By Reporter

The minister appealed to local contractors to deliver on time, quality, and quantity and meet standards as they are given advantages during public bidding.

The minister of trade and industry Amelia Kyambadde has urged local contractors to get informed about the tender opportunities.

“Local contractors should get well informed about the tender processes and where to address their grievances if they feel cheated,” Kyambadde said.

This was during a meeting held in Kampala to launch the First Uganda Contractors & Providers Summit.

The Ministry of Trade, Uganda Contractors & Providers and Beautiful Partners are organizing the first Uganda Contractors & Providers Summit under the theme:  ‘Buy Uganda, Build Uganda from a contractors’ perspective’.

Kyambadde said there are middlemen who are exploiting local contractors.  “Please be-ware of these middlemen. There is corruption in the tender process. They make bidding expensive, every bidding step you make they ask for money,” Kyambadde said.

The summit will take place from 12th to 13th November at Serena Hotel Kampala under the theme ‘Buy Uganda Build Uganda from a contractors’ perspective’. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to be the guest of honour as the event presents a strong boost for Uganda’s local contractors and promote local participation.

The minister appealed to local contractors to deliver on time, quality, and quantity and meet standards as they are given advantages during public bidding.

She also urged public officials to make the bidding process easy for locals. “You make a contractor run from one ministry to the next looking for a signature that is a non- tariff barrier,” Kyambadde said.

Guster Bukenya, a representative of Uganda Contractors and Providers said they seek to create a platform to develop skills that can enable local contractors be part of the procurement cycle.

Bukenya said local contractors face financial challenges and other challenges that impact on their performance. “Contractors can play an important role in creating jobs, enable social and economic development,” he said.

“We want local contractors who are often made sub-contractors to grow and become the main contractors, local contractors have stepped up in terms of both quality and quantity,” Bukenya said.

The manager public and corporate affairs at the Uganda Revenue Authority Vincent Seruma said URA supports the BUBU policy. Seruma advised local contractors to comply with the tax system which will give them great opportunities to do business.

“Contractors can miss out on tenders because of not complying with the tax system. When you get into the bidding process you can grow and get markets in the region, the continent, the African Continental Free Trade Area, we need to prepare for these markets,” Seruma said.

Benson Turamye, executive director Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) disclosed that President Yoweri Museveni has issued directive requiring furniture to be procured locally.

Turamye explained that the PPD Act provides for preference and reservation schemes that give advantages to local contractors and enterprises to outcompete foreign bidders on the pricing element by small margins.

He said tenders of sh45b and below for goods are reserved for local providers. While tenders for the provision of consultancy services of sh1b and below are reserved for local consultants.

He noted that foreigner firms that win tenders are required to subcontract 30% of it to local firms. He said the goal to support local contractors and providers was intended to promote wealth creation, technology and skills transfer.

By Our Reporter

The Uganda Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) entrepreneurs led by United Bank for Africa management team on Tuesday met with the Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, to discuss a possible partnership with the government of Uganda in a bid to promote youth empowerment through entrepreneurship.

The TEF beneficiaries in Uganda who recently formed a SACCO to enable access to funding to grow their businesses met with the Prime Minister to present their need for government support to promote a generation of job creators in the youth.

The government through the Office of the Prime Minister thereafter pledged to offer all possible support to the TEF beneficiaries in Uganda through financial engagements, to grow their start-up businesses beyond the boundaries of the country.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Johnson Agoreyo – CEO and Managing Director of UBA Uganda said that the bank will continue to support the TEF fund beneficiaries through trainings directly focused on needs of entrepreneurs in Uganda.

“UBA will continue to offer support to the Tony Elumelu Foundation entrepreneurs.”said Mr. Johnson Agoreyo.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Tony Elumelu Foundation and UBA for the support offered to the Ugandan entrepreneurs. He thanked the entrepreneurs for being organised and forming a Sacco. He also informed the young entrepreneurs that the government already has institutions in place to resolve some of their problems – such as the Microfinance Center, but further pledged the government’s additional support on all challenges raised.

Present at the meeting were the UBA MD, Mr. Johnson Agoreyo and staff of UBA Uganda, the Prime Minister of Uganda – Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister and select number of beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation in Uganda.

The TEF beneficiaries in Uganda have grown to 600, coming second after Nigeria. The entrepreneurs are selected from 54 African countries, after submitting an online application and are presented with seed capital, access to mentors and a 12-week business training programme on enrolment.

Airtel Uganda Head of Broadband explains how the new Airtel broadband device works.

By Our Reporter

Airtel Uganda has today launched a new solution for homes, Small and Medium Enterprises that offers uninterrupted internet at affordable rates.

The Airtel Broad Band Outdoor Unit attracts a one-off entry cost of Shs280,000 inclusive of a 51GB of Data valid for 30 days, free installation and device maintenance.

The fixed internet device comes in a stylish/slim design and has the ability to connect 32 internet-powered devices including laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, game consoles, security cameras and many others to internet.

Commenting about the new solution, Airtel Uganda Managing Director Mr. V.G. Somasekhar said the solution is ideal for businesses particularly SMEs that need a reliable, fast internet for uninterrupted operations adding that it as well addresses the need for the smart home allowing simultaneous connections for streaming online content, e-entertainment; while still acting as a WiFi Router for the entire house at the same capped monthly cost.

“The solution offers the best internet experience at the most affordable rate of less than Shs2,000 per GB,” he noted.

Hon. Werikhe Kafabusa, the State Minister For Trade, lauded Airtel Uganda for the substantial investment in innovations geared towards the economic development of Uganda through small and medium enterprises.

“SMEs form a major block of Uganda’s economy contributing immensely to the development of our country. Technology and Innovation are some of the drivers of socio-economic growth and transformation the world over. In Uganda specifically, the growth of the ICT innovation ecosystem has mainly been private sector led. This is an indicator of a conducive investment climate and I am happy to see a telecommunications company like Airtel using this environment to improve lives of the citizens,” he said.

Initial roll out is in Kampala for the pilot.