The government is moving to establish a comprehensive national database of industries and manufacturing establishments as it seeks to address inconsistencies in industrial data and improve planning for the sector.
The Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Sanjay Tanna, said the ministry has embarked on developing a National Industries Register and the National Industrial Manufacturing Information System (NIMIS) to provide authoritative and continuously updated information on Uganda’s industrial sector.
Tanna made the remarks Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre while outlining preparations for the 3rd Regional Industrialization Conference, scheduled for September 18 and 19, 2026.
He said the lack of a comprehensive, geo-referenced database has resulted in different government agencies working with inconsistent figures on the number, location, size and output of industrial establishments.
“Government currently lacks a comprehensive geo-referenced and continuously updated database for trade and industry enterprises,” Tanna said.
According to the minister, the absence of reliable information on the location, scale, production capacity, employment and compliance status of industrial establishments limits government’s ability to effectively plan and target support programmes.
It also affects decisions on infrastructure development and coordination among government agencies, he added.
To address the problem, the ministry has directed licensing authorities in district local governments, cities and municipalities to compile and submit baseline information on processing and industrial establishments operating in their respective jurisdictions.
The authorities have been given 60 days to submit the information, which will be used to update the National Industries Register and establish NIMIS.
Tanna said the exercise will capture information on the location, scale, capacity and operational status of manufacturing entities and provide government with evidence needed for industrial planning.
The minister also directed ministry management to fast-track the digitisation of all services provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, arguing that digital systems would improve service delivery and ease access to government services.
The move comes as government places industrialisation at the centre of its economic transformation strategy, with emphasis on value addition, market expansion and affordable electricity.
According to figures presented by Tanna, the manufacturing sector currently contributes 16.5 per cent of GDP, while the broader industrial sector contributes 27.2 per cent.
Manufactured exports account for 22.5 per cent of Uganda’s merchandise exports, generating an estimated $1.1 billion, while manufacturing contributes more than Shs5 trillion in tax revenue annually, he said.
The industrial sector employs about 8.3 per cent of the population.
Tanna said industrial manufacturing would be central to achieving the government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy and National Development Plan IV target of building a $500 billion economy within 14 years.
Government’s priority areas include agro-based industries such as coffee, tea, fruits, grains, textiles, dairy, fish and leather; extractive industries such as iron and steel, gold, copper, cement, petrochemicals and fertilisers; as well as knowledge-intensive sectors including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, electricals and electronics.
The government is also seeking to expand industrial capacity through improved technology and machinery, industrial research and investment in modern manufacturing techniques.
Other measures include the development of regional industrial parks, strengthening links between farmers and processors, promoting industrial clusters and supporting manufacturers to expand into secondary and tertiary production.
Tanna said government is also working to reduce the cost of doing business through infrastructure development and cheaper electricity for high-energy industrial users.
He said power tariffs for high-energy industrial users have been reduced to five US cents per kilowatt-hour, while resources have been earmarked to improve electricity transmission and reliability.
Government is also relying on financing institutions such as the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) to provide long-term financing and equity for industrial projects.
Tanna said UDB currently has cumulative capital of about Shs1.6 trillion, while UDC is targeting capitalization of Shs5 trillion within five years.
On markets, the minister said government is using the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) policy to give local manufacturers a competitive edge while pursuing opportunities under the East African Community, COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He said AfCFTA provides Ugandan manufacturers access to a continental market of about 1.4 billion consumers, representing more than $3 trillion in economic activity.
The minister also urged Ugandan businesses to participate in the 3rd Regional Industrialization Conference, which will be convened by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) in partnership with AGRA Uganda and other regional stakeholders.
The conference is expected to bring together governments, investors, private-sector players and development partners to discuss practical approaches to Africa’s industrial transformation.
One of the key events will be the Industrial Champions Dialogue, bringing together African business leaders and investors with experience in manufacturing, infrastructure, energy and industrial finance.
The dialogue is expected to examine how African manufacturers can build globally competitive enterprises, mobilise long-term capital, overcome structural barriers and use AfCFTA to expand production and exports.
Tanna called on business associations, including the Uganda Manufacturers Association, Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kampala City Traders Association, Uganda Small Scale Industries Association and Federation of Uganda Traders Associations, to participate in the conference.
He said Ugandan businesses should use the platform to exploit investment and market opportunities within the East African Community and contribute to the country’s industrial transformation.
