President Museveni has launched the Presidential CEO Forum (PCF) Annual Report.
This was during the 3rd Presidential CEO Forum Bi-Annual Private Sector CEO Forum at Chobe Safari Lodge on Tuesday.
At the retreat, Museveni assured the PCF members that starting next year, he will be using four days off his annual schedule to meet the private sector members in all the regions of Uganda to discuss business.
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Francis Mwebesa, lauded President Museveni for ensuring economic development in Uganda by creating a conducive environment that has enabled investments in the country.
He also tipped the Private Sector CEOs to use the current good market in countries like the United Arab Emirates, the UK, China and the European Union to expand their businesses back home.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development PSST, Mr Ramathan Ggoobi, explained that as a ministry they have prioritized the capitalization of UDB in-order to increase access to capital through the government-owned financial entity.
“We have also been looking forward to increasing the capital share base of Uganda Development Corporation from Shs500 billion to Shs4 Trillion,” he said.
The PSST also told the President that local investors are decrying the corruption tendencies in government procurement processes.
“They say these contracts are rewarded in restaurants to people who offer bribes. What we are doing now is automating the procurement system. By 2025 we want the entire government to procure online.
“We want the procurement system to work in a transparent manner,” Mr Ggoobi urged.
The Vice Chairperson of PCF, Mr Emmanuel Katongole, said they were very grateful to President Museveni for launching the forum (in 2021) that has enabled them to discuss many challenges that have been solved through the platform.
“We are very happy to be part of the growing economy that you have created. We are your creation. The business that we do is here because of the environment you created. We can only say thank you. Wherever you want us to go we shall be with you,” Mr Katongole told the President.
He also assured Museveni as the private sector, they are much willing to work with Mrs Enrica Pinetti to promote the value addition of Uganda’s coffee.
“We request that Madam Pinetti works with the private sector to process the coffee for the better good,” he said.
“Your Excellency, this very retreat concentrated on two areas which included E-mobility and how we can interface and support the PDM, Your Excellency we want this to succeed, we want to participate in every step of it,” he added.
The CEO of Kiira Motors Corporation, Mr Paul Musasizi, also extended his sincere gratitude towards President Museveni for the guidance and leadership he provides to ensure that Uganda’s mobility industry becomes a success.
Mr Musasizi also articulated six key areas, they think as stakeholders could catalyze the development of E-mobility in Uganda.
“Given our conversations with have had with the operators, they need financial support from UDB to allow them to procure the electric vehicles and motorcycles. For E-Mobility to take off, the Ministry of Energy should put in place public charging points and the Ministry of Works should put in place a skilling centre for electric vehicle drivers,” he said.
The retreat was also attended by Ministers and private sector members among other officials.