East London played host to a gathering of leading international business figures and politicians on Saturday as the Fourth Ugandan Convention took place at the Troxy in Limehouse.
The Convention was attended by a number of senior Ugandan politicians including Vice President Edward Ssekandi, Liberal Democrat Peer and businessman Lord Verjee, Uganda’s Minister for Urban Development Daudi Migereko and controversial Speaker of the Uganda Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, who was a leading figure in passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill before it was struck down by the courts.
Britain is Uganda’s largest cumulative investor, with investments of over £2 billion in Uganda. Trade links between the two nations is already growing at 9% per year and the convention is designed to deepen the already impressive economic ties.
The UK Government was represented by Government Whip and Lord-in-Waiting Lord Dolar Popat, who in his keynote address spoke of his own personal relationship with Uganda as well as the UK-Uganda relationship.
Lord Popat, a Ugandan Asian by birth, spoke of his memories of Uganda as a “country of great beauty … with friendly communities and a great sense of optimism” before paying tribute to Britain for its generosity following the rise of Idi Amin:
“I will forever be grateful to the UK for offering me and 28,000 of my fellow Ugandan Asians a warm-welcome and a home.But it wasn’t just a home; Britain gave us opportunities. The UK allows anyone with a good idea and determination, the chance to succeed, irrespective of background, gender or race. You are protected by the rule of law, and empowered by the safety net that democracy provides.”
The Minister quoted Prime Minister David Cameron’s comments in 2012 that the East African immigrants in the UK have been amongst the most successful groups of immigrants anywhere in the world, stating that “Uganda’s loss has been the UK’s gain” before highlighting how much Uganda has improved in recent years.
Lord Popat talked of visiting Kampala as part of a British Parliamentary delegation and how he was “was amazed at the transformation that has taken place in recent years”. In a reflective moment, he acknowledged that since gaining independence in 1962, Uganda has been on a “rollercoaster ride”, coming through “a socialist Government, a brutal dictator in Idi Amin and a civil war; and now, finally, freedom and democracy under the leadership of President Museveni.”
During his speech, Popat paid considerable praise to President Museveni “for the way he has encouraged outside investment, and how he has used private sector growth to power the Ugandan economy” and for his leadership in bringing peace to Somalia through Uganda’s leadership of the African Union Mission in Somalia.
He also revealed that he had “always remained close to Uganda” and had many friends there, including “some of the prominent Ugandan Asian families who were expelled in the seventies, such as the Madhvani’s and Mehta’s, [who] have returned to Uganda and are once again contributing to Uganda’s society and economy.”
In the main section of his speech, Lord Popat highlighted how the UK and Uganda are building stronger economic and development ties. He revealed that the Lord Mayor of the City of London was currently making her first visit to Uganda, and that over 20 British energy companies –a key economic sector for Uganda, dues to its oil industry- visited Uganda in March on a “mission led by my good friend and fellow Ugandan-Asian Subhash Thakrar, Deputy President of the London Chamber”.
Reflecting on the work of the Department for International Development (DFID), he revealed that this year the Department is providing more than £90 million “to support Uganda’s efforts in critical areas” and thatbetween 2011 and 2015 “the UK will have enabled more than 400,000 people to access family planning, distributed 5 million bed nets to prevent malaria, and helped 300,000 people to cope with the effects of climate change in Karamoja – the poorest area of Uganda.”
In a rare moment of criticism, the speech challenged Uganda’s leaders not to be complacent, stating that “There is still more to do to make Uganda the business powerhouse it should and wants to be”. He went on to explain that “Uganda is rated 132 on the ease of doing business in the latest World Bank figures … several British Businesses have looked to [invest] in Uganda … and yet the deals have died due to a lack of execution [on Uganda’s part]”.
In a closing section that predicted a positive future for both countries, Lord Popat stated that Uganda “has the tools it needs to succeed” and has great people “Who are helping to shape the Pearl of Africa into the business heartland of East Africa.”
He finished by saying that the two countries share a “common goal” of economic development and increased trade links, and that the UK will continue to support Uganda “The UK Government attaches the highest priority to working with expanding African markets. We stand with you in your desire to build an economy that brings prosperity to all Ugandans and we have prioritised our work to target economic growth.”
