Mega Fm: The Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Col. Edith Nakalema, has assured Dutch investors that SHIPU was committed to creating an investment environment in which government agencies work together to resolve challenges and minimise unnecessary delays.
She said President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni established SHIPU with a directive to make Uganda a “zero-delay destination” for both foreign and domestic investors.
“Our mandate is therefore to protect your capital from economic disruptions by deploying collaborative mechanisms, as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to expedite attention to any concerns that may set you back,” she said.
Col. Nakalema also encouraged Netherlands-Uganda Trade and Investment Platform (NUTIP) members to use the Electronic Investors’ Protection Portal (EIPP), which was commissioned by President Museveni on December 13, 2023.
She said the digital platform links more than 75 government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), enabling investors to conduct due diligence and verify administrative processes with minimal human interaction.
“I therefore call upon all NUTIP members to utilise the EIPP as your frontline tool for secure operations in Uganda,” she said.
She made the remarks on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, during a strategic engagement on trade and investment with members of the Netherlands-Uganda Trade and Investment Platform (NUTIP) at SHIPU offices in Kampala.
The engagement brought together SHIPU, government agencies and members of the business community to discuss challenges affecting investors, including taxation, tax arbitration, economic policy and governance.
Col. Nakalema described the meeting as solution-oriented, assuring investors that concerns raised would receive prompt coordination and follow-up from SHIPU.
She emphasised that the government considers Dutch investors as strategic partners in Uganda’s economic transformation.
“The President recognises that you are not merely doing business in Uganda; you are strategic partners in our country’s economic transformation journey,” she said.
She reaffirmed SHIPU’s commitment to protecting existing investments while supporting investors seeking to expand their operations in Uganda.
The Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda, H.E. Bouwe-Jan Smeding, said Uganda and the Netherlands share a common objective of creating a better business environment that benefits investors, businesses and the wider economy.
“We all have the same horizon: getting a better business environment in Uganda, because that will help Uganda in connecting, in getting forex, and it helps all businesses to have healthy businesses with healthy profits,” he said.
H.E Smeding said the engagement was important in identifying and understanding the barriers investors continue to face, noting that even where a government institution cannot immediately resolve an issue, providing clear explanations can help build confidence and understanding.
He cited tax administration as one of the areas requiring continued dialogue, saying investors need clarity on policies and the handling of tax disputes.
Ambassador Smeding also highlighted a shift in the Netherlands’ approach to its engagement with Uganda, saying the country was increasingly moving from traditional development cooperation towards an investment-oriented relationship.
He said the Netherlands’ Multiannual Country Strategy for 2026 onwards reflects this direction while maintaining support for key development areas, including smallholder agriculture.
“In this sense, we as an embassy… are moving from the old-fashioned development cooperation approach towards more of an investment approach,” he said.
The Director of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Moses Kaggwa, said Uganda was facing several external economic pressures, including rising fuel prices, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and exchange-rate depreciation.
Mr. Kaggwa said supply disruptions associated with the conflict in the Middle East were among the factors affecting the Uganda shilling, although he noted that the currency had historically been one of the most stable in Africa.
He said the government and the Bank of Uganda were monitoring the situation and implementing measures to contain excessive depreciation and inflation.
Mr. Kaggwa expressed optimism that the shilling could stabilise at around Shs3,900 to the US dollar in the near term, while cautioning against speculation and panic buying of dollars.
Despite the challenges, he said Uganda’s export performance remained strong, with exports expected to reach about US$18.42 billion.
He cited coffee, cocoa and vegetables exported to the European Union among the products supporting Uganda’s external earnings.
Mr. Kaggwa said the government remained committed to building an economy based on production and value addition rather than one dominated by imports and retail trade.
He said manufacturing accounts for about 15 percent of Uganda’s GDP, making it one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the region.
He also highlighted agriculture, tourism, mineral development, science, technology and industry as key pillars of Uganda’s economic transformation agenda.
Mr. Kaggwa assured investors that the government was committed to creating a predictable and supportive business environment.
He said the private sector contributes about 80 percent of Uganda’s GDP, making it a critical partner in economic development.
