Yolanda Cuba, the MTN Uganda Vice President for South and Eastern Africa has commended government of Uganda for putting in place a stable and predictable policy environment as she delivered opening remarks at the second Uganda – South Africa Trade and Investment Summit in Munyonyo, Kampala.
She said government appreciates that the private sector must get return on investment.
“In most countries, they roll out the red carpet. Then, they roll out the red tape. But Uganda appreciates that we must get return on investment. If there is an agreement, it gets honored and that’s important for business,” Cuba said.
“She added: “Uganda was our third market to launch into when we were starting to roll out. Today, there are 18 million Ugandans connected to our voice and data services and there are 11 million Ugandans using our Mobile Money services. That has happened because of the great collaboration with the government of Uganda.”
Cuba explained that having the right partners in place and having the right regulatory environment to be able to do business has pivotal to MTN success. She pointed out that due to this clarity of policy, MTN received spectrum allocation and launched 5G – the first to do so in Uganda, in record time.
The first session of the Uganda-South Africa Trade and Investment Summit was held in February 2023 during the State visit of H.E President Yoweri K. Museveni to South Africa.
During that meeting their Excellences, President Cyril Rwamaphosa and President Yoweri K. Museveni approved the convening and hosting of the second session of the Uganda-South Africa Trade and Investment Summit in Kampala, which has just concluded in Munyonyo.
More than 50 companies were represented at the second Uganda- South Africa trade and investment summit
The Summit was attended by Hon. Thoko Didiza, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Hon. Mondli Gungubele, Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies, and Hon. Nomalungelo Gina, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition from the Republic of South Africa.
On the Ugandan side was Hon. John Mulimba, Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, Hon. Bright Rwamirama, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Hon. Peter Lokeris, Minister of State for Mineral Development, Morrisson Rwakakamba, Chairman Uganda Investment Authority, Odrek Rwabwogo, Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Duties, and Humphrey Nzeyi, Chairman of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).
MTN Uganda was the main sponsor alongside Absa Bank, Stanbic Bank, dfcu Bank, Sanlam, Multichoice, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID).