The leadership of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) is planning to harmonize and scale up the utilization of the country’s primary raw materials like minerals and farm produce.

“If you use iron ore to manufacture things we have been importing raw materials, we shall save a lot of money in import bills, and we shall provide jobs to our people,” Deo Kayemba, the Chairperson of UMA, has said.

He was speaking to this website in an exclusive interview during the UMA Annual General Meeting at the UMA Multipurpose Hall in Lugogo, Nakawa.

“We want to generate more value from our cotton. Cereal companies like Mandela [Mandela Millers of Mandela Group] and others are expanding. We want to add value and export so that we generate income. We are tired of depending on donors,” he added. 

On his plans for the association in the next term of chairmanship office, Kayemba his priorities for the next two years will be focusing on policy advocacy and strengthening its financial position.

“Over the two years, our primary focus was on advocating for manufacturers’ interests and fostering a platform for networking and collaboration,” he said. He added that he will advocate for the competitiveness of manufacturers to embrace the Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) agenda to ensure accountability and sustainability of their industries.