President Yoweri Museveni has said Uganda is steadily transforming from a largely agricultural economy to one driven by manufacturing, right in the heart of Africa.
The President, in a speech read for him by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja at the commissioning of Chint Centre in Kampala, said “Uganda’s industrial parks are the heartbeat and engines of this industrial transformation”.
Chint Group is a global electric and electronics firm with operations in 150 countries. Its one-stop shop offers furniture, lighting equipment, and renewable energy solutions.
President Museveni said investments in Uganda are supported by major infrastructure upgrades like railways, expansion of Entebbe International Airport, new power stations, and improved road networks linking factories to raw materials and markets.
The President said Chint’s investment is a fruit of three advantages Uganda provides for investors: political stability, strategic location in the heart of Africa, and a young and skilled population.
President Museveni said Uganda’s political stability is encouraging both domestic and foreign investors to establish long-term operations in Uganda. He added that “Uganda, with over 75 percent under 30, offers adundant youthful, energetic, skilled, and adaptable labour force”.
He said the Government has put in place investor-friendly policies like tax breaks, duty-free importation of machinery, and access to serviced land within industrial parks.
The President said Uganda, although land-locked, has a big advantage in being land-linked right in the middle of Africa, making it a good industrial and logistics hub, offering market access to the East African Community and Africa.
President Museveni said Uganda’s growing middle-class is boosting consumption, hence in creasing market for quality products.
Chint’s Manager for East Africa, Amy Fan, said in addition to the Ugandan market, their focus is on the East African and African continental markets, with Uganda as the springboard.
***
