President Yoweri Museveni has appreciated the efforts of the two former Uganda Manufacturer’s Association (UMA) chairpersons, the late James Mulwana and the late Jayaut Mujibhai Madhivani, in laying a good foundation for manufacturing business in the country.
While laying a foundation stone at the place where the two will have their statues erected at the Lugogo UMA showgrounds, the president said that remembering them in such a way will educate the young generation on the importance of policy which is a key in development.
The president pointed out that the late Madhavani in the early 60’s helped drive fast growth of Uganda’s economy while Mulwana in the early 90s did a lot in reviving the manufacturing sector which had been killed by poor policies of the 1970s.
Speaking at the event to mark UMAs Silver Jubilee, the manufacturers through Mrs Joselyn Kateeba, the UMA Board marketing subcommittee chairperson had brought to the attention of the president the problem of service charges in the Namanve industrial park.
She said the investors there were being charged by Uganda Investment Authority for the ongoing infrastructure works in the park.
The President responded; “Service charges for what? That nonsense must stop. Infrastructure in the industrial park should be done by the government because it’s the minimum the government can offer.
Meanwhile at the event, Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde informed the president that the Buy Uganda Build Uganda Policy (BUBU) performance is impressive; noting that in her previous survey in top supermarkets in Kampala, she found out that 72% of fruits and vegetables sold there are from local farmers and 48 to 50% of other commodities are locally made.
She also assured the manufacturers that very soon the local content bill will be passed.
UMA Chairman Mrs. Barbra Mulwana informed the president that UMA has worked beyond Buy Uganda Build Uganda and extended support to small scale industries (Jua kali) in a number of ways.
At the function president gave out awards to the best exbitors for this year’s trade fair.