High Costs and Land Insecurity Threaten Jinja's Investment Drive

Jinja City has evolved from a historic Nile crossing point into one of Uganda’s leading industrial and tourism hubs. City commercial records highlight a vibrant economy featuring over 120 registered industries and hundreds of accommodation facilities. Key sectors such as agro-processing, manufacturing, and tourism continue to attract considerable interest, providing tens of thousands of direct jobs and drawing a growing daytime population.

Despite these strengths, stakeholders warn that the cost of doing business remains a major hurdle. Investors have pointed to infrastructure gaps, including unreliable electricity, poor road conditions, and the need for railway rehabilitation and subsidized freight tariffs. Furthermore, land insecurity and complicated administrative procedures for acquiring land titles continue to make prospective developers cautious, while heavy tax burdens and regulatory requirements weigh down medium-sized enterprises.

Local leaders and kingdom officials are pushing for reforms to safeguard Jinja’s industrial future. Osman Noor Ahmed, the Busoga Kingdom Second Deputy Prime Minister, noted that land is available for partnerships, but emphasized the urgent need for transparent transactions and simplified title acquisition processes. Meanwhile, city authorities have established a one-stop center at the Southern Division offices to bring key regulatory services closer to investors and are pursuing road improvements and the upgrade of Kimaka Airstrip.

Read the full report on the Daily Monitor.