UGANDA NATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (UNCCI) LIRA & LANGO REGION
Plot 25 Obote Avenue, Lira City, Tel: +256 774016223
Email: lirachamberofcommerce@gmail.com
Date: December 31, 2024
As we close the curtain on 2024, the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI) Lira & Lango Region reflects on a year of remarkable achievements, strategic collaborations, and milestones that have advanced the socio-economic transformation of the Lango region. This year has reaffirmed our commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable development, positioning the region as an economic powerhouse.
Reflections on 2024 achievements
This year has been a testament to the power of collaboration and strategic action. Key highlights include:
- Strategic partnerships: We solidified partnerships locally and internationally, unlocking new trade, investment prospects, and innovation opportunities. These included business missions to Pakistan, Turkey, India, and China for construction machinery and agribusiness opportunities. A team of close to 50 agribusiness entrepreneurs will be in Kenya in January 2025.
- Advocacy for Sector Growth: Our lobbying efforts yielded impactful engagements, including:
o Discussions with the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) to improve connectivity critical to industrialization.
o Collaborations with URA, including the successful tax awareness and compliance workshop, and many others with financial institutions like UDB, friendly commercial banks etc.
o Dialogues facilitated between Lira City Council and business associations like the timber dealers, produce dealers, and so many others to enhance their operational capacities. - Infrastructure and Sectoral Development:
o Members invested in infrastructure, such as modern hotels, and contributed towards Lira’s vision as an integrated industrial city.
o Secured the Aler Farm title for the establishment of an Integrated Industrial Park. Progress discussions have been made with UIA and we encourage our domestic investors to be alert. - Boda Boda sector and workers’ union: Through our engagements, the Boda Boda community has been successfully registered as members of the workers’ union, fostering greater organization and economic security.
- Cotton sector revitalization: Government efforts, supported by our advocacy, have set the stage for revamping the cotton value chain and revitalizing textile manufacturing. Updates on progress will be shared in 2025.
- Capacity building and agribusiness:
o Enhanced farmer clustering and agribusiness development through prospective new partnerships, such as with aBi Trust, which will play a crucial role in 2025.
o Empowered SMEs through business development services, financial inclusion, access to investment finance, technological innovation, and capacity-building programs.
Looking ahead: The promise and priorities for 2025
The year 2025 ushers in the implementation of the Lango Private Sector Development Strategy (LaPSDS) 2025–2035, which aims to transform the region into an economic powerhouse. This strategy aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and global frameworks like the UN’s Agenda 2030.
The LaPSDS is anchored on five strategic pillars:
- Infrastructure and industrial development: Building key infrastructure for industrial growth and trade including lobbying for Dr. Apollo Milton Obote International airport.
- Financial inclusion and SME support: Expanding financial access, particularly for youth- and women-led enterprises.
- Agricultural value chains and market access: Enhancing agricultural productivity, quality products and market opportunities for the regional products
- Technological innovation and digital transformation: Driving efficiency and growth through technology and digital solutions.
- Private sector governance and ease of doing business: Creating a conducive business environment through streamlined governance and strong leadership including planning for the a 7-10-storey high Chamber House in Lira City, which will serve as a central business and trade hub for Lango region.
Our focus in 2025 will also include sector-to-sector engagements with different stakeholders locally, nationally and globally fostering more robust partnerships to support regional growth and development.
Gratitude to our collaborators & partners
We express our heartfelt appreciation to the many collaborators and partners who have supported and collaborated with us in 2024. These include: Members of Parliament and Cultural Leadership for their guidance, aspirations and unwavering support, UNCCI Head Office under the leadership of President Madam Olive Kigongo, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) under Gen. Salim Saleh, Lira City Council and Lango Local Government Leaders for their steadfast support, URA, URSB, aBi Trust, GLOFORD, PUM Netherlands, MiFDI Consults, Transformation Business Network Africa (TBN), Northern Uganda Regional Development Forum (NURDEF), USAID, and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC).
• Religious institutions, community business associations, financial institutions, media houses, VNG International, key embassies, and various NGOs and CBOs across the region.
Your support has driven transformative initiatives and laid the foundation for further progress in 2025.
Call to Action
As we enter 2025, we invite all Lango sons and daughters—across the private sector, government, diaspora, and local communities—to unite in realizing our shared vision of socio-economic transformation. Inspired by Frantz Fanon’s timeless words: “Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it,” let us work together to fulfill our mission of regional prosperity.
Conclusion
With the LaPSDS 2025–2035 as our guiding framework, we are confident in our ability to achieve transformative change, create jobs, and enhance the quality of life for all in the Lango region. Through collaboration and determination, we shall drive this region to greatness for Uganda and beyond.
Signed,
Dr. Morris Chris Ongom
Director, Lira & Lango Region
C.C: Board of Directors
