Title:
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT INFLOWS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN UGANDA.

Authors:
Ruth Atuhaire, Will Kaberuka, Smartson Ainomugisha

Abstract:
The study set out to establish the effect of foreign direct investment inflows on Economic growth in Uganda. This study used data from World Bank Database covering the period between 2000 and 2013. Line plots were used to establish the trend of Exports, inflation, FDI inflows and GDP. Unit root test was undertaken using the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) tests to find out if the variables were stationary. A linear regression model was fitted to determine the effect of FDI inflows, exports and inflation on GDP. The line plots indicated that the Exports, inflation, FDI inflows and GDP had competing upward and downward trends thus not stationary. The variables were subjected to a unit root test and found to be stationary at first difference. A regression model then was fitted to determine the effect of Foreign Direct Investment Inflows on economic growth in Uganda. The results indicated that FDI inflows had a positive effect on Economic growth though not statistically significant. The null hypotheses of Exports not granger causing GDP was accepted at 5% level of significance and Johansen's Cointegration approach showed the presence of a long run equilibrium relationship between FDI inflows and GDP. To increase economic growth in Uganda, the study recommends that the Country should Increase Foreign Direct Investment in the areas such as energy, oil and gas, transportation, information and communication technology and setting up of export promotion industries to add on the value on primary exports thus realizing high foreign exchange earnings.