Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to driving Uganda's transformation through industrialisation, emphasising that manufacturing remains the backbone of any country's development.
Speaking during Spotlight Uganda hosted by Sanyuka Television on Wednesday, The Director of Policy and Advocacy at UMA, Allan Senyondwa underscored the central role of factories and manufacturing in propelling Uganda toward upper middle-income status.
Held under the theme "Advancing Trade and Industrial Growth for Uganda's Transformation," the discussion focused on Uganda's progress and the strategies underpinning the nation's projected tenfold economic growth over the next decade and a half.
According to the organisers, this growth trajectory will be guided by the upcoming National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), which aims to transition Uganda from sector-based to programme-based planning to enhance coordination across government.
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"There's no country in the world that has ever developed without factories, because trade is the exchange of goods -- and if you don't trade, you can't grow. For tenfold growth, you need manufacturing. Our country has grown in a short period of time, and we're on our way to middle-income status but that fully depends on manufacturing," Senyondwa said.
Senyondwa noted that Uganda currently hosts between 7,000 and 9,000 factories, a strong indicator of the country's industrial progress. He praised the resilience and innovation of local industries that continue to create jobs, improve export capacity, and drive national growth.
Highlighting Uganda's growing export market, Senyondwa revealed that Ugandan milk is now reaching new international destinations, particularly in Algeria, which recently imported 20,000 tonnes of powdered milk.
"Kenyans are not taking our milk, but Algerians are -- and very soon it will be scarce. You cannot export milk to Algeria without meeting high standards, and we work with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to make that possible," he said.
Senyondwa commended the collaboration between UMA and UNBS in ensuring Ugandan products meet international quality standards.
"We work closely with UNBS because in trade, nothing especially for export can be sold without meeting the required standards," he said.
He also pointed out the growing success stories of local manufacturing enterprises, citing Hisense TVs and fridges as an example.
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"Did you know that the Hisense TVs and fridges you see are actually manufactured right here in Uganda, not in China?" he said, underscoring Uganda's capacity to host global brands and produce high-quality goods locally.
Senyondwa reaffirmed UMA's optimism about Uganda's rapid development and the transformative impact of industrialisation.
"We are very happy and delighted that our country has grown in such a short period of time. Embarking on industrialisation creates multiple avenues for growth and innovation," he said.
As Uganda prepares to implement the upcoming National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), the focus remains on industrialisation, tourism, mineral benefaction, and science, technology and innovation -- all critical pillars that will define the country's next stage of transformation.
UMA continues to advocate for policies that enhance competitiveness, improve infrastructure, and support industrial development as the surest path to sustainable economic prosperity.
