HOIMA DISTRICT INVESTMENT PROFILE Uganda HOIMA DISTRICT | Figure 1: Map of Uganda showing the location of Hoima District 2 ARUA DISTRICT INVESTMENT PROFILE SNAPSHOT ONHOIMA Geography Location Western Uganda Neighbours Masindi, Buliisa, Kyankwazi, Kibaale, DRC District area 5,735.3 Km2 Arable land area 3,612.2 Km2 (67%) Socio-Economic Characteristics Population (2016 projection) 617,600 Refugees and Asylum seekers (April 2017) 45,000 Languages Runyoro, Main Economic Activity Agriculture Major tradeable Cassava, Maize, Sweet Potatoes, Rice Infrastructure and strategic positioning Transport network Road Communication: MTN, Airtel, Africel, UTL, the internet Website www www.hoima.go.ug .go.ug GEOGRAPHY  Hoima District is located in the distance of about 220 km from mid-western region of Uganda. Kampala. It has risen to become a It shares boarders with Masindi major destination for the country and Buliisa Districts in the North, thought after investment following Kyankwazi District in the East, and the discovery of crude oil. Kibaale District in the South. The  The district has a total area of district stretches to the national 5,735.3 Km2 with a land area of boundary of DRC in the Western. The 3,612.17 Km2. The western border is District Headquarters is situated at completely covered by Lake Albert Hoima Municipal Council, a road amounting to 2,123.13 Km2 of water. ARUA DISTRICT INVESTMENT PROFILE 3 DEMOGRAPHY  The population of Hoima District  Refugees are hosted in Kyang- is estimated at 617,600 people. wali refugee settlement located Though the district is mostly in the South West of the district. occupied by the native Banyoro, Given its proximity to Eastern the discovery of oil has attracted Congo, more than 80 percent of various ethnic groups especially the settlement’s population are the Baganda, Banyankole, Bakiga Congolese and Lugbara.  Hoima promotes the govern-  The district is known to host ref- ment’s exemplary refugee ugees from various parts of the settlement model that allows region, including DRC, Rwanda, refugees to interact freely and South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi set up investments, which pro- and Kenya. In 2016, refugees, vides an opportunity to harness who were estimated at 43,000 their potential to accelerate accounted for seven percent of local economic development. the district population. As at May Generally, the refugee and host 2017, refugees totaled 45,000. communities enjoy a cordial relationship, which offers a fa- vourable environment for doing business 50 40 30 20 10 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 Refugee Population Share of district Population 4 HOIMA DISTRICT INVESTMENT PROFILE MAIN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY  Agriculture is the major eco- Cassava nomic activity in the district, 42% engaging about 63% of the Rice working population. 7%  The commonly grown crops and leading in volume are Cassava, Banana 7% Maize and Sweet Potatoes and rice. With the total production S. Potatoes 18% volume of major crops amounts Maize to 157,498 Metric Tons. 26%  Fishing also a major economic being the main activity and activity, mostly on Lake Albert. others are retail business and casual work to generate income.  The people are engaged in other A study by the Refugee Studies informal non-farm activities to Centre (2013), University of generate income including retail Oxford found evidence of robust merchandising, market vending, trade activity, not only within restaurants, health care clinics. the settlement, but also with the Additional activities are welding, wider local community. carpentry, vehicle repair work- shops and related occupations.  The recent discovery of petro- leum in the district has created new expectations, subsequently attracting people to engage in the many farm and non-farm activities that tap into the value chain. Involvement of refugees in the local economy  A large percentage of the refugees (90%)1 are engaged in economic activities, agriculture | Women in Business HOIMA DISTRICT INVESTMENT PROFILE 5 WHY INVEST IN HOIMA DISTRICT? Existing Infrastructure  Communication: The district ac- cess to major mobile telephone  Road transport: Good road net- networks including MTN, Airtel, work. Major roads include: 1) the UTL as well as the internet. Kampala–Hoima Road connect- Almost every major street has ing to the Central and Western internet kiosk, providing access regions; 3) Hoima-Kaiso Tonya to a variety of services. There are Road, linking oil-area to the rest four radio stations and one local of the country. television station. However, with digital service providers, locals have access to all paid-stations like the rest of the country.  