A delegation from the Uganda Embassy in Washington, DC led by Amb. Mull Ssebujja Katende, is participating in the 33rd Uganda North Ammerican Association (UNAA) Convention which is underway in the Queen City of Cincinnati in Ohio, USA downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The event, which traditionally takes place over the United States Labor Day Weekend brings together almost 1000 Ugandans living both in the United States and Canada. It is a grand get together with incredible build up which includes a Trade and Investment Forum, business exhibitions, tourism and cultural promotion events and entertainment by artists from Uganda and a signature boat cruise.

The UNAA Convention takes place in a different US City every year and is welcomed by local authorities for its capacity to boost the hotel revenues in any city that hosts them.

The Embassy participation primarily focusing on organizing the Trade and Investment forum under the Embassy's Commercial Diplomacy mandate as well as the provision of Consular Services like National ID enrollment and collection, dual citizenship and passport renewal advisory services and tourism, cultural and public Diplomacy promotion.

The Trade and Investment Forum which took place in a hybrid physical and virtual format featured discussion and interactions between members of the Ugandan diaspora and major Trade Business and Finance Sector players in Uganda. In his opening remarks, Amb. Mull S. Katende urged the Ugandan business Community to emulate other East African Communities in the USA and focus on ways and means to work together to grow their businesses rather than operate individually with very little impact.

He reminded the participants of the investment incentives available in Uganda which are already being taken advantage of by US Companies and are already seeing returns on investments. He encouraged the Ugandans to form similar companies and assured them of the Embassy's readiness to share information and guidance on how to do business in Uganda.

Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Officer, Mr. Michael Bulwaka made a presentation on the different US facilities available for Ugandans who wish to do business with the United States.

This year, the Queen City of Cincinnati offered the town square to the UNAA for free tourism and Cultural promotion of Uganda. Participants were offered free exhibition space to brand Uganda and the stage for Cultural entertainment.

Some of the key highlights included two Ugandan Coffee Companies, Endiro Coffee and Coffee City offering samples of green, roasted, ground and brewed Uganda coffees.

Other events scheduled for the holiday weekend will include soccer matches and the UNAA Annual General Meeting and election of a new executive board.