PSFU E-Newsletter May-June 2015 ANNUAL PRIVATE SECTOR POST BUDGET LUNCHEON HELD PSFU in partnership with Uganda Manufactures Association, PKF and Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (UNCCI) held the Private Sector Post Budget Luncheon on 12 th June 2015 at UMA Main Exhibition Hall Lugogo. The event was attended by various stakeholders including representatives from Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, the Business Community and the media. Mr. Patrick Ochailap Deputy Secretary Treasury who represented the Minister of Finance Planning and Economic Development called on the Private Sector to support SMEs to register their businesses. He assured the private sector that regular meetings with the Ministry would be arranged to engage more with the Private sector on policy matters. Each year, PSFU organizes the Post Budget Luncheon to enable the business community understand the National Budget better but also review Government considerations visa vie budget proposals from the private sector. This event was supported by the Competitiveness Enterprise Development Project (CEDP). 1
Front: Mr. Gideon Badagawa Executive Director PSFU with Members of the Private Sector at the Post Budget Luncheon held on 12 th June 2015 at UMA Conference Hall. Ms. Gudula Basaza Vice Chairperson PSFU together with Mr. Patrick Ochailap Deputy Secretary Treasury sharing a light moment at the Post Budget Luncheon Mr. Ssebagala Kigozi Executive Director Uganda Manufactures Association addressing the Members of the Private Sector during the Post Budget Luncheon 2
1 ST CORPORATE PARENTS SEMINAR ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES ORGANIZED BY PSFU IN COLLABORATION WITH MAMA TENDO FOUNDATION PSFU together with Mama Tendo Foundation organized the 1 st ever Corporate Parents Seminar which took place on 30 th May 2015 at Sheraton Kampala Hotel. The theme of the event was Responsive Parenting during the formative stage and its linkage to workforce productivity. This was in an effort to address the problem of low productivity workforce in Uganda. PSFU is implementing this under its Early Steps Program which is focused on increasing private sector investments in young children (0-8 years). The seminar was attended by various stakeholders including corporate parents, signed up champions for the Early Steps Program, PSFU Members, Business Leaders and Development Partners. A number of stakeholders made presentations including: Mr. Gideon Badagawa Executive Director PSFU, Mr. Fagil Mande, Ms. Catherine Ruhweza Mama Tendo Foundation, Mr. Robert Kabushenga Chief Executive Officer Vision Group and Ms. Gudula Basaza Vice Chairperson PSFU. Partcipants pose for a Photograph with the Executive Director PSFU Mr. Gideon Badagawa together with Mr. Robert Kabushenga Managing Director Vision Group and Mr. Fagil Mandy. The objectives of the seminar were: To articulate the business case on early childhood investments and its benefits to the businesses companies in the area of workforce productivity To highlight the dangers of Modern Parenting and irresponsive parenting practices in the corporate world. 3
To engage participants of the responsive parenting practices in the Corporate world To engage participants on responsive parenting practices, brain stimulation, early learning, work life balance, teaching children through play, early learning among others. To impact participants with effective communication skills with their young children. Mr. Gideon Badagawa informed participants that Uganda has the least labor productivity in the East African Region because of the way the current workforce was brought up. A number of the employees lack creativity and do not have skills because of the poor child upbringing. He called on parents to spend more time grooming their children for better productive workforce in future. He also called on Business Community to invest in young children because of the following reasons: Brand Identity investing in young children enhances corporate reputation and helps the companies to stand out from the competitors. Investing in young children is good for productivity and employee retention. Investing in young children enhances competitiveness and workforce development such as problem solving and ability to work in teams. By supporting families you help today s children and facilities to become tomorrow s well educated, skilled and motivated workforce. Mr. Fagil Mandy and Mr. Robert Kabushenga Managing Director Vision Group listening to responses from participants after their presentation at the Corporate Parents Seminar held on 30 th May 2015 t Sheraton Kampala Hotel Mr. Robert Kabushenga called on parents to instill good discipline in their children. Parents should be conscious about what children consume and watch on TV and Tabloids because not all content is good 4
