Overview:
Speaking through Finance Minister Matia Kasaija at the official opening of the 31st Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Trade Fair in Lugogo, Museveni highlighted the sector’s growing contribution to GDP, exports, and national revenue, calling on manufacturers to continue expanding capacity and creating wealth.
President Yoweri Museveni has hailed Uganda’s manufacturing sector as the engine driving the country’s economic growth and regional leadership in industry.
Speaking through Finance Minister Matia Kasaija at the official opening of the 31st Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Trade Fair in Lugogo, Museveni highlighted the sector’s growing contribution to GDP, exports, and national revenue, calling on manufacturers to continue expanding capacity and creating wealth.
The President noted that manufacturing contributes 15.6% of Uganda’s GDP, making it the largest subsector and the top contributor to GDP in the East African Community. He said the broader industrial sector accounts for 25.4% of GDP, surpassing agriculture at 23.5% and complementing the services sector at 52.7%.
“This is clear evidence that manufacturing sits at the very heart of Uganda’s journey from a factor-driven to an innovation-driven economy,” Museveni said. “I want to salute you, the wealth creators, for enabling Uganda to wake up its industrial potential in East Africa. It is encouraging to see that manufacturing capacity is growing steadily.”
The theme of this year’s trade fair is “Sustainable Industrialization for Inclusive Growth, Employment and Wealth Creation.”
Museveni also underscored the sector’s critical role in energy and taxation. Manufacturers consume 70.2% of Uganda’s electricity, with demand rising by 40 megawatts monthly. The sector contributes 30.3% of national tax revenue, and manufactured goods make up 23% of Uganda’s exports, positioning the country to achieve the 50% manufactured exports target by 2040.
Key UEDCL-led upgrades and expansions were also highlighted. The Kakiri Substation capacity was doubled from 10MW to 20MW, Kabale Substation from 2.5MW to 5MW, and Masaka Central Substation from 5MW to 7MW. In addition, 206 faulty transformers have been replaced across the country to stabilize power supply for industrial and residential users.
Museveni urged manufacturers to continue investing and innovating while noting challenges. He highlighted that many transformers and substations date back to 1994 and that growing urban populations have created system overloads. To address this, UEDCL has secured funding for new substations in Kawempe and Majigye to improve electricity access for hospitals, police stations, and surrounding communities.
The President also condemned the vandalism of power infrastructure, particularly in Kololo, Mukono, Kayunga, Nakasongola, Luweero, and Mbarara. He reported that 62 people were arrested over a four-month period and urged local leaders and security agencies to engage communities to protect electricity assets.
Finance Minister Kasaija emphasized that ongoing infrastructure upgrades may cause temporary inconveniences but are necessary for long-term reliability. UEDCL Executive Director Paul Mwesigwa said the company will install 518 new transformers using $134 million worth of procured equipment to ensure stable power supply nationwide.
The 31st UMA Trade Fair brings together local and regional manufacturers to showcase products, explore investment opportunities, and discuss strategies to strengthen industrial growth, reflecting Uganda’s commitment to industrialization as a driver of inclusive growth, employment, and wealth creation.