Overview:
Industrial leaders in Namanve urge government intervention over persistent power outages and infrastructure delays impacting production.
KAMPALA, Uganda — A high-level inspection of the Kampala Industrial and Business Park in Namanve has highlighted critical infrastructure and energy gaps that threaten to impede Uganda’s ambitious plan to expand its economy tenfold.
The tour, organized jointly by the Presidential CEO Forum and the Uganda Investment Authority under the theme “Amplifying Uganda’s Industrial Agenda for a 10-Fold Growth Economy,” brought together government officials, investors, and industrial leaders to assess progress and operational hurdles in the sector.
Delegates visited several key manufacturing facilities, including Ntake Edible Oil Refinery, Luuka Plastics, Steel & Tube Industries, and Staunch Machinery, before concluding at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute.
Despite generating over 140,000 jobs and attracting about $4 billion in investment, the Namanve industrial hub continues to face challenges that affect production efficiency, industry executives said.
Irene Birungi Mugisha, chief executive officer of the Presidential CEO Forum, said the initiative was designed to bring policymakers directly to factory floors to observe operational realities and address problems collaboratively. She noted that direct engagement helps guide traders toward local value addition and manufacturing rather than depending on imports.
Addressing systemic challenges, Dr. Ruth Biyinzika, a board member of the forum, emphasized that national economic expansion depends heavily on industrial growth and coordinated efforts among government, research bodies, and private enterprise.
Infrastructure delays have begun to see redress, according to Richard Nuwenyesiga, director of domestic investment at the investment authority. Nuwenyesiga said the government has accelerated utility, ICT, and road projects, while taking steps to acquire additional land to meet growing investor demand.
However, business leaders noted that persistent shortages continue to disrupt daily operations. Luuka Plastics chief finance officer Haawa Muwanga reported that despite employing more than 2,000 people across three branches, the firm is hampered by power instability and poor road networks.
At Ntake Edible Oil Refinery, management requested additional industrial land allocations to expand palm oil processing, a step aimed at cutting national reliance on imported edible oils. James Ongora, head of policy at Steel & Tube Industries, urged the government to ensure steady power supply and extend equal investment incentives to domestic manufacturers as those offered to foreign investors.
In response, David Bahati, the state minister for trade, industry and cooperatives, reiterated that manufacturing remains vital to achieving a $500 billion national economy by 2040. He acknowledged the manufacturers’ concerns and promised sustained public investment in power distribution and industrial infrastructure.
Echoing the commitment to reform, Sanjay Tanna, minister for trade, industry and cooperatives, promised more frequent field visits to gain firsthand insight into production challenges. Tanna stressed that government agencies handling trade, energy, works, and finance must dismantle operational silos and coordinate as a single unit to support investors and foster economic growth.