Uganda Diaspora Summit in Gulu and Tourism

"My Home, My Investment” was the theme for the Investment Summit of Ugandan Diaspora organized by Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) / Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Acholi Inn in Gulu on 22^nd December 2011. Since 2007 UIA has made it an annual event to invite Ugandans living in Diaspora to events that encourage them to invest in their home country Uganda. The events are organized in a series of summits and the Gulu one was the first of its kind in 2011 followed by two other summits in Kampala.

Wildlife Conservation Society was invited to inform the attendants about the tourism investment opportunities in Northern Uganda, the first time that the Tourism in Northern Uganda was featured as an opportunity at such event.

Apart from highlighting numerous opportunities directly in tourism sector (water-based tourism, nature, culture); the discussion of the participants also focused on related activities such as agricultural interventions which could help mitigate human-wildlife conflict (e.g. chili farming, apiculture, lemon grass and sim sim production). It was also noted that more needs to be done in public relations to highlight stability and peache in Northern Uganda.

The discussions at the summit also revolved along other industry sectors, such as agriculture, financial services, oil industry, and infrastructure.

Carol Bogezi, WCS representative presents attendees about tourism investment opportunities in northern Uganda.