Finance Minister Hon. Henry Musasizi has urged the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to ensure that investment in Uganda delivers tangible economic benefits, particularly through job creation, increased production, value addition and greater participation of Ugandans.

Musasizi made the remarks during an entry meeting with the UIA Board, led by Board Chair Dr. Robert Kyamanywa, in the presence of the Minister of State for Privatization and Investment, Hon. Amina Mukalazi.

The Minister said UIA should place job creation, investor facilitation, local content, and the attraction of both domestic and foreign investment at the centre of its mandate.

He stressed that investment should go beyond licences and headline figures and instead translate into employment, increased production, value addition and opportunities for Ugandans, in line with Government's Ten-Fold Growth Strategy.

During the engagement, Dr. Kyamanywa highlighted UIA's strengthened focus on domestic investment.

He said the authority is undertaking nationwide mobilisation and profiling of investment opportunities in areas including Greater Masaka and Gulu, with the aim of encouraging Ugandans to participate more in manufacturing and value addition.

The Board also reported progress in investor facilitation, noting that investment licences are now being processed within 24 hours, compared with the previous 48-hour target. The authority has an ambition of reducing processing time to below 20 hours where possible.

The UIA Board also outlined plans to expand industrial parks while addressing challenges that could affect investment and industrial development.

Among the issues highlighted were land titling, roads, power tariffs, infrastructure gaps, water and wastewater systems, as well as challenges at the Namanve wastewater treatment plant.

The Board further pointed to the need for improved digital systems and an electronic database to strengthen investment management and investor services.

Hon. Amina Mukalazi called for stronger investor aftercare, urging UIA to remain engaged with businesses after licensing to understand their challenges and support their expansion and job creation.

She also emphasised the need for one-stop centres to be fully operational and provide meaningful services to investors.

The discussions underline a broader focus on ensuring that Uganda's investment drive delivers measurable economic outcomes.

Rather than focusing only on the number of investment commitments or licences issued, the emphasis is on ensuring investments become productive engines of job creation, manufacturing, value addition, exports, local content and inclusive economic growth.

For UIA, this means attracting investment while also helping investors overcome challenges, expand their operations and contribute more directly to Uganda's economic transformation.