The Commissioner for Industry at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC), Denis Ainebyona, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing trade and industrial growth as pillars for Uganda’s transformation into an upper middle-income economy.
Speaking during Spotlight Uganda, hosted by NBS Television on Monday, Ainebyona highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to position Uganda as a competitive industrial hub through value addition, innovation, and inclusive development.
This year’s inaugural dialogue was held under the theme “Advancing Trade and Industrial Growth for Uganda’s Transformation,” focusing on the country’s progress toward achieving upper middle-income status within the next decade and a half.
“Our mission is to have a competitive trade and sustainable industrialisation in this country. We have in place an industrialisation policy that focuses on adding value to create more income, more jobs, and ensure that Ugandan products meet both local and international market needs,” he said.
Ainebyona noted that the Ministry is shifting the nation from a sector-based to a programme-based planning framework, enhancing coordination and impact across government institutions.
Organisers of the dialogue said Uganda’s projected tenfold economic growth will be anchored on agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral beneficiation, and science, technology, and innovation — sectors expected to drive inclusive growth and create opportunities for millions of Ugandans.
“We are organising our people into groups so that we can give them support in terms of equipment, skills, and information. Our goal is to empower Ugandans to participate meaningfully in the industrialisation process,” Ainebyona added.
The dialogue is part of ongoing national engagements aimed at aligning Uganda’s economic policies with the aspirations of Vision 2040, which envisions a modern and prosperous nation.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is mandated to formulate, review, and support policies, strategies, plans, and programmes that promote trade, industrialisation, and cooperatives for sustainable economic growth and development.