Overview:
Anite emphasized that public service can only employ up to 470,000 Ugandans, while manufacturing and industries employ over one million people.
Minister Evelyn Anite has urged Ugandans to prioritize homegrown products to help revive the country’s struggling economy.
“Why are we shunning our own products to buy imported ones?” Anite questioned. “We are doing a disservice to our own country. We are actually donating jobs and unemployment is on the rise in our country.”
Anite emphasized that public service can only employ up to 470,000 Ugandans, while manufacturing and industries employ over one million people.
The minister made these remarks during the Regional Industrialization Conference, held at Next Media Park in Naguru. She explained that buying imported products instead of locally produced ones encourages the giving away of foreign exchange at the expense of the country’s development.
“Remember, importers trade abroad in dollars, and therefore, the money you give them when you buy their products, they have to convert it into dollars, and the Ugandan shilling loses value,” Anite explained. “It means you have donated jobs and money.”
Anite noted that local manufacturers employ a significant number of Ugandans, and by buying from them, they can sustain their operations and employ more Ugandans.
“No one can do it for us,” Anite emphasized. “Not even government can do it for us, but for ourselves. Government can only provide an enabling environment and incentives.”
David Wozemba, country director for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, also addressed the conference. He highlighted the crucial role of agriculture and agro-industries in Uganda’s economy.
“The role of agriculture and agro-industries in Uganda’s economy cannot be overstated,” Wozemba noted. “Agriculture serves as both a foundation for economic activity and a source of livelihood for the majority of the population.”
Despite a decline in agriculture’s contribution to GDP from 50% in 1995 to 24% presently, the sector remains vital. Agriculture employs approximately 70% of the working population, predominantly in rural areas.
Wozemba added that agro-processing accounts for a significant portion of Uganda’s manufacturing output. Food processing alone contributes 40%, driven by key sectors like sugar, coffee, and tea processing.
The rapid growth in food demand, propelled by population growth and changing dietary preferences due to urbanization and income growth, emphasizes agriculture’s vital role in meeting domestic and export demands.
Wozemba stressed that transitioning Uganda’s exports to higher value-added products is essential for enhancing economic competitiveness and resilience.
“While Uganda has historically relied on primary agricultural commodities for export earnings, there is a growing recognition of the need to diversify and move up the value chain,” Wozemba noted.
This transition requires concerted efforts to address structural constraints, enhance productivity, and create an enabling environment conducive to innovation and value addition.
“Through targeted policies, investments, and partnerships, Uganda can position itself as a dynamic player in the global marketplace,” Wozemba concluded.