State Minister for Industry David Bahati on Tuesday visited several industries in Kampala, including Mesha Steel Ltd, Samona Herbal Ltd (Uganda’s first herbal jelly factory), and Korica Uganda Limited (a homegrown transformer manufacturer in Nalukolongo). The tour was aimed at assessing the operations and potential of the industries to create jobs, promote value addition, increase import substitution, and improve export revenue.

Mesha Steel Managing Director, Lydia Mwesigwa, said that they source 95 per cent of raw materials locally, employ 200 Ugandans, and support 2,000 livelihoods.

Samona Products Ltd founder and Managing Director Salongo Kasawuli Michael Mukasa raised concerns over severe financial challenges and imminent bankruptcy due to complications linked to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) actions. 

Korica Uganda Limited’s official revealed that successful exports to DR Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi demonstrate Uganda’s industrial growth.

Minister Bahati advised manufacturers to work with the government to resolve the bottlenecks, utilise affordable financing, infrastructure, and access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while strengthening local content and promoting Uganda’s products.

Bahati pledged the government’s support for industrial revival through import substitution, affordable financing, and lowering electricity tariffs to 5 cents per unit. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to an investment-friendly climate that protects local innovators, promotes value addition, reduces imports, and drives job creation and economic growth.