Minister Anite calls out 'investors' over begging
The State Minister for Investment Ms Evely Anite (left) chats with an employee while touring Prayosha aluminum cladding and glass tempering plant in Nalukolongo in Kampala on March 25, 2025. Photo/ Tonny Abet
What you need to know:
- The toughened glass in Uganda is made from imported materials, but Ms Anite asked the company to start making the whole glass from scratch using raw materials in the country.
The State Minister for Privatization and Investment, Evelyn Anite, has conveyed the government's irritation with "investors" who persistently bombard officials with ceaseless pleas for aid.
“There are some investors who, when they arrive, they're begging from the beginning up to the end,” Ms Anite said today (March 25) after touring the factories owned by the Prayosha Group of Companies in Nalukolongo, Kampala. She said the government has only provided the Prayosha proprietor (Ramji Swaminarayan Patel) security for his investment and put a tariff on the imported products so that he has a great market.
“Now, that is the right way of investment promotion and supporting investors, not the one who will come, wants you to give him land, wants you to give him money, you are giving him everything, that is not investment,” she added.
According to details from the Companies, Ramji has invested around Shs150 billion in Uganda, pays Shs6 billion in taxes annually to Uganda, and employs about 2000 people. His investments are in aluminum cladding, glass tempering (toughened glass making), making of books and stationeries, and construction.
Aluminum cladding refers to a building material, often in the form of panels or sheets, used to cover the exterior walls of a building, providing protection from the elements and enhancing aesthetics.
The toughened glass in Uganda is made from imported materials, but Ms Anite asked the company to start making the whole glass from scratch using raw materials in the country.
“We do everything to give the good product. I started Prayosha because we were suffering from the problem of supply, and we started with only 10 people in warehouses,” Mr Ramji said.
“God helps those who help themselves, so slowly by slowly, we progressed; Now Prayosha is a leading company in aluminum cladding and powder coating, and tempering plant, we are leading in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. People taking materials from here, and we are taking out technicians there,” he added.
