Bahati: Government targets 22 industrial parks to boost manufacturing and exports

MBARARA — Government is targeting the establishment of 22 industrial parks across Uganda as part of efforts to accelerate industrialisation, create jobs and increase the country’s export capacity, State Minister for Trade David Bahati has said.

Bahati made the remarks after attending the Ankole Industrial Development and Export Promotion Workshop at Birya United Agencies in Ruti Trading Centre, where local manufacturers showcased products and discussed opportunities for expanding Uganda’s productive sector.

The minister said he was encouraged by the number of jobs already being created by local manufacturers, noting that some companies employ as many as 200 Ugandans.

“Government is committed to creating an enabling environment through tax incentives, affordable financing, irrigation, infrastructure and the development of industrial parks,” Bahati said in a post on X.

He said 12 of the targeted 22 industrial parks are already operational, urging Ugandans to make greater use of the facilities to promote value addition, agro-industrialisation and local manufacturing.

According to Bahati, expanding industrial production is critical to transforming Uganda from an economy that largely exports raw materials into one that processes its products and earns more from exports.

He also pointed to the opportunities presented by regional and continental markets through the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The EAC provides access to a regional market of about 366 million people, while AfCFTA connects African producers to a market of more than 1.2 billion people.

Bahati said Uganda must take advantage of these markets by producing quality goods in sufficient quantities to meet both domestic demand and export requirements.

“Our task is to produce quality products in sufficient quantities for both domestic and export markets,” he said.

The minister said increased local production and processing would help create employment, reduce dependence on imported goods and strengthen domestic industries.

He urged manufacturers and other players in the productive sector to increase investment in value addition and improve the quality and volume of products destined for regional and international markets.

“As Ugandans, we need to produce more, process more and export more,” Bahati said.

He added that industrialisation should ensure that the benefits of Uganda’s economic transformation and wealth creation reach communities across the country, including the Ankole region.