The President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched the official logo which must be used on all Ugandan made products worldwide. President Museveni was opening the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) expo aimed at promoting locally produced products
At 11 am, President Museveni arrived at Kololo Independence Grounds where the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives had organized the first ever BUBU expo promoting Uganda’s products
Museveni toured some of the manufacturers stalls and it was here that he pointed out that 20 percent of the raw materials are still imported from countries like China and Malaysia. He expressed disappointment at this and promised the manufactures help by attracting investors to add valuve to the products
He said, “We cannot continue importing leather from Malaysia yet we have plenty of hides and skin. Instead we need factories to add value to these products so that the importation of such materials reduces to 0% “
The president challenged Ugandans to change their attitude to home made products in order to develop their country by purchasing the products manufacturers come up with.
Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde explained that this is exactly what BUBU aims to achieve, develop capacity of local manufacturers until the country exports more than it imports.
Barbara Mulwana, the chairperson of Uganda Manufactures Association, decried a Ugandan government practice of failing to pay local suppliers. She also added that Ugandan goods do not stand out because of lack of a signature national logo.
The trade minister Kyambadde took this opportunity to unveil the BUBU logo that she said she hopes will help manufacturers as they pursue international markets.
