Creating Economic Opportunities For All

In the 1960s, Uganda registered very rapid economic growth with balanced development. The basis of this was an economic program that focused on developing the country's potential, balanced sectoral investments, and the agricultural rural sectors.

Under the government of Yoweri Museveni, the much lauded economic growth has occurred with increased income and livelihood disparities between the rich and poor, the urban and rural, and the north and south.

The Museveni economy is being run for the few, not for all. Annual budget expenditure on agriculture on which most Ugandans depend, has been slashed from around 20% before 1986 to just 2% over the last ten years. Consequently, production per unit of population has declined steadily for most areas.FDC will pursue an inclusive and development-focused economic agenda. We will focus on agriculture and rural transformation to effectively exploit our natural resource base.

• FDC will control government expenditure, promote higher productivity and reduce government deficits and external debt. This will help maintain low inflation and at the same time reduce interest rates and ease access to investment credit.



• FDC will operate a transparent taxation system. We will collect taxes fairly, and completely eliminate patronage, corruption and special favors.



• FDC will initiate a low tax policy to promote consumption,savings, encourage investments, increase production and employment, and also make available more disposable incomes that promote consumption and stimulate growth.



• FDC will introduce tax incentives to encourage local investments by Ugandans. We will in particular implement special programs to attract investments by Ugandans in the Diaspora.



• FDC will institute specific fiscal incentives to encourage development in key economic areas, in order to address sectoral, geographical and social disparities in economic opportunities.



• FDC will establish public-private sector investment institutions to provide lowrate, long-term investment credits that target specific sectors like agriculture, Jua Kali, small-scale industries, rural schools, agro-processing etc to promote rapid growth of rural economies and create jobs.



• FDC will provide training and start-up capital to promote micro, small and medium enterprises, and transform informal sector players into local participants in industry, trade, commerce and agriculture. Local capital accumulation and large-scale employment creation will be realised.



• FDC will expand employment opportunities by specifically committing large public works contractors to employing and training Ugandan workers, and by expanding labor-based public works programs. There will be affirmative action for companies belonging to marginalised groups



• FDC will establish duty-free export processing zones to attract foreign direct investments, promote industrialization, expand production, diversify exports, and create jobs.



• FDC will intensively invest in skills-based training, and provide entrepreneural training for Ugandan people to enhance competence,productivity and competetiveness, and to create job makers.



• FDC will rapidly expand investments in research and development (R&D), to promote local innovations and build local competencies critical to long-term development, international competitiveness and innovations in all sectors of the economy.

• FDC will also institute special programs to promote livestock production, fisheries, aqua culture, tree planting and forest development, as special elements of the agricultural sector.



• To ease access to credit, stimulate land markets and promote long-term investments, FDC will support planning of rural growth centers and agricultural land and their titling. This will promote sustainable and enhanced productivity of land, rationalized settlements and environmental improvements. The rights of women to own land and hold titles will be a priority of the FDC.



Mining



• FDC will support and promote the mining industry, by offering training to technicians as well as support to acquire new technologies. We will also offer adequate incentives to ensure that profits are reinvested in further mining development.



• FDC will defend the property rights of people affected by mining developments, and will ensure adequate compensation for them.



Tourism






• FDC will invest in tourism to maximally exploit Uganda's natural endowments and cultural heritage. We will encourage every Ugandan where possible to promote the country as the best place on earth to visit, invest and live in.



• FDC will support improvements of, and strengthen the protection of National Parks, game and forest reserves as well as sites of religious and cultural importance.



• FDC will establish standards for environmental and urban development to enhance public hygiene and transform the aesthetic value and tourism potential of our country.



• FDC will promote the highest standards in our service industries; development of well-designed, thematically attractive hotels and lodges country-wide; strengthening the training of professional and highly motivated staff; and easing of the investment climate in the sector.



Building Infrastructure



• FDC will institute measures to improve road, rail and air transportation, and promote affordable, nation-wide telecommunication, IT and media linkages.



• FDC will develop key tarmac roads to link all regions of the country to support trade and commerce, and to link Uganda with the Sudan, Kenya and DR Congo. Effective water transport will be developed on the lakes.



• FDC is committed to establishing an affordable, reliable and more extensive electricity supply across Uganda. We will fast-track construction of the big hydro power dams along the River Nile, increase micro-hydro stations, and exploit new and renewable sources of energy.



Building Infrastructure



• FDC will design and implement priority programs to make available to Ugandans clean water, so as to promote primary healthcare, spur industrial expansion, and support urban development. Focus will be on reducing the time burden on poor girls and women to enable them go to school and engage in productive activities.



• FDC will promote effective urban planning, and implement programs to support construction of decent, hygienic and affordable housing in our municipalities, urban centers and the countryside.