By Aggrey Baba
A hunter who hesitates loses the prey to a faster rival,
and the president of the republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has, January 16, opened Uganda’s doors wide for European investors, urging them to seize the vast opportunities in agriculture, aquaculture, and environmental sustainability.
While meeting investors at his country home in Irenga, Ntungamo District, recently, Museveni questioned Europe’s waning business interest in Africa, contrasting it with China’s growing presence.
“What happened to our relatives, the Europeans? Why don’t they come and invest?” he asked, emphasizing that Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion in the next 30 years, making it an attractive market.
He praised ongoing European investments in Uganda, including liquid coffee production, avocado exports, and medical waste solutions, promising full government support to strengthen these ventures.
Museveni also laid out a bold plan to restore Uganda’s wetlands, which have been heavily degraded by unsustainable farming practices.
He proposed relocating farmers from wetlands to the peripheries for sustainable fish farming, while condemning swamp rice cultivation for damaging the Nile’s tributaries. The move, he said, would balance economic progress with environmental conservation.
His message was well received by investors, who pledged to expand their footprint in Uganda. Mr. Nico Van Vliet of the Uganda Flowers Exporters Association expressed confidence in Uganda’s market potential, pointing out opportunities not only in the European Union but also in neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, Mr. Eric de Waan of Yalelo Uganda highlighted the country’s ideal conditions for fish farming, announcing plans to invest $5 million annually in the sector.
With investment talks gaining momentum and conservation efforts being reinforced, Museveni is making it clear, that Uganda is open for business, but not at the cost of its environment.
The challenge now lies in turning these promises into action, ensuring that investors find not just opportunities but a well-regulated, sustainable playing field.
(For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
