State Minister for Privatisation and Investment, Amina Mukalazi, has commended Modern Laminates Limited for promoting sustainable manufacturing, innovation and regional market expansion.
Mukalazi made the remarks during a factory monitoring visit to MMP Industrial Park in Buikwe, where she assessed production capacity, employment opportunities, export potential and challenges affecting manufacturers.
The minister said Modern Laminates’ investment and adoption of new technologies demonstrate the potential of Uganda’s manufacturing sector to create jobs, increase exports and reduce the country’s reliance on imported products.
Mukalazi was particularly impressed by the company’s use of locally sourced raw materials, including bamboo, in its production processes.
“At MMP Industrial Park in Buikwe, I engaged Mr Dhruv Thummar of Modern Laminates Limited, alongside park directors Mr Akash Dobaria and Mr Jay Patel. I commend their innovation in relying on bamboo plants, which are genetically developed here in Uganda, demonstrating the potential for sustainable local value addition,” Mukalazi said.
She was accompanied by Buikwe District Woman MP and Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Mutasingwa.
Mukalazi said investments such as Modern Laminates are critical to Uganda’s industrialisation agenda because they strengthen domestic production while creating employment and opening opportunities in regional markets.
“This investment of $90 million is a clear indication that Uganda’s industrialisation agenda is firmly on the right path, driving manufacturing capacity and job creation,” she said.
Modern Laminates Limited is a Ugandan manufacturer specialising in paper and packaging products, with an installed paper production capacity of 400 tonnes per day.
The company employs hundreds of permanent workers and engages regional contractors through its operations and distribution networks across central and eastern Uganda.
According to the company, its operations contribute to import substitution of about $100 million annually in paper products, reducing Uganda’s dependence on imported paper and packaging materials.
The company has also positioned itself to serve the growing demand for packaging, hygiene and specialty paper products in East Africa.
Mukalazi said the increased use of locally available raw materials by manufacturers is helping improve the quality and competitiveