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PSFU E-Newsletter October 2012

Uganda hosts Secretary General’s Forum

Members of the Private Sector at a Meeting with the EAC Secretary General at Serena Hotel Kampala

Uganda hosted the Secretary General’s Forum on 8th October 2012 at Serena Hotel. The Forum was organised by the East African Business Council, Private Sector Foundation Uganda and Trade Mark East Africa.

Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera Secretary General East African Community noted that even after revival of the East African Integration 12 years ago and with near full integration today, the EAC region can still best be described as one with abundant natural resources, but with limited skills, technology and innovation. The region continues to export natural resources/ labour intensive (low value) goods while importing skill/ capital intensive (high value) goods. He noted that the EAC is well endowed with natural resources across several sectors but poorly endowed with human capital. The region cannot therefore expect to be competitive unless there is deliberate EAC policy shift to harness this natural resource potential and not only encourage investments based on this comparative advantage but ensure skills improvement, continuous technology upgrading and improved market access (i.e. open infrastructure and remove NTBs).

The forum was attended by among others; Dr. James Mulwana Chairman PSFU Advisory Council, Hon. Gerald Ssendaula Chairman PSFU Board of Directors, representatives from Trade Mark East Africa and the Chief Executive Officers of the various Business Community in Uganda. For more details go to www.psfuganda.org.ug

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8th COMESA Business Forum set for 20th -21st November 2012 at Munyonyo Common Wealth Resort

Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) in partnership with COMESA Business Council (CBC) and Government of Uganda will host the 8th COMESA Business Forum from 20th -21st November 2012. The theme is “Promoting Intra-COMESA Trade through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development- Seizing opportunities for innovation and prosperity in Business”

The Business Forum is key to regional trade initiatives as it is a dialogue and business partnership forum that brings together over 500 of Top Africa’s leaders, international businesses and regional policy makers on one platform to engage on common agendas that support business interests in the 19 states of the COMESA region.

The forum will be held alongside the 16th COMESA Summit and will provide a key platform for private sector to meet and interact with key policy makers from COMESA countries. Recommendations from the forum will be presented to the Heads of States’ Summit meeting on 23rd November 2012.

Parallel activities include the Regional Trade Fair and Exhibition. For details go to www.psfuganda.org.ug

Financial Literacy Training Extended to Kabale District

Participants during the Financial Literacy Training in Kabale

Centenary Bank, aBi Trust and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) organized a two day Financial Literacy Training at Little Ritz Hotel in Kabale District from 26th - 27th September, 2012. Over 326 people attended the training. Among the topics covered included; Book Keeping, Agriculture as a Business, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Agricultural Value Chain, Product Costing and Pricing of Agricultural Commodities, Networking and Family Business Management. Upcoming trainings;

1. Koboko, date: 8th & 9th November 2012 and 2. Masaka- date: 15th &16th November, 2012. For details go to www.psfuganda.org.ug

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Banard Van Leer Foundation (BVLF) Project registers success in only 6 Months of

Implementation PSFU was contracted by the BVLF as the grants manager and administrator of the District improved child well being project. The project became effective on the 1st February 2012 as pilot project for one year and has therefore been in implementation for a period of six months. The project intervention focuses on three Districts; Kumi, Apac and Nakapiripirit. The project is focusing on the improvement of the wellbeing of the young children aged between 0-8.

Implementation partners for the project include; Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) as the grant manager. Nascent organisation, Oracle Uganda providing expertise on skills for Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), Centre for Basic Research (CBR) for data development and training and Cycling out of Poverty for bicycle project for the Village Health Team to do mobilization. The project is implemented by the District technical staff in collaboration with Village Health Team and ommunity Base Trainers.

VHTs receiving the bicycles delivered by Cycling out of Poverty in Mourita sub-county, Nakapiripirit District

Key achievements of the project in the last six month of implementation;

1. The Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) have taken off on a good note with more than 144 target groups formed in the 3 districts in 6 sub counties.

2. 144 groups received start up working tools which they are now using for saving and lending money to the group members. Most of the groups are actively saving exept some cases in Nakapiripirit District where the take off of the savings is slow.

3. A series of trainings have been conducted within a period of six months to the VHTs, CBTs and the district staff in the areas of data collection, management, indigenous knowledge skills and practises for childhood care protection and development, VSLA skills, bicycle repairer and meetings on child issues.

4. A total of 700 needy households received a variety of seeds; simsim, soya beans, cassava cuttings, maize and beans in the two districts of Kumi and Apac

5. 252 needy households are set to receive 84 sets of oxen in Kumi, Apac and Nakapiripirit Districts. This would improve on the acreages ploughed in the families and therefore lead to increased food supply at homes.

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6. The process of formation of the responsive fatherhood clubs and cooperative care groups among the clusters has started in the 3 districts and more groups are yet to be formed. Heifer/East African Dairy Development (EADD) and Private Sector Foundation

Uganda (PSFU) mentor Cooperatives

Training for the Nabiswera Dairy Cooperative Members in managing their Business Heifer/East African Dairy Development (EADD) and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) are implementing a three-month mentorship program for 25 Cooperatives in Kiboga, Masaka, Masindi and Mukono clusters.22 cooperatives were taken through mentorship by the business advisors and the remaining 3 in Masindi cluster qualified for BUDS DFID grant to acquire equipments. The mentorship program has been involved in a number of activities including; 1. Meeting with Hon Bright Rwamirama, State Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries to discuss

how Government can support Cooperatives on exotic breeds of cattle, drugs, coolers for the Cooperatives etc 2. Meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Snowman Ltd on market linkages for the cooperatives. Snowman

Ltd promised to train the cooperatives in value addition. 3. PSFU linked the Cooperatives with Katende Harembe an agricultural training school which is now training the

cooperatives on water harvesting and storage. 4. The cooperatives have also been trained in business skills for improved business performance.

PSFU participates in the Celebrations to Mark Uganda’s 50 Years of Independence Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) participated in the activities to mark Uganda’s 50 years of Independence. PSFU mobilized the Private Sector to demonstrate the achievements of the Private Sector in the last 50 years in floats. Among the companies which participated included; Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) show casing the Business Uganda Development Scheme (BUDS) a project managed by PSFU. Among others included; Euroflex

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Britania, Mukwano, Victorious Education Services, Roofings Group, Coca Cola, Airtel etc. The achievements were showcased at Kololo Air Strip on 9th October 2012. Upcoming events;

1. COMESA Business Forum 20th -21st November 2012

For comments and details contact

Sarah N. Bakehena Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU),

Plot 43, Nakasero Hill Road Tel:[+256] 0312 263850, 0312 261850, 0312 286849,

Fax [+ 256] 312 266440 P.O Box 7683 Kampala, Uganda

Email: psfu@psfuganda.org.ug , Website: www.psfuganda.org.ug snakibuuka@psfuganda.org.ug

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