KAMPALA, Uganda – The head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Col. Edith Nakalema, met today with British High Commissioner to Uganda, Lisa Chesney, to discuss investment opportunities and the protection of investors.
During the meeting at SHIPU’s office in Kampala, Nakalema explained that the unit was established in May 2023 to expedite government services for investors. She emphasized that SHIPU’s role is to streamline procedures for wealth creators, including access to industrial park land, tax incentives, business registration, and environmental impact assessments.
Nakalema highlighted Uganda’s appeal as an investment destination, noting that in 2024, the country was named the best investment destination in Africa at the Global Annual Investment Meeting in Abu Dhabi for attracting significant foreign direct investment. She also cited a 2023 Oxford Economics report that ranked Uganda as the most attractive economy to invest in within the East African Community.
“It is these ratings that give the team at SHIPU even more reason to enhance investor confidence through coordinating expeditious attention to investor’s needs,” Nakalema said.
She also pointed to the Uganda Electronic Investors Protection Portal (EIPP), which is managed by SHIPU and helps safeguard investors from fraud by providing a platform for authentic information and inquiries.
Chesney commended Uganda for its relationship with the United Kingdom and praised SHIPU’s efforts to protect investors from delays and corruption.
“Corruption impedes development, and I’m grateful that the government of Uganda has put up several entities like SHIPU to fight the vice,” Chesney said. “We are going to work together with SHIPU to give investors confidence that they are being protected because they contribute to the economic development of Uganda.”
The high commissioner also assured Nakalema of continued support to encourage more UK investors to come to Uganda for the mutual benefit of both countries.
