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"We have set up a One-Stop Business Centre that allows you to engage Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Capital Markets Authority, Uganda Investment Authority, Banks, etc all at once in stead of riving around the city looking for each entity." - Stephen Asiimwe

"We held several meetings with the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, EAC sectrariat, COMESA, Parliament of Uganda committees, MDAs, IGAD and so many others." - Stephen Asiimwe

In our engagements with Government of Uganda our focus was on Macro economic stability, favourable legal regime, improved infrastructure, tourism development, mineral development and support for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises development" - Stephen Asiimwe

"Tourism is our biggest economic multiplier and we need to invest more into it - now. The roads to Bwindi and Mgahinga game parks are in a dire state and we have raised this with government. We also need to upgrade our aerodromes and purchase cargo planes" - Stephen Asiimwe

Ms. Serena Cavicchi, Task team Lead, THE GROW PROJECT and Senior Social Development Specialist at World Bank highlighted the fact that the Grow project is playing a key role in creation of employment especially for women and its trickle down effect on familes.

Panel discussion: Private Sector reflections on the FY 25/26 budget: Agriculture, Tourism, Minerals, & Science & Technology. Mr. Nkurunungi Gideon (ICT Association of UG. (ICTAU)), Ms. Brenda Ssekabembe Mulema, (Bake4Me Ltd), Mr. Humphrey Asiimwe, (Uganda Chamber of Energy & Minerals), & Theopista Ntale (GracaMachelTrust)

We have to commend the Government of Uganda for increasing the amount of money it is putting in Uganda Development Bank Ltd but it is still too little for those trying to set up serious factories. - Allan Ssenyondwa (UgandaManufacturersAssn®)

I am pleased with what THE GROW PROJECT is doing to improve access to credit in Uganda and in particular to women however the general cost of money in Uganda is still high and the turn around times are ridiculous. - Dr. Theopista Ntale Sekitto, Theopista Ntale from GracaMachelTrust

How can we get our communities to be involved in the energy and mineral projects as part of boosting local content? It means we have to walk the journey of formalizing what they are doing and ensuring it is done in a sustainable manner. - Humphrey Asiimwe

In his closing remarks, Mr Allan Ssenyondwa (UgandaManufacturersAssn® ) makes a rallying call for the return of cooperatives to help reduce the burden on farmers on how to acquire quality seeds, fertilizers, acaricides and to access the market place.

If we want to benefit from the minerals of this country we have to do some serious mapping and exploration. We have more than 50 minerals but we need to focus on a few like 5 that we can package very well. - Humphrey Asiimwe CEO Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals

"We are a listening government. Many of the things you see in the budget came from proposals and dialogues with Private Sector Foundation Uganda" - Ramathan Ggoobi, PSST Ministry of Finance

The PSST, Ramathan Ggoobi assured members that there are plans to create a customer reference bureau where customers can also report predatory lenders and other bad practices just like the way the Credit Reference Bureau helps lenders to do background checks on borrowers.

In general this year's budget is a budget for the Private Sector. 16.7 trillion shillings in the budget is private sector related especially in the sectors of Agriculture, tourism and mining. - Ramathan Ggoobi

The PSST, Ramathan Ggoobi concluded his remarks by urging Ugandans to keep an eye on 4 key risk areas - Geopolitical conflicts (both regional and global) - Misinformation & disinformation (AI generated fake content) - Extreme weather - Trade wars and tariffs (especially in the region)

"The word policy means enkola in Lusoga, so we need to stop saying that policies are good but the implementation is not. A good policy is one that is also well implemented. Both have to be good." - Hon. Victoria Ssekitoleko, (Private Sector Foundation Uganda board member for Agriculture)

There are three key recommendations that we have continuously pushed forward as a region or continent. First, we must invest in and trade with each other. - Dr. J Byaruhanga, Director Policy and Business Development Private Sector Foundation Uganda. Regional Industrialization Conference #RICConference #RIC2025