Uganda: Museveni throw light on Absorption of home made Products and the Regional Markets

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone– Museveni asserted, Ugandan exports to EAC were in $2.140b in 2023 while those to the COMESA countries were $2.157b.

The production of cement 6.4million Metric tonnes with an internal demand 2.4million tonnes establishing a balance of surplus of 4.million tonnes like wise sugar production in Uganda is a 600,000 metric tonnes with an Internal market 380,000 metric tonnes. And for the steel products ,Uganda produces an average of 610,000 metric tonnes but with Internal demand of only 1.5million metric tonnes .

” Who will buy these additional products , our milk , cement , sugar ? That is why we need East Africa and Africa” Museveni asked.

Thus, according to Allan Ssendyowa – Director for Policy , Research and Advocacy at Uganda Manufacturers Association, this is a result of many factors ranging from redundant capacity.

” A recent study by the Private Sector Foundation and Mastercard realized that we operate from anywhere between 49% – 54% and the cost drivers are high thus making our products non competitive,” Ssendyowa said.

Manufacturers say that government should create a conducive environment for manufacturers so as to enhance them introduce at lower costs so their goods can easily be absorbed into the local and continental markets.

“You see, production for export requires a lot of steady supply for raw materials mostly agricultural because we are talking about not thousands but million of tonnes of raw materials .How do we achieve that when we get raw materials in smaller amounts from distant sources?”

Uganda manufacturing output for 2022 was $7.46B, a 12.06% increase from 2021. Uganda manufacturing output for 2021 was $6.66B, a 12.08% increase from 2020.

New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent