Find Industry and Manufacturing expertise in Uganda

Uganda holds the 123^rd most competitive economy in the world (2012–13, World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Report) with manufacturing contributing 8.2% of GDP in 2011 (value added figure, World Bank). It is classified first out of 120 countries by the World Bank for ease of doing business, a ranking based on how conducive the regulatory environment is to the opening and operation of a local firm. Industry workers made up 6% of total employment in 2009 (World Bank) and industrial production was estimated to be growing at a rate of 3% in 2012 (CIA World Factbook). The majority of the labour force is employed within the agricultural sector.

Uganda’s main industries include steel production, cement, cotton, tobacco, sugar and breweries. The industry sector overall is small in relation to more developed countries, dominated by multinational corporations through subsidiaries. Intermittent power supplies and the high cost of electricity make production difficult, and the size of the industry had suffered as a result. High levels of poverty impact negatively on the domestic market’s purchasing power. The government is constantly in the process of implementing long and short term projects to tackle challenges facing the industry.

Leading companies in Uganda include Nile Breweries Limited and Uganda Breweries Limited. Subsidiaries of larger corporations also operate within the country and include: Unilever Uganda Ltd; Century Bottling Company Ltd, Coca Cola SABCO; and Hima Cement Limited, of the Larfarge Group.

Exports are estimated to have contributed US$2.804 billion to the Ugandan economy in 2012, up from $2.519 billion in 2011 (CIA World Factbook). Main exports include coffee, tea, fish products, gold and horticultural products. The country’s main export partners are Kenya and Rwanda, although many products and services are also exported to the United Arab Emirates and Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2012, Uganda was estimated to be the 131^st largest exporter in the world (CIA).

There is strong competition from imported products, which originate mainly from Kenya, United Arab Emirates and China and include vehicles, petroleum and medical supplies.

The World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report gives Uganda a production process sophistication value of 2.8 out of 7 where 7 is the most sophisticated, ranking it 122 out of 144 countries.

The Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA) is an organisation working to promote the development of small- and micro-scale industries in the country through increasing competitiveness, service delivery and advocacy.

The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) is among the largest organisations in Uganda, representing industrial and commercial sectors and acting as a forum for the private sector as a whole. In 2013, UMA had more than 750 members.

Individual industry sectors have their own representative bodies, for example the Uganda Sugar Manufactures Association (USMA) coordinates the sugar industry in Uganda and liaises with international organisations.