Business 29 March 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
UIA Faces Leadership Turmoil as DG Mukiza's Tenure Nears End
Robert Mukiza's five-year term as Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) director general ends next month amid a leaked board review scoring his performance at 37%, citing stalled industrial parks, governance issues, and disputes with ministers. Plans are underway to transfer UIA to the Ministry of Trade, potentially due to underperformance and overlapping mandates. Source: https://observer.ug/news/looming-leadership-crisis-at-uia
Robert Mukiza’s tenure as director general of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is set to expire next month, raising concerns over the agency’s future leadership. A leaked board performance review has rated his overall performance at just 37%, highlighting failures in key areas like industrial park development, governance lapses, toxic leadership, and conflicts with overseeing ministers.
UIA, tasked with promoting foreign and domestic investments, is grappling with stalled projects including the €215 million Kampala Industrial and Business Park (KIBP) at Namanve. Originally slated for completion by 2024, the project is only 60% done after six years, with scope reductions like the removal of an SME park and waste treatment facility amid rising costs and allegations of illegal foreign workers on site.
The board’s assessment against the 2020/21–2025/26 strategic plan shows only two of ten KPIs on track, with shortfalls in industrial park rollout, budget use, and domestic investment. Out of 628 companies allocated land in UIA parks, just 307 are operational, blamed on funding shortages, weak public-private partnerships, and poor accountability.
Insider sources indicate Finance Ministry officials have proposed moving UIA under the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Cooperatives and the Uganda Free Zones Authority to eliminate duplicate roles. This move is linked to Mukiza’s strained ties with Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and State Minister Evelyn Anite.
Mukiza has not requested contract renewal, as required six months prior, creating operational uncertainty. The board urges an HR audit, governance reset, and mediated talks with ministers to stabilize the agency, though a ministry transfer could alter the landscape.
Ongoing probes by the Inspectorate of Government and Directorate of Citizenship into illegal workers at Namanve persist, with no resolution yet.