The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has commended the government’s “Buy Uganda Build Uganda” (BUBU) initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that is steadily reshaping the country’s industrial landscape.
Dr Ezra Muhumuza, the executive director of UMA, said the policy’s focus on import substitution and export promotion is beginning to show measurable success, citing a 10 percent drop in imports as an encouraging indicator.
“We are on course. BUBU is gaining momentum across the board, and as manufacturers, the import substitution strategy is helping us thrive and meet local demand,” he said.
The BUBU policy, rooted in existing trade frameworks, seeks to increase consumption of locally produced goods and services by mandating preference for Ugandan products in public procurement.
Underpinning the effort is the Local Content Act, which both mandates and encourages the prioritisation of Ugandan enterprises, including through direct government support.
UMA sees such provisions as vital for nurturing homegrown industries.
But as momentum builds, economists are warning that policy alone will not be enough to sustain industrial growth.
They are urging government to accelerate investment in energy and transport infrastructure—critical enablers without which manufacturers remain hamstrung.
“Power outages and high electricity tariffs are holding the sector back,” said one economist, who noted that logistical bottlenecks on major trade routes further raise production costs and undermine Uganda’s competitiveness.
Manufacturers across the country have voiced similar frustrations, pointing to unreliable power supply and poor road networks as major drags on efficiency and expansion.
As a result, there are growing calls for a more integrated strategy that combines policy incentives with tangible infrastructure upgrades.
Stakeholders say such a balance is necessary for Uganda to fully realise the BUBU policy’s ambition of building a robust local manufacturing sector.
With continued cooperation between government, the private sector, and development partners, UMA believes Uganda could position itself as a manufacturing leader in the region.
