KAREDI IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL WITH FUNDING FROM USAID ORGANISED THE FIRST KARAMOJA PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP ON THE 12/JULY/2023
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Figure 1: Participants pose for a group photo after the First Karamoja Regional Private Sector Engagement (KRPSE)organized by KAREDI (Karamoja Regional Development Initiative) in Partnership with Governance Systems International with support from USAID in Leslona Hotel in Moroto district.
On
July 12, 2023, the Karamoja Regional Development Initiative (KAREDI) held its
first "Karamoja Private Sector Engagement Workshop" at Leslona Hotel
in Moroto. The goal of the workshop was to promote investment opportunities in
the Karamoja region of Uganda and attract large-scale private sector
investments from across the region. The event brought together farmer
organizations, businesses, the tourism sector, mining companies, universities,
and agricultural research canters.
In
the meeting, the participants discussed collaboration between academia, the
private sector, and the Government of Uganda. The workshop revealed government
plans to use science, technology, engineering, and innovation to create jobs
and wealth and transform the economy.
LPPA
aims at developing regional platforms into reputable, inclusive, functional,
and sustainable entities that are capable of pursuing sound, evidence-informed,
large-scale, and regional-cantered development approaches and initiatives.
The
Regional Platforms are Ugandan regional organizations formally registered as
legal entities to promote regional development, and they include Northern
Uganda Regional Development Forum (NURDEF), Karamoja Regional Development
Initiative (KAREDI), and South Western Regional Development Forum (SWRDF).
LPPA commenced in September 2022 and will be
implemented through August 2025. LPPA works towards four objectives: 1.
Improve the administrative and technical capacity of regional platforms to
engage, coordinate, and manage stakeholders to collectively influence locally
prioritized development, 2. Improve the leadership skills of individual members
of the regional platforms, 3. Assist regional platforms to attract and leverage
private sector support and investments, and 4. Strengthen research partnerships
to inform local decision-making and development assistance.
 Figure 3: Dr. Paul Okullo, The Director Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research & Development Institute (NABUIN ZARDI) deliberates on the different Agricultural development aspects for Karamoja. “There is need for the local farmers and commercial farmers. |
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The LPPA is implemented using several approaches as outlined below: Direct technical assistance & Institutional Support for vibrant regional development platforms, Capacity building initiatives for regional platforms through strengthening institutional governance, systems, processes, and procedures, Leadership development for the platform members Strengthening the capacity of regional platforms to attract private sector investments Increasing utilization of research information in regional development.
Figure 4: The Moroto district Local Council Five
(LC 5) Representative gave his comments on the workshop with a few
recommendations towards the private sector contribution towards the country
development. He said “It is first of the kind workshop he ever attended,
KAREDI has come to open our minds to know what exactly to do than moving in
darkness”. |
During the discussion it
clearly came out that the private sector
investments in the region is still very low compared to other regions of the
Country. Private sector in Uganda contributes to about 80% of Uganda’s GDP.
Karamoja as a region contributes to less than 1% of Uganda’s GDP. This
therefore calls for more investments in the region by both Government, Private
sector and other development partners.
However,
Karamoja is a blessed region which has many untapped investment opportunities
in areas such as Tourism, Agricultural value chains, mining, etc.
Increase
in the level of investment in the region shall offer opportunities to people in
the region inform of Job opportunities, thus improving on the standards of
living and the Country’s GDP.
After all the deliberations during this fruitful
workshop, there was a clear understanding that it was important to deeply look
at the challenges faced by the private sector and find recommendations in terms
of solutions.
The challenges include; Negative reporting by the media on Karamoja
alarming investors, Limited access to finances, Poor road
network, Ignorance and Limited entrepreneurship skills
among the local population.
The recommendations suggested included; Media to
focus more on positive reporting on what is happening in Karamoja to create a
good image, a need for more funding to be given to extension workers to
facilitate timely dissemination of information regarding soil mapping in the
region, Partners in Karamoja should do more of mindset
change in Karamoja towards the attitude to investments in the
region, There has to be more on sensitization regarding mining potentials
to the locals to the region and how they shall benefit from it, Government
should decentralize licensing of miners, Research Institutions to be
funded to carry out mapping of private sector in the region.
MAP OF THE
OFFICES IN UGNADA
Figure 5: LPPA’s main
office is in Kampala. The Activity is hosted in the platform’s offices in the
districts of Gulu for NURDEF, Moroto for KAREDI, and Mbarara for SWRDF.
We have a lot as the private sector to do to bring development into our land Karamoja. Thanks to KAREDI for the initiative 👍 🙏 👏 🙌 👌 ☺️
ReplyDeleteMore of this information should be fronted by KAREDI to ensure the local population especially the youth have access to it.
ReplyDeleteAn information rich population is what will support KAREDI meet its objective or have its intended impact get through to the target region.