The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is set to bring together investors, entrepreneurs, traders, and government agencies for a high-level engagement aimed at unlocking investment opportunities in the Greater Masaka sub-region.

The engagement, dubbed the Greater Masaka Investor Baraza, will take place on, Thursday, 19^th March, 2026, at Brovad Hotel in Masaka City.

This forum is expected to create a direct platform for dialogue between the private sector and government institutions on improving the investment climate in the region.

According to Richard Nuwenyesiga, Director of the Domestic Investment Division at UIA, the Baraza is designed to strengthen support systems for domestic investors and facilitate business growth within the Greater Masaka sub-region.

It is being organized through UIA’s Domestic Investment Division (DID) and will bring together private sector leaders, government ministries, departments and agencies, as well as representatives from local governments across the region.

Nuwenyesiga explained that the forum will focus on minimizing risks in the region’s investment environment by highlighting the support available from government institutions to investors.

“The engagement aims to demonstrate how government ministries, departments and agencies can support investments in the region while providing investors with the information they need to navigate licensing and regulatory requirements,” he said.

The Baraza will target investors interested in establishing businesses in the region, as well as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) already operating in priority sectors identified in the Greater Masaka regional investment profile.

Traders seeking to transition from informal trade into structured enterprises will also receive guidance on available investment opportunities and the regulatory procedures required to formalize their businesses.

He further noted that the event will serve as a platform to profile and license investors interested in pursuing business opportunities in the region, while also supporting traders willing to shift toward manufacturing and value addition.

“Our goal is not only to profile and license investors ready to take up these opportunities, but also to support traders who are willing to transition into manufacturing and value addition,” Nuwenyesiga explained.

Participants are expected from across the Greater Masaka sub-region, including the districts of Kalangala, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Rakai, Kyotera, Sembabule, and Mpigi.

The initiative forms part of UIA’s broader strategy to strengthen domestic investment and unlock the economic potential of regions beyond Uganda’s major urban centers.

“We are committed to creating practical opportunities for Ugandan entrepreneurs to invest, grow their businesses, and create meaningful jobs for our people,” Nuwenyesiga added.

By bringing together investors, regulators, and local leaders, the Greater Masaka Investor Baraza is expected to enhance direct engagement between businesses and government agencies, address challenges affecting local enterprises, and promote industrialization, business expansion, and job creation across the Greater Masaka sub-region.