiles before setting off into the magnificent mountains to get phenomenal views of mountain gorillas.

Where else but in this incredibly verdant country can you observe lions prowling the open plains and chase chimpanzees through the rainforest all in the same day? Uganda is famed as the only safari destination whose range of forest primates is as remarkable as its selection of antelope.

In fact, Uganda ranks among the top ten countries in the world in terms of the variety of its mammal groups. By comparison with the UK, for instance, Uganda supports “five times more bird species, six times as many mammals, ten times as many reptiles and amphibians, and three times the number of plant species.”

The country offers exceptional diversity - combining some of the best qualities that the continent has to offer. Uganda provides contrasting features, ranging from extensive plains to snow-capped mountains; breathtaking waterfalls to winding rivers; and fantastic flora and fauna.

All-in-all, the country is phenomenal.

So, if you like the sound of big money opportunities, exotic adventures and a fantastically unique experience – set your sights on Uganda!

For further information about Uganda we recommend that you visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda where you will find many useful links and informative articles to prepare you for your move.