EnterUganda

. Kampala, Uganda.

Brief Guide to infrastructure in Uganda:

Telecommunications:
Uganda has two national telecom operators, namely, Mobile telecommunications Network (MTN) - a South Africa led consortium, and Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL), which was privatised in 2000. The companies provide mobile cellular phone networks, paging services and other modern communication services to meet the business needs of users.
Service delivery is improving steadily with various players introducing new products into the market. For instance, MTN announced plans to set up a fibre-optic network in Uganda, expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2001.

Banking and Finance:
Although still relatively young, Uganda's emerging financial sector is vibrant and well supported by banking, legal, accounting and insurance support services.
Major international accounting firms like Deloitte and Touche, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst and Young and KPMG are all present in the country offering a wide range of management support services. There are also a number of well-established international banking groups such as the Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of Baroda, Barclays Bank, Stanbic Bank, Citibank as well as many other fast growing indigenous banks and insurance companies.

Uganda's money market includes discount houses, commercial banks, finance houses, the Post Office Savings Bank, insurance companies, private bureaux de change and corporate bodies.

The capital or equity market comprises mainly the recently launched Uganda Securities Exchange Limited and the stock broking firms.

Domestic borrowing by foreign investors just like their domestic counterparts, is permitted subject only to the limitations inherent in the prudential requirements on commercial banks exposure. Interest rates, while fairly high at about 20% per annum, are nevertheless most competitive when compared to other African countries.

Education:
There are presently eleven universities in the country and a number of polytechnics with Makerere University being the major national higher institution of learning. All levels of skills and training needed for a growing economy are to a great extent addressed. Particular emphasis has been placed by the country on the development of the science-based skills such as medicine, research, engineering and technology.

The country generally boasts of an impressive literacy rate by any standards and this is likely to improve following the recent introduction by Government of the Universal Free Primary Education. Ugandan labour is relatively cheap and large percentage of the population can speak and write English which should prove a major asset for foreign investors wanting to come to Uganda.

Transport Logistics:
Uganda continues to invest heavily in the development of its infrastructure. Uganda's excellent road system is well linked to its principal trading partners, Kenya and Tanzania. The bulk of the country's imports and exports are handled through the port of Mombasa in Kenya.
Road transport costs per ton range from US$40 - 50 per ton and delivery time from Mombasa to Kampala is normally four days at most. The costs by rail are up to 50% cheaper and this mode of transportation is recommended for bulk cargo. The main airport at Entebbe currently handles more than 40 international flight connections per week to various cities in Europe, thus easing travel in and out of the country. Direct flights exist to London, Paris, Brussels, Johannesburg, Cairo, Tehran, Dubai and Moscow. In addition, a number of international courier firms such as DHL, TNT and Skypak are actively represented in the country making delivery of urgent documents and materials easy.

Energy:
This has been Uganda's major infrastructure constraint. In spite of having a potential hydroelectric power generation capacity of some 2,700 megawatts, Uganda currently produces less than 200 megawatts of energy. National demand for electricity continues to expand rapidly on account of the fast growing economy.

Uganda has taken steps to address this deficiency, three private power projects have been commissioned and are expected to add another 700 MW to Uganda's energy production by the year 2003. The private projects include the Kalagala Falls Power Project promoted by Arabian International Construction Ltd - Egypt and Nile Independent Power promoted by Applied Energy Services, USA. Together, these two projects are investing an estimated US$1 billion. Work on all the projects is already underway.

Quality of Life:
The quality and cost of living in Kampala and other major towns in the country compares favourably with what investors may hope to find elsewhere in Africa. Modern first class hotels, serviced apartments are to be found in the urban centres.
Leisure facilities exist for such pass-times as golf, horse riding and equestrian sports, tennis, white water rafting and sailing on the Lake Victoria. Uganda's education system is still among the best in Africa and provides good quality education at different levels. Foreign investors and their expatriates can enrol their children at a number of reputable international schools in the country. Unfurnished housing accommodation in Kampala goes for between US$500 and US$2000 per month.

Land:
Investors may acquire land on leasehold basis for renewable periods of up to 99 years. Land can be obtained from private owners, local councils and other government agencies. Land in Kampala is more expensive than land in other areas of the country. The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) maintains a database of land that is available for investors. In addition, the UIA owns large tracts of land in various parts of the country.

The UIA is also currently developing a 1000 hectare fully serviced industrial estate at Namanve. The estate known as the Namanve Industrial and Business Park is expected to be ready for occupation by the end of 2002.