By Spy Uganda
In a high-level meeting aimed at strengthening investor confidence, the Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Col. Edith Nakalema, hosted senior officials from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to resolve regulatory challenges faced by Eritrean investors operating in Uganda.
The dialogue, held at the SHIPU offices in Kampala on Tuesday, July 1, brought together a delegation of Eritrean businesspeople led by Mr. Samuel Tsegoi, Managing Director of Concord Apartments, alongside KCCA officials including Mr. Vincent Byendaimira, Director of Physical Planning, and Mr. Bernard Tukwasibwe, a physical planner.
The meeting follows a similar engagement held on June 18, where Col. Nakalema reaffirmed President Yoweri Museveni’s directive to support and protect all legitimate investors operating in the country.
“The President is always directing us to ensure that we are supporting investors and that their investments are well protected,” Nakalema emphasized.
Top among the issues raised was delayed approval of building permits, which Mr. Tsegoi said can stall projects for up to two years.
“The biggest challenge we have is approval delays from KCCA. We know it’s a government process, but the waiting time really affects progress,” Tsegoi said.
Responding to these concerns, Mr. Byendaimira explained that the approval process is two-tiered and has undergone reform. Since joining KCCA in 2024, he said, the time for issuing a building permit has been cut to under four weeks in most cases.
He further urged investors to utilize the Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS) — KCCA’s new digital platform designed to streamline planning approvals and reduce bureaucracy.
“This system was developed in-house to cut out the red tape. All stakeholders, including SHIPU, should plug into it for faster results,” he recommended.
The meeting also addressed other pressing concerns such as fraudulent individuals posing as KCCA staff, unresolved drainage issues affecting an Orthodox church in Makindye, and building height restrictions in sensitive areas like Kololo, where many foreign missions are located.
“Plots near the summit in Kololo can’t have high-rise buildings due to diplomatic security protocols. Investors must check these limits before purchasing land,” Byendaimira clarified.
He also pledged to send a KCCA team to Makindye this week to assess the drainage issue affecting the Eritrean church, which has caused friction with local communities.
In a candid advisory, the KCCA official warned investors against paying service providers upfront before building plans are fully approved.
“Once they get paid, some of them disappear or drag their feet. Hold them accountable before releasing funds,” he said.
Col. Nakalema thanked the investors for their patience and collaboration, but warned of “negative elements” who may politicize investor frustrations during the election season.
“Some actors use these times to derail development by inciting doubt and discrediting the government’s efforts,” she cautioned.
She reaffirmed SHIPU’s commitment to resolving investor issues promptly and ensuring their ventures flourish in a secure and well-regulated environment.
