The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening Uganda's industrial and business competitiveness through improved training, standardisation, and innovation, as the country charts its path toward upper middle-income status.
Speaking during Spotlight Uganda hosted by Sanyuka Television on Wednesday under the theme "Advancing Trade and Industrial Growth for Uganda's Transformation," the Assistant Commissioner for Training and Business Skills Development at MTIC, Johnson Abitekaniza underscored the importance of maintaining high product standards and building capacity across the value chain.
"The market demands products of high standards, and once you start, you must remain consistent. That is one of the challenges we face, and we want people to understand the importance of maintaining standards," said Abitekaniza.
Abitekaniza emphasised that achieving quality and consistency requires a holistic approach involving access to the right resources, skills, and technology.
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"We need raw materials, machines, and the right skilled people to operate them; that is how we can maintain high standards," he said.
Abitekaniza further highlighted the need for market-driven education and innovation to guide industrial development.
"We need to research what the market needs and then educate our people accordingly," he said.
According to Abitekaniza, the Ministry continues to collaborate with the private sector to enhance product branding, promote entrepreneurship, and support business sustainability.
"As a ministry, we work with the private sector to improve branding, and that is a process we are actively focusing on," he said.
Abitekaniza also pointed out a critical gap in business management and financial literacy among entrepreneurs.
"Some people are running businesses and factories without understanding how much they are investing and how much they are earning," he said.
Abitekaniza urged Ugandans to make the most of available resources and leverage collaboration to spur growth and industrialisation.
"If we want to develop, we need to make the most of what we already have and focus on how we are using it," he said.
"Unity is key to helping our manufacturing industries thrive. By working in partnerships, we go beyond savings and loans to drive real growth."
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The discussion highlighted Uganda's broader economic vision, with organisers projecting a tenfold increase in the economy anchored on agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral benefaction, and science, technology, and innovation.
The forthcoming National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) will steer this vision by transitioning from sector-based to programme-based planning, promoting greater coordination across government and development stakeholders.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is mandated to formulate, coordinate, support, and monitor policies and strategies aimed at promoting trade expansion, industrial growth, cooperative development, and overall economic transformation in Uganda.
