Background

Birmingham Uganda Investment Convention was started by two British citizens who migrated to Birmingham from Uganda over 20 years ago. They had seen the challenges of living in a foreign land and losing the connection with their motherland. Due to these two reasons, they wanted to bring together their two worlds to make sense to the people in the diaspora, that is in the UK and back home in Uganda. They realised they were always on a move and had not chosen which country they permanently lived in. It is important to notice that it is very challenging to live in a foreign country however, it is so important to create a permanent attachment to whichever side of the world you choose to live. So, putting their heads together, they decided to come up with the Birmingham Uganda Investment Convention, to ensure that people can invest either or in both worlds concurrently, as they progress in all aspects of their lives, their career, investments, family etc. People like me and you are all over diverse communities so bringing them together minimises life challenges as it promises growth and wellbeing.

In today's interconnected world, at BUIC we take it so paramount as our responsibility to go beyond financial performance and consider critically the impact of our operations in the communities in which we operate, thus engaging with communities in a meaningful and inclusive way and contributing to their development leading to more sustainable and inclusive outcomes for both BUIC and the various communities we live in.

In all our Conventions community engagement will be at its peak. Through actively involving and collaborating with local communities that were affected by BUIC operations through listening to and considering the perspectives, needs of the community and working together to develop mutually beneficial solutions. We have therefore looked at four major areas: agriculture, real estate, performing arts and health and social care; to provide the necessary support in ensuring people know how to invest, the available incentives in both countries and necessary legislations and procedures to start up in the above areas. In addition, we will be interchangeably adding other area of interest depending on the ongoing situation internationally per se.

Key benefits of working together as organises countries, organisations, companies, and communities:

• Inclusivity - at BUIC we use multiple Communication channels, accommodate different perspectives, and needs, engage with diverse stakeholders such as: Immigration Services (in the UK and in Uganda), the Ugandan High Commission, NIRA (national ID’s and Passports) and all other Consular services, Members of Parliament, private business owners, Government organisations, Uganda Investment Authority, Uganda Revenue Authority, UK Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Association, Birmingham City Council, the Mayor’s Office, Uganda Parliament and others.

• Transparency – BUIC is transparent about our operations, plans and impact on countries, companies, organisations, and community, therefore we provide timely and accurate information to stakeholders building trust and fostered open communication for all parties. .

• Stakeholder Engagement - BUIC has identified relevant stakeholders including local organisations, companies, and communities, tourists, British Citizens and Residents, NGO’s, local authorities, government authorities, and other relevant bodies and involved them in decision making processes related to company's operations.

• Respect For Human Rights - at BUIC we respect and encourage the respect for Human Rights of the countries, organisations, companies, and communities, e.g., their right to be free, prior, and informed consent etc. For our operations that may affect them as per international standards such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP).

• Collaborations and Partnerships - BUIC has collaborated and partnered with the local companies and other stakeholders to develop mutually beneficial solutions that benefit communities’ concerns, needs and aspirations. For instance: BUIC has partnered with the Ugandan High commission and NIRA to help and provide sustainable development plans.

• Long-term Perspectives - at BUIC we have planned for post operations phases by making sure people in the diaspora and their community pick a leaf and invest in whatever is beneficial to them and that their needs are addressed even when the convention is complete.

Challenges and potential solutions include:

• Overcoming International boundaries, cultural differences, communication, and language barriers: Countries have different legislations governing them, communities have diverse cultural backgrounds and speak different languages, however, BUIC recognises these differences and BUIC ensures that there will be effective communication through translation services, inclusive engagement approaches, and cultural sensitivity awareness.

• Addressing community resistance and distrust: Countries, organisations, and communities have historical experiences of exploitation, mistrust towards the companies which has created resistance towards engagement efforts. BUIC is focused on building trust through accountability and building mutually beneficial partnerships thus overcoming this challenge.

• Ensuring inclusivity and diversity in community engagement efforts: At BUIC we ensure community engagement efforts are inclusive and we embrace diversity through considering the perspectives and needs of marginalised vulnerable groups, promoting social equity and inclusivity in all initiatives.

In conclusion, BUIC is contributing and intends to continue contributing to sustainable and inclusive countries, organisations, companies, and communities by adopting effective engagement strategies, implementing development initiatives, and addressing challenges through transparent, inclusive, and accountable approaches. BUIC’s priority is individual/company or group wellbeing, development, investment and growth, thus we are creating a knowledge base to result in positive social, financial and economic impact and contributing to building a more just and sustainable world.