for the children. Parents should be role models for their children because children emulate what they see parents do. Mr. Fagil Mande called on parents to be principled and become an example to the children. The morals of our children are degenerating and it is our role as parents to guide them. He also called on the Ministry of Education to take full control of the schools both Government and Private and monitor the school system. Mr. Fagil Mande was reacting to the concern by parents about children reporting to school as early as 6:00am and leaving school at 9:00pm in the night. PSFU Vice Chairperson Ms. Gudula Basaza thanked the various stakeholders for the time and support towards the Early Steps Program. She informed participants that by investing in children, we are investing in the future and the development of our economy. EASE OF DOING BUSINESS INITIATIVE (EDBI) CONFERENCE IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA UGANDA 2015 HELD The three day 6 th Ease of Doing Business Initiative (EDBI) Conference was held in Kampala at the Kampala Serena Hotel for the Eastern and Southern Africa from 11 th -13 th May 2015 on the theme Connecting the Dots. How Public Reforms improve the Ease of Doing Business, the purpose of the event was to: Facilitate sharing of knowledge and experience on investment climate reforms in Eastern and Southern Africa. Improve the investment climate and increase the region s share of investment flows and export markets, in line with the stated regional economic integration objectives of the involved Regional Economic Communities and Member States Leverage reform best practice from the Africa region and facilitate peer to peer learning and experience sharing in order to transform business environments on the continent. H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni President of the Republic of Uganda represented by the Rt. Hon Ruhakana Rugunda Prime Minister of Uganda informed participants that Uganda had created an enabling environment for ease of doing business in a number of ways including; investment in peace and security, infrastructure, private sector investment, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Regional Integration. Uganda is also paying particular attention to business reforms. He thanked various stakeholders for supporting Government in its endeavors to create a favorable business environment in Uganda. The Ms. Christina Malmberg, Country Manager, World Bank Group Uganda called on the Government of Uganda to continue developing strategies aimed at creating an enabling business environment for the Private Sector. She called on the Government to put in place policies and regulations that support SME growth in the Country. The Conference was organized by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) in collaboration with the World Bank Group. It was organized in Collaboration with the Republic of Southern Sudan which is in charge of coordinating the component on Fragile and Conflict affected states. 5
EAC - SECRETARY GENERAL - CEO BREAKFAST MEETING HELD IN KAMPALA Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera, Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon. Shem Bageine, Minister of State for East African Community Affairs, Minister of State for Trade and Cooperatives The EAC Secretary General CEO Breakfast meeting was organized by the East African Business Council (EAC) in collaboration with the EABC Uganda Chapter, EAC Secretariat and Trade Mark East Africa. The event took place on 24 th April 2015 at the Kampala Serena Hotel. The event was attended by various stakeholders including: Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera, Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon. Shem Bageine, Minister of State for East African Community Affairs, Minister of State for Trade and Cooperatives, representatives from the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (UNCCI), Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Federation of Uganda Employers, Uganda Manufacture s Association, the Business Community, the media among others. During the meeting members received an update on the status and progress on the implementation of agreed recommendation of previous EAC SG CEO Breakfast meeting held in Kampala in 2014. Members also had an opportunity to discuss the concerns of the Uganda Business Community on the EAC Integration process and recommendations were proposed. The Minister of State for Trade and Cooperatives noted that Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) resulting from poor implementation of administrative procedures and enforcement of laws have caused the business community a lot of losses that could have been avoided. He noted that NTBs which do not require heavy investments of any kind should be expedited. NTBs greatly affect our intra-eac Trade and we need to re-think strategies to eliminate them. He called for a policy that encourages Public-Private Partnership for 6
