Minister of State for Planning Amos Lugoloobi has said that value addition is no longer optional but essential if Uganda is to achieve sustainable export competitiveness and industrial growth.
Speaking at the 16th National Competitiveness Forum in Kampala, Lugoloobi urged Ugandan producers to focus on high-quality processing, product standardization, and improved packaging to strengthen the country’s position in regional and global markets.
“We must invest more in high-quality processing to guarantee quality, product standardization, and packaging for food and feeds to easily access regional markets,” he said.
However, Lugoloobi noted that Uganda still lacks adequate capacity to produce high-quality processed food and animal premixes, leading to continued dependence on imports for both human and animal consumption.
“It is therefore important that through this dialogue, we understand the missing link and explore strategies to close the gaps with the view of making the two sectors competitive,” he added.
The Minister emphasized the need to strengthen market intelligence and export facilitation to equip the private sector with information on market demand, trade routes, regulatory requirements, and competitor trends.
To address these gaps, Lugoloobi said government has intensified the implementation of the Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD) Strategy, which leverages Uganda’s foreign missions to collect market intelligence, promote exports, attract investors, and boost tourism.
He further revealed that under the Tenfold Growth Strategy, Uganda has secured significant financial support to accelerate industrial exports — including a $96 million loan through the INVITE Project, a USD 104 million grant, and an additional $18 million under a multi-donor Trust Fund.
“These resources are expected to boost exports of manufactured products and strengthen our overall export competitiveness,” Lugoloobi said.
The forum brought together policymakers, private sector players, and development partners to discuss strategies for positioning Uganda as a competitive player in regional and global value chains.
