The Uganda Manufacturers Association Executive Director Sebagala Kigozi is calling for more support from government in the areas of fighting counterfeits, access to cheap credit, increasing agricultural funding among others.

Sebagala made the remarks in an exclusive interview with this reporter at the start of this year's Uganda International Trade Fair organised by the association.

"We can't do much if these issues are not tackled,' Kigozi said. "But we are happy to see the central bank steadily reducing the central bank rate which should serve as an example to commercial banks."

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics recently reported that prices of all manufactured goods increased by 10.6% during the 12-month period leading up to June 2012 from June 2011. Also, in the year ending May 2012, Producer Prices registered an increase of 13.5%, which was blamed on the recent spike in headline inflation and the rapid depreciation of the exchange rate in the second half of 2011.

Dan Muhumuza, the general manager at Shumuk Group, a local manufacturer said in April last year, they spent Shs 30 million on power per month to run company activities but the costs had increased by 60% in the second half of the year and at the beginning of 2012.

UMA reportedly spends over Sh500million to organise a Trade Fair per year. Each fair, it is said earns revenue of about Sh2bn to the association mainly from fees paid by exhibitors and that collected as entrance fees.