Busoga Yaiffe a Ugandan-registered NGO in partnership with the Uganda Investment Authority have organised the 4th Busoga Investment Convention aimed at developing and reviving Busoga Region. Speaking during a media briefing the Vice President Busoga Yaiffe Hellen Namutamba revealed that the association is aimed at bringing Basoga living in the diaspora and those in Uganda to have a dialogue on how to develop Busoga Region.
“The ‘Olwekobaano’ 2014 is an opportunity to bring the region together after years of discord and disorientation through dialogue with the Basoga living in the diaspora and the Basoga in Uganda to discuss how to foster unity and development in the region” Namutamba revealed in a press statement.
She revealed that the event will attract about 200 Basoga Diaspora and Friends who are keen to invest in the region and need to make informed decisions about investment strategies.
“We launched the association in 2007 and we have a vibrant membership of over 15,000 both in Uganda and the Diaspora. Our core activities are guided by a strategic plan called the HEAT (Health, Education, Agriculture, and Trade/Business)
“We have partnered with the Uganda Investment Authority a key player in advising prospective investors and also furnishes them with relevant information” she added.
The Olwekobaano which has been scheduled to run from Wednesday 17th to Saturday 20th December will take place at Crested Crane Hotel Jinja under the theme “Exploring and Exploiting investments for the transformation of Busoga Region”.
Several activities have been lined up during the four day convention; 17th December there will be a dialogue on investments in Education, Health and Culture, 18th December: Jinja Town as an investment destination/investment in Tourism), 19th December :Investments in Agriculture and Agro-processing), 20th December : the main Olwekobaano will be held and several guests have been invited including the President Yoweri Museveni, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga and other senior officials.
Namutamba revealed that there will be an exhibition throughout the four days where different successful companies and organizations will showcase their products and services in the region.
“Some of the activities that we shall be carrying out during the four day convention will among others include awarding vulnerable children in Busoga with scholastic materials, award prizes to women role models who have succeeded in Agriculture. We shall also recognize and award best performing investors and other successful individual entrepreneurs for their contribution to the development of both Busoga and Uganda.” She stated.
Namutamba added that the four day convention will have a free health camp to the community sponsored by Al shafa Modern Hospital and FXB Medical organization.
Speaking during a media briefing John Musajja Akawa the senior investment executive at Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) said that UIA is proud to associate themselves with people or associations like the Busoga Yaiffe that promote investment in their regions.
About Busoga:
Busoga is a traditional Bantu kingdom and one of four constitutional monarchies in present-day Uganda. The kingdom is a cultural institution which promotes popular participation and unity among the people of the region through development programs to improve their standard of living. Busoga strives for a united people who have economic, social and cultural prosperity and assists theKyabazinga.
Busoga means “Land of the Soga”, and is the kingdom of the 11 principalities of the Basoga or Soga (singular Musoga) people. Its capital is Bugembe, near Jinja(Uganda’s second-largest city, after Kampala). Busoga comprises eight districts:Kamuli, Iganga, Bugiri, Mayuge, Jinja, Luuka and the new districts of Kaliro andBusiki. Each district is headed by an elected chairperson or a Local Council Five, and municipalities are headed by an elected mayor. Jinja is the industrial and economic hub of Busoga. Busoga is bordered on the north by shallow Lake Kyoga (separating it from Lango), on the west by the Victoria Nile (separating it from Buganda), on the south by Lake Victoria (separating it from Tanzania andKenya) and on the east by the Mpologoma River (separating it from smaller tribal groups such as the Adhola, Bugwere and Bugisu). It also includes several islands in Lake Victoria, such as Buvuma Island.
(Source: Wikipedia)
