PRESIDENTIAL CEO FORUM HOLDS INAUGURAL INFORMATION TOUR AT KAPEEKA INDUSTRIAL PARK
Kapeeka, Uganda – October 17, 2025:
The Presidential CEO Forum (PCF) successfully held the inaugural Information Tour at the Kapeeka Industrial Park, following its official launch by the Chairperson of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), Gen. (Rtd.) Caleb Akandwanaho, in July 2025 in Gulu City.
The Information Tour is the maiden flagship initiative of the Presidential CEO Forum, designed to promote informed dialogue on government achievements, create awareness on ongoing progress, and bridge the gap between the private sector and government by allowing Uganda’s top business leaders to experience national transformation projects firsthand.
During the tour, Gen. (Rtd.) Caleb Akandwanaho, the Chairperson of OWC, delivered a compelling message highlighting the rationale and impact of Uganda’s liberalization and privatization policies, which have transformed the nation’s economic landscape. “Liberalization was a turning point in Uganda’s economic history,” said Gen. (Rtd.) Caleb Akandwanaho (Gen. Saleh). “It allowed the private sector to take the lead in wealth creation, encouraged competition, and unlocked the entrepreneurial potential of Ugandans. Today, the results are evident in the growth of our industries, the rise of local brands, and the increasing role of the private sector in driving national development.” Using Kapeeka–Namukenkera Industrial Park as a case study, he noted that liberalization opened space for private enterprise, spurred innovation, and strengthened the partnership between government and business, but spurred industrialization.
In a remarkable show of partnership, the NRM Secretariat, through the Deputy Secretary General, Rt Hon Rosemary Namayanja, as the convener of the Information Tour, marking the first-ever engagement between the NRM and the business fraternity through the Presidential CEO Forum. This milestone dialogue aims to forge a common pathway to protecting the gains that build upon the NRM government’s economic achievements, while deepening private sector involvement in policy formulation and implementation.
Chairman Emmanuel Katongole of the Presidential CEO Forum reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to fostering meaningful collaboration between government and the private sector. He applauded the efforts of Uganda’s industrial pioneers and noted that the Information Tour series will strengthen mutual understanding, promote accountability, and sustain the momentum of Uganda’s economic journey. Katongole summarized their asks as replicating the Kapeeka model, enhancing policy incentives, strategic communications, and safeguarding the achievements.
The Presidential CEO Forum CEO, Ms. Irene Birungi Mugisha, underscored the visionary leadership of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, whose long-term vision continues to shape Uganda’s industrial and economic transformation. She emphasized that the Forum serves as a strategic platform that brings together the nation’s leading CEOs to support the national development agenda through constructive engagement, innovation, and evidence-based advocacy.
The Kapeeka Industrial Park, one of Uganda’s leading industrial hubs, stands as a testament to the success of Uganda’s industrialization strategy under the NRM government—providing thousands of jobs, promoting import substitution, and advancing value addition. In attendance were Ministers Hon. Hillary Onek, Hon. Godfrey Kabyanga, and Hon. Esther Anyakun; Heads of Govt. Agencies; and Business Captains from the Private Sector. The Presidential CEO Forum plans to roll out similar information tours across other industrial and economic zones, with the goal of deepening private sector appreciation of government programs and encouraging CEOs to identify opportunities that support Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.