Govt to support KACITA traders' manufacturing bid
"A few traders have been working with us and are now slowly transitioning. We started with taking them to China to see machinery, and now we shall give them land in the industrial park," Mukiza said.
Robert Mukiza (left), the Uganda Investment Authority boss, flanked by Ephraim Charles Kwizera (right), the proprietor of Victoria Hotel Boutique Hotel cutting the tape. This was during the launch of Victoria Boutique Hotel on Saturday. (Credit: John Masaba)
John Masaba
Journalist @New Vision
By John Masaba
WAKISO - The Government says it is overseeing a process to help some of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) traders transition from import trade to manufacturing.
Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) director general Robert Mukiza says eligible traders will benefit from several incentives, including free land if they meet the eligibility criteria of investors. 
Robert Mukiza (left), the Uganda Investment Authority boss, addresses journalists. This was during the launch of Victoria Boutique Hotel on Saturday. (Credit: John Masaba)
He made the revelation while presiding over the launch of Victoria Hotel Boutique Hotel in Kigo near Entebbe on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The enterprise is owned by businessman Ephraim Charles Kwizera.
"A few traders have been working with us and are now slowly transitioning. We started with taking them to China to see machinery, and now we shall give them land in the industrial park," Mukiza said.
According to him, local investors need just $50,000 (about shillings 183.7 million) while foreign investors need $250,000 (about shillings 918. 5 million) to qualify a UIA investment license.
Ephraim Charles Kwizera, the proprietor of Victoria Boutique Hotel.
According to Mukiza, the traders were brought on board following last year's meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.
The meeting centred on trader dissatisfaction over Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS).
During the meeting, the President emphasized that the traders could join local manufacturing, which enjoys little, or no taxation compared to imports of consumer goods.
Some of the areas where there are exemptions include medicine, machinery, intermediate products and pharmaceuticals.
During the event on Saturday, Mukiza commended Kwizera on the investment, noting there is currently a three-million-dollar deficit in hotel accommodation rooms in Uganda.
Capital Gang Talk show host Oskar Semweya-Musoke.
"I thank the domestic investor here for believing in the stable nature of this economy and putting his money and looking forward d that he plugs part of this deficit of the hotel room accommodation in our country," he said.
Kwizera said he started the sh12b investment in a bid to create some employment for his old age.
"When people grow old, the first thing they miss are friends, and they begin to be very lonely," he said, adding that the enterprise will give him a chance to meet and commune with like minds as he discharges his duties at the facility.
According to Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), there are 6,291 hotels, 97,511 rooms and 103,261 guest houses in Uganda.
The association notes that about 90 percent of these hotels and accommodation facilities are owned by private investors with Ugandans owning the majority.