Accommodation: Hoima town is very rich in accommodation, including more than 20 well serviced hotels, apartments and | Kaiso -Tonya Road, connecting to the oil fields bungalows for short and long stays. Some of the high-end Hotels include Riviera, Kolping, Glory Summit, Milka Eco Resort, Kijungu Hill, Crown Hotel National Development Plan (NDPII, 2015/16- 2019/20) Planned | Muzizi Hydropower station Infrastructure projects to boost economic activity  City development: Hoima will be established as one of the Strategic Cities of Uganda.  Road Transport: 1) Kigumba-Ma- sindi-Hoima-Kyenjojo Road, connecting most of the Western region; 3) Ikamiro-Kingfisher | One of the magnificent accommodation facilities in Hoima Road-providing access to the 6 HOIMA DISTRICT INVESTMENT PROFILE lone oil field; 3) Hoima-Wanseko road; and 4) Masindi-Biiso road.  Air transport: The proposed Hoima Airport will be developed near the Kaiso-Tonya oil fields and the Uganda Oil Refinery, | Oil and gas excavation facility with capacity to handle large  The District has a considerable passenger and cargo aircrafts. amount of oil deposits, estimat-  Water Transport: Engine-thrust ed at between 2.5 billion to 3.5 ships will be introduced to billion barrels in Lake Albert. An upgrade the transportation oil refinery, is planned in Buse- services across the Lake Albert ruka Sub-county, Hoima District, between Uganda and DRC. approximately 40 kilometres  Energy: Muzizi mini Hydro Pow- from Hoima municipality. Plans a er Station (45 MW); Construction  re underway to construct of the oil pipeline; a pipeline to transport  Construction of oil refinery. crude oil from the oilfields to Tanga, Tanzania, a port on the Indian Ocean. Abundant Natural Resources | Kabalega Falls  Minerals: The district is en- dowed with favorable geological conditions associated with rich and diverse mineral resource base and substantial economic potential. Some of the known mineral resources have a mining history while others are yet to be exploited: selected minerals  Water: Freshwater resources are include: Gold salt, Kaolin, sand- in abundance. Lakes and rivers stones, siltstones, shale, Ilmenite, include Lake Albert, rivers Kafu, Zircon, Monazite, Zona time and Nkusi, Waaki, Wambabya, and Casserites. Rutoba. It is also endowed with large wetland swamp areas.  Land: Hoima has abundant land 67 percent of which is Arable. HOIMA DISTRICT INVESTMENT PROFILE 7 Tourism Potential Skilled and Productive workforce  Rich archaeological and historic cultural sites including, burial  Hoima district is endowed with grounds for kings, stone-age industrious, technically capable sites, Forts constructed by colo- and affordable manpower. nialist to fight resistance.  The district has reputable insti-  Forest reserves: Bugoma Cen- tutions offering training in fields tral Forest Reserve consisting such as catering, Business and of 23 species of mammal, 225 Accounts, office administration, species of bird, and 260 species nursing, oil and gas of tree; Budongo Forest Reserve  The shriving business op- consisting of 360 bird species, portunities and prospects of some 290 butterflies, 130 moths, the oil industry are attracting 465 trees, and 24 mammals, of young people back home to which 9 are primates. take advantage of employment  Animal habitats and water falls: opportunities but also start their Murchison falls N own businesses.  National Park offers opportu- nity to track rhinos and various Administrative support other species; Kibale National  One-stop centre at the district Park- home to a remarkable 13 headquarters to support invest- WHY INVEST IN HOIMA DISTRICT? WHY INVEST primate species; the newly es- ment start-ups tablished Kabwoya Wildlife Re-  District Investment Committees serve offers opportunity to view (DICs) to spearhead investment species such as the Jackson’s attraction, facilitation and after- hartebeest, Uganda Kob, Buffalo, care in different sectors. and Warthog. Attractive Incentive regimes  Uganda’s incentive package for both domestic and foreign investors provides generous terms, particularly for medium- and long-term investors whose projects entail significant plant and machinery costs. Below is a snapshot of selected incentives. | Mparo Tombs-Burial Grounds of Bunyoro Kings The incentive structure is cur- 8 HOIMA DISTRICT INVESTMENT PROFILE rently under revision. For details, » Class 4: 20% on railroad cars, refer to www.ugandainvest. Locomotives, Vessels, Office go.ug/downloads/ furniture, fixtures etc. Category 1- Initial Allowanc- Category 3 - Other Annual Depre- es: Initial capital expenditures ciation Allowances include: which are deductible once from » 5% on Industrial Buildings, the Company’s Income: Hotels & Hospitals; » 75% of cost of plant and » 20% on Farming - General machinery for an investment farm works; located outside Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja area; » 20% on Horticultural