Gulu, Uganda: Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), through its research arm, the Information Management Center (IMC), is finalizing a comprehensive report detailing investment opportunities across the Acholi sub-region.
The report, dubbed the Acholi Investment Profile, is undergoing stakeholder validation, involving district leaders, technocrats, development partners, private sector actors, and government agencies such as the Uganda Investment Authority.
Initiated under the guidance of OWC Chief Coordinator Gen. Salim Saleh, the profile is expected to capture untapped opportunities in agriculture, mining, tourism, petrochemical industries, and other sectors.
According to Kenneth Oketta, IMC team leader, the profiling exercise is in its final stages. Once reviewed by the Uganda Investment Authority and the National Planning Authority, the document will be certified and launched within a month. Oketta said the lack of accurate investment data has long hindered Acholi’s economic potential.
“Investors always want facts before committing money. The Acholi Investment Profile will now provide that clarity and spur capital inflow into the region’s economy,” Oketta explained.
Local leaders have welcomed the initiative. Nwoya District Chairperson, Emmanuel Orach, said the profile revealed surprising details, including the presence of copper and rare earth minerals in his district. He noted that Nwoya plans to set aside over USD 7 billion from oil royalties to buy 2,000 acres of land for investors to lease.
The Pader District, LCV Chairperson Col. (Rtd) Fearless Oyat Obwoya, urged OWC to ensure district-specific data is accurately captured. He highlighted existing opportunities such as the 500 acres already allocated for an industrial park, fertile agricultural land, and tourism sites like the underdeveloped Aruu Falls.
Civil society actors also emphasized inclusivity. Ms. Doreen Nakuti of Sightsavers commended the initiative but urged OWC to incorporate cultural and heritage sites into the tourism portfolio.
Meanwhile, the State Minister for Northern Uganda, Dr. Kenneth Omona, hailed the profiling exercise as a milestone for reducing investment risks. He encouraged locals to seize opportunities within the profile instead of waiting for external investors.
“Being an investor is not about having millions or coming from abroad. It is about using what you have to create business,” Dr. Omona said.
He, however, pointed to challenges in land ownership under customary tenure, warning that unresolved land issues could frustrate investment. He called for dialogue to establish systems that balance the interests of landowners and investors.
Omona also stressed the need for centralized, digitalized investment processes to cut bureaucracy and corruption.
The Acholi Investment Profile is expected to be released within a month, marking what stakeholders say could be a turning point in attracting both local and foreign investors to northern Uganda.
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