KAMPALA – Gudie Leisure Farm (GLF), a social enterprise providing various agribusiness development services to especially youth-owned micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the agricultural sector is set to put a spotlight on Teso region in a move to promote sustainable investment.
The revelation was made by Professor. Gudula Naiga Basaza, Founder and Managing Director, GLF during a press conference on Tuesday at the Farm’s head offices in Najjera 2.
Teso Region includes districts of Amuria, Bukedra, Kaberamaido, Kapelebyong, Katakwi, Kumi, Ngora, Serere and Soroti.
She noted that within the Teso, and so far in Soroti in particular, they have incubated 114 Youth Agripreneur Champions from 19 Parishes who are embracing their role in transforming the region by being proactive, productive, planned and profitable entrepreneurs.
“They are engaged in various agribusiness development initiatives, reaching over 4,000 individuals through their different activities.”
Prof. Gudula says that the youth are committed to establishing five industries in 32 parishes in the region including the Feed Mill Industry, Animal Industry, Services Industry, Bistro Franchise Industry and Nutraceuticals industry – calling on the investors to take advantage.
“The industries are comprised of 25 cottage industries that have the potential of creating employment opportunities for 38,000 youth when fully operational. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and social investors are welcome to partner with them in this great cause.”
Teso Region Spotlight is aimed at facilitating sustainable development in the Region by promoting sustainable investment in its advancement by the private sector.
It is intended at raising the profile of the Teso Region, and in particular, the young generation of entrepreneurs that it is raising, in order to unlock its development potential.
Through the spotlight, GLF will enlighten the business community in Uganda about the investment opportunities in the Region and the strategies they required to sustainably exploit them.
It will also establish a platform through which the business community and the communities in the Region can collaborate to promote sustainable development.
Prof. Gudula noted that they will the same platform to stimulate opportunities to share fun and food with family and friends in a reflective and rejuvenating environment while building strong and lasting relationships with a people with a very rich cultural background.
She noted that Teso region is rich with a community that has long understood the value of not only possessing a deep dedication to the timeless principles of hard work and discipline but also cultivating it proactively amongst the generations it is birthing into the world.
“This is a talent that you cannot afford to miss out on as an entrepreneur as you pursue your business development goals and understanding how to leverage it to drive forward your development agenda is critical if you are to realize long-term success. Besides the quality of human capital that the region offers, Teso is also host to numerous resources that if exploited sustainably would win your business some truly brilliant returns both at present and in the future.”
To be hosted on the 6th and 7th of August, 2023, at the Gudie Leisure Farm headquarters in Najjera 2, the Teso Region Spotlight will also involve a series of exciting interactions with the communities from the region, and in particular its young entrepreneurs, an experience that will involve various kinds of music and dance from the region as well as an opportunity to taste its most popular delicacies.
Some of the activities that will Take place during the spotlight include:
The Teso Region Business Symposium: During this engagement, which will take place on Monday, 7th August, 2023, extensive discussions about the business, and development opportunities the region offers will be held with various public and private actors, highlighting, as well, the strategies that the individuals and institutions interested in exploiting them can employ in order to successfully do so.
The Teso Region and Its Evolution Over the Years: Through this session, the business community will be exposed to the history and evolution of the Teso Region and its different communities and how different political, economic and environmental dynamics at both local and international levels have influenced its advancement. The business community will also be able to learn about the beauty and wealth in the people and cultures of the region and how it can harness that beauty and wealth sustainably in service of the nation.
The Investment Opportunities in the Teso Region: This session will highlight the investment opportunities in the region that the business community can exploit as well as the strategies they can employ in order to successfully do so. Discussions will also address the incentives that have been put in place by the government to support the development initiatives of the business community in the region and the different ways in which they can be accessed
The Political Environment in the Teso Region: The business community will be able to learn, through this exciting session, about the nature of the political environment in the Teso Region from the perspective of an investor, the different ways in which the opportunities it offers can be harnessed for the growth and success of their businesses and the strategies they should employ in order to mitigate against the existing and emerging risks
The Economic Environment in Teso Region: Understanding the nature of the economic environment in the Teso Region is critical if one is to build a strong and sustainable business there. This session, therefore, will focus on enlightening the business community about the dynamics in the economic environment of the region and it can exploit the opportunities it offers for sustainable growth and success despite the existing and emerging threats.
The Social Environment in Teso Region: During this session, the business community will learn about the effects of the social structures, systems and processes of the communities in the region on the growth and success of an enterprise operating there and how it can utilize their strengths to build a strong and successful one.
