I would like to commend our President and Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for creating an enabling environment for investors. Today, our country has registered a large number of foreign investors investing in Uganda.
Mr President, we acknowledge your efforts in attracting investors to come and invest in our country. However, I am a bit disturbed that your efforts are being frustrated by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
Mr President, more than 100 investors are currently contemplating leaving our country and going to invest in other countries because of either indiscipline, arrogance, or unwillingness by the Minister for Energy to sign the licences of the investors.
I was a bit disturbed witnessing investors being chased like thieves in Moroto by the Regional Inspector of Mines due to a lack of exploration and mining licences. So, when I went deeper to understand why the investors were being denied the papers, what I learnt is that the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development has either refused or is unwilling to sign the papers, saying that she is still studying the ministry.
Mr President, this is direct sabotage of your agenda of taking Uganda to middle-income status. If the current staff in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development are not ready to work, let them resign. We have many Ugandans who would want to take up those positions and make an impact.
I am writing this with a lot of bitterness towards the officials in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development who seem to be reluctant to sign investors’ licences and letters. What intention do they have?
I humbly request you, Papa, as your Bazukulu, to look into this. Thank you, and long live Mzee Kaguta and long live our Badman, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The writer is a senior veteran journalist.