capital investments which will lead to substantial reduction in the costs of doing business in the EAC region. On the other hand, Hon, Shem Bageine, State Minister for EAC Affairs called on the stakeholders to come up with concrete innovations for enhancing the EAC Regional Integration Agenda. He thanked the Partner States which have endeavored to put in place the conducive conditions for the Private Sector to thrive which include: the rule of law, good and modern infrastructure, stable economic environment, an educated, skilled and healthy workforce, gender equality and access to financial services. Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera, Secretary General of the East African Community with Mr. Gideon Badagawa Executive Director PSFU at the EAC-EABC CEO Breakfast meeting. 1 ST EVER PRIVATE SECTOR WORKSHOP ON CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION PSFU attended the 1 st ever Private Sector workshop on Climate Change Mitigation actions. The Workshop was organized by the Ministry of Water and Environment in collaboration with Makerere University Private Sector Forum with funding from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The workshop took place at Common Wealth Resort Munyonyo from 7 th - 8 th May 2015. The theme was Climate Change Mitigation actions from Business perspective. The workshop was attended by various stakeholders from Government and the various agencies line NEMA, UNBS, Development partners like UNDP, GIZ, the Private Sector represented by PSFU, UMA, UNCCI, a number of manufactures and business people and international stakeholders from Kenya and Ghana. Various discussions were held on the available business opportunities for the private sector/ the business community in the area of climate change. Some of the opportunities identified for the Business people included: Investment in Commercial Forestry, renewable energy (i.e. improved cook stoves), investment 7
into the recycling and waste management, Diesel production, Gas Production, Water Treatment, Water transport among others. The private sector however noted a number challenges limiting investment in Climate Change mitigation and they included; lack of awareness/sensitization about the available business opportunities in climate change mitigagtion, lack of incentives in the area of climate change mitigation and limited research in the area of Climate Change Mitigation. Mr. Onesimus Muhwezi, UNDP called for a collective effort between the private sector and the Government on Climate Change mitigation, investment in capacity building. He called on the financial institutions to provide the relevant financial support and the private sector to develop bankable projects. He called on Government to create an enabling environment for private sector investment in Climate Change Mitigation. The private sector called on the Government to pass the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Bill to enable proper engagement with the Government. The meeting was officially opened by the Rt. Hon Prime Minister of Uganda represented by Hon. Flavia Munaba Minister of State for Environment. She called on the Private Sector to invest in the various areas that would support and help on the Climate Change Mitigation like renewable energy. She reassured the private sector that the Government has already put in place relevant policies and regulations in the area of Climate Change. Uganda is also a signatory to a number of international regulations on climate change mitigation. ELECTRONIC LICENCING AND BUSINESS REGISTRATION WORKSHOP HELD PSFU together with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) organized a sensitization workshop on e-licensing, business registration and the Business Regulations Feedback Portal in Mbarara on 28 th April 2015 at Oxford Inn Hotel. The workshop was attended by among others: Members of Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA), Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association (UWEAL), Uganda Crane Creameries Cooperative Union (UCCCU), Mbarara District Farmers Association (MBADIFA) various individual manufactures, traders, women groups, youth groups, academic institutions, and vocational institutions, SACCOs, among others. Mr. Silverio Mwesigwa the Regional Coordinator for Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB) Mbarara Branch called on all the members of the private sector and traders to formalize their business. He informed stakeholders that the process had been simplified and is faster and better. Ms. Sarah N. Bakehena Public Relations Manager PSFU explored the benefits of registering a business. She noted that a registered business can easily get access to financial services, market, can easily compete with others and is self marketing. A registered business can also be able to bid for tenders and work with international stakeholders and partners. Nobody wants to deal with a business person who is not registered. Unless you are formalized you cannot compete. Mr. Chris Baguma General Secretary Kamukuzi Tuhwerane SACCO in Mbarara thanked PSFU and URSB for bringing the services nearer to the people. People of Mbarara and Western region were not aware that registering a business was important. He called for continued sensitizaton on the same. This workshop follows the one organized in Kampala in February 2015 and is part of the nationwide campaign by URSB and PSFU to create awareness about e-licensing, business registration and the Business Regulations Feedback Portal aimed to ease doing business in Uganda. Currently, the Government is in the process of implementing business licensing reforms with a view of simplifying requirements, reducing discretionary powers, and eliminating redundant procedures. 8
Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), being the apex private sector body, was instrumental during the process of reviewing Uganda s business licensing regime as well as giving recommendations for the simplification and streamlining of business licenses and continues to support the process. This process is spearheaded by Hon. Gerald Ssendaula Chairman PSFU Advisory Council. The Business Regulations Feedback Portal, www.reform-business.com enables businesses to actively participate in developing laws that govern the Country. The online platform Managed by PSFU is aimed to ensure that the business voices are heard and incorporated in developing the regulations before they are passed in Parliament. PSFU encourages you to continue sending your feedback through this portal. 7 TH EAC- EABC MEDIA SUMMIT Various Regional Journalists who emerged as the winners of the 2014 Media Award at a group photo with Dr. Richard Sezibera and Dr. Reginald A. Mwengi Chairman IPP Ltd and other stakeholders The East African Community (EAC) and East African Business Council (EABC) organized the 7 th EAC- EABC Media Summit on the theme The Role of the Media in Deepening Democracy in the Region. The event took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Dar es Salaam, the Kirimanjaro from 14 th -15 th May 2015. The Media Summit is an initiative by the East African Community and the East African Business Council (EABC) to engage in an annual forum, media owners, chief executives, publishers, editors and all the media practitioners in the region on the integration issues. It is also aimed to discuss the role of promoting the EAC agenda and to work out concrete mechanisms for collaboration between the media industry and EAC and EABC Secretariat. At the Media Summit, the Media resolved to; continue engaging in ethical reporting, embrace and promote the practice of conflict-sensitive journalism, invest more in investigative journalism in order to promote good governance in the region, ensure safely of Journalists in various states and provide more capacity building to Journalists, encourage diversity and pluralism in the region, root out the culture of brown envelopes, fast track the establishment of the East African Advocacy Body among others. 9
During the event, a number of Journalists in the region were awarded for effective reporting in various areas including; business, environment, political federation, agriculture and food security, health reporting, higher education reporting, financial award, inspirational photographer, business audio award and women economic empowerment. A number of Ugandan media journalists were awarded and some of them included: Ms. Dorothy Nakaweesi Daily Monitor for Business Reporting, Ms. Catherine Ageno of KFM for Business Audio Award and Ms. Dicta Asiimwe of the East African for Higher Education Reporting and Mr. Emmanuel Ainebyoona of the Daily Monitor on Political Federation Reporting. The EAC-EABC Media awards are a platform through which the EAC-EABC recognize the efforts of various media houses in the region and celebrate those journalists who consciously and consistently pursue and highlight the EAC story. The aim is to ensure sustained coverage of EAC and EABC and specifically the various projects and programmes being undertaken as part of the integration project. The EAC Media Scholarship Fund was also launched at the event and shall be financed by KfW, and is intended to facilitate access of talented students from EAC member states to programmes at the AKU Graduate School of Media and Communications (AKU-GSMC) so as to strengthen the media sector in East Africa. It is intended that the fund launch in 2015. EAC shall designate five EAC Scholars - one from each member state. EAC Scholars could be nominated for either the full Master s programme or for professional development short courses. Admission will be subject to fulfilment of AKU-GSMC s standard entry requirements. In addition, five EAC Scholars shall be nominated for professional development short courses in the second half of 2015. From 2016, with the launch of the Master s programmes, EAC Scholars can then be nominated for both graduate programmes and short courses. PSFU was represented at the event by Ms. Sarah Nakibuuka Bakehena, PR Manager, Ms. Sarah Kabasingusi Kibenge Policy Analyst and Mr. Ronny Mulongo Membership Officer. Ms. Sarah Nakibuuka Bakehena, PR Manager PSFU with Ms. Catherine Ageno KFM and Ms. Dorothy Nakaweesi from the Daily Monitor Upcoming Events: 1. International Trade Facilitation Expo 2015 August 2015 2. Celebrating 20 years of PSFU For details contact snakibuuka@psfuganda.org.ug 10