Uganda Must Add Value to Its Products to Compete Globally — UMA’s Allan SenyondwaKampala, Uganda
Kampala, Uganda — The Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Allan Senyondwa, has emphasized the critical need for value addition and industrialization if Uganda is to achieve sustainable economic growth and competitiveness in regional and international markets.
Speaking on the state of Uganda’s manufacturing sector, Senyondwa stressed that local entrepreneurs must focus on processing and refining raw materials into finished or semi-finished goods to gain better market access and profitability.
“If you don’t add value to what you produce, your business will never prosper, and there will be no market for your products,” said Senyondwa. “To develop the nation beyond its current state, we must establish industries within our own country.”
He noted that Uganda’s ongoing industrialization drive is showing positive progress, with more local industries being set up and contributing to the nation’s development.
“We have to establish more industries, and indeed, our country is developing,” he added.
Senyondwa also highlighted Uganda’s growing participation in regional and international trade, citing the example of milk exports. Despite Kenya’s recent restrictions on Ugandan milk imports, he said that new markets are emerging for locally processed dairy products.
“While Kenyans no longer take our milk, there is high demand for it in Algeria,” he revealed. “We export about 20,000 tons of milk there in powder form, not liquid, and we work closely with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to ensure that our products meet the required quality standards.”
Senyondwa reaffirmed UMA’s commitment to supporting local manufacturers, advocating for policies that promote value addition, and enhancing the competitiveness of Ugandan products both regionally and globally.
About UMA:
The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) is the country’s leading private sector organization representing the interests of manufacturers and industrialists. UMA works to promote industrial development, value addition, and innovation as key drivers of Uganda’s economic transformation.
