SPONSOR/PARTNER UPDATES ~ Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) Invites you to 5th “Home is Best” Diaspora Summit, 2011

SPONSOR/PARTNER UPDATES ~ Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) Invites you to 5th “Home is Best” Diaspora Summit, 2011

November 26 12:26 2011 Visitors ~ 12,834 views Print This Article

Since 1991, the Uganda Investment Authority has been executing several investment programs that are essential and crucial to National development. Some of these programs are focused on pro-active investment promotion and facilitation as a core activity of the UIA. Under the facilitation component, Diaspora remittances and investments came out as a main component which could no longer be ignored. UIA then took a pro-active role to inform the Diaspora about the opportunities that exist at home.

In December 2004, Uganda Investment Authority and the Private Sector organised the first ever Diaspora Investment and Business Summit with the theme “Home is the Best”. The main objective was to create a platform where Ugandans in the Diaspora could meet and discuss their individual development, business and trade issues with the Government of Uganda.

Due to limited funding, however, it was not until 2008 that the Uganda Investment Authority and the Private Sector managed to organise the Second Diaspora Conference. It was then resolved to make the “Home is Best Summit” an annual event to be held every December. In addition to this, it was resolved that the UIA holds mini summits in two upcountry towns each year. The upcountry mini-summits give the Diaspora a chance to tour the country and see the rural developments and investment opportunities in the countryside.

The “Home is Best” Summit is now an annual event that has come to be recognised by both the Government of Uganda and the Ugandans in the Diaspora as an important gateway into the economic development of this nation. While Ugandans in the Diaspora make their annual pilgrimage to celebrate the Christmas season with their families at home, they are also usually on the lookout for investment opportunities and businesses in which they can quickly invest their hard-earned resources, to sustain their families in Uganda and as security for their eventual return to the country. Participants actively contribute to the policy and regulatory framework development and review process. Members also get the opportunity to reflect on their business investment achievements in the Diaspora and at home. Returnees also get the opportunity to showcase their successes.

As the years went by, a need to broaden the scope of the Summit activities and to give this annual home pilgrimage of Ugandans an international face arose. One way of achieving this is to engage specialized groups to sponsor and brand the Summit. The other is to invite interested groups from the host countries to join in the Summit activities as a way of transferring technology and knowledge.

Summit Objectives
The main objectives of this year’s summit are;

1. To strengthen the platform where the Ugandan Diaspora meet;
2. To facilitate interaction of Uganda’s Public and Private sector decision-makers with the visiting Diaspora;
3. To facilitate focused and individualized business discussions amongst the visiting Diaspora and Uganda industry in the priority sectors;
4. To present strategies for facilitating further participation of the Diaspora in projects at home

Specific Objectives

1. To reflect on their businesses and investment achievements at home;
2. To introduce new ideas and concepts in investment;
3. To encourage greater participation of Diaspora in the SME Segment opportunities especially in the Oil & Gas Sector;
4. To allow the Diaspora to actively express ideas on the developments and politics at home;
5. To analyse the review processes of policy and regulatory frameworks regarding the business environment;
6. To promote one or two sectors for Diaspora Investment

The Summit Structure
The Forum usually comprises of an exhibition of the solutions to the Diaspora needs, discussions on challenges, and new opportunities. Financial institutions, the construction & building industry, trading houses and the private sector as whole present their branded packages to the Ugandan Diaspora who usually lack information and knowledge about the home economic and investment climate.

This year’s Summit will once again pay special attention to Agriculture-Agro-possessing especially Value Addition to our abundant natural resources, ICTs for Investment, Education, Finance and Health care, Tourism, investment in the oil and gas sector, the creative industry, among others.

There will be side events that will include Exhibitions, Entertainment, Cultural Activities, Youths Activities and a Networking Cocktail. The Summit will, for the first time, include a Diaspora Social Networking Event that will recognise and reward Ugandans in the Diaspora for achievements in various fields of work.

“Home is Best V” Summit

Theme: “My Home, My Investment”

Date: 22 December 2011
Venue: Acholi Inn, Gulu
Participants: 150-200 Diaspora members and their families

Date: 28-29 December 2011
Venue: Hotel Africana, Kampala:
Participants: 400-600 Diaspora members and their families

Diaspora Social Networking Event (Gala Dinner)
Date: 29 December 2011
Venue: Serena Hotel, Kampala

Program Contour
• Plenary Sessions focused on issues that impact Ugandans in the Diaspora both at home and in the Diaspora
• Sessions on Targeted Sectors
• Meetings with Financial Institutions, including Business to Business meetings;
• Interaction with Key Policy Makers
• Networking Lunches and Cocktails
• Entertainment

Participation in the Summit
Approximately 400 to 600 Diaspora members and their families who make the annual Christmas holiday pilgrimage to Uganda are expected to attend this year’s Summit.

Summit Outcome
The Summit agenda recommends practical actions, timelines and tools that will lead to improved measures for better a business environment and embark on initiatives that will promote more Diaspora-led investments in the country.

5th Home is Best Diaspora Summit
Regitration Form – 5th Home is Best Diaspora Summit

DOWNLOAD: Registration Form

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About Article Author

Ugandan Diaspora Team
Ugandan Diaspora Team

The Uganda Diaspora Network is a forum aimed at bringing together Ugandans who live and work abroad by celebrating their contributions overseas and also encouraging them to give of their time, talents, ideas and expertise whilst inspiring the next generation of Ugandan leaders. Every year the Ugandan Diaspora Network will organize an annual Social Networking Gala and will also produce a quarterly publication highlighting the successes of the various Ugandans residing overseas. Please send us those inspirational stories and philanthropic work involving Ugandans abroad. We shall share these stories using this platform that is rapidly growing and expanding. The Next Diaspora Social Networking Gala will be Held on 30th December 2016 at The Kampala Serena Hotel.

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5 Comments

  1. Ruth Muwesa Ssenjobe
    November 27, 00:49 #1 Ruth Muwesa Ssenjobe

    Dear Sir/Madam,

    Please include on the list. Unfortunately, I do not have money to sponsor myself.

    Also include me on the membership of all the clubs which do not require alot of subscription.

    Ruth

    Reply to this comment
  2. SSEKASANKE-ZZIWA
    November 28, 03:21 #2 SSEKASANKE-ZZIWA

    Ronnie, Cheers, you have made us proud, hope to meet with the Uganda Diaspora in December in Kla and Gulu.

    Reply to this comment
  3. Richard Williams
    December 03, 04:49 #3 Richard Williams

    I would like to be registered (2 Adults) for the Trip to Gulu on December 22nd. I would like to register for the Transportation and the Lodging, I would like my wife and I to be registered in the first 40 registerd participants; I’m flying in on the 20th, will be too Jet Lagged to drive anywhere.
    What is the registration Fee and what form of payment? Do you accept Visa or Mastercard?
    Or: where should I wire the Registration Fees to?
    I will be sending you a separeate e-mail about my Presentation during the Diaspora events. The Topic is “A Typical Business Day” in the life of Richard Williams
    President – CEO
    Virtual Campus Integrated Systems, Inc.
    California, USA

    Otherwise, thanks for the swell job you are doing.

    Reply to this comment
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