PRESENTATION ON BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTHERN UGANDA BY

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, Nakapiri, 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.

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 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 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/= and savings of 370, 000/=; Pakwac Nam SACCO ( Nebbi) is also another successful one with relatively high savings and membership.

3. 3 Tourism There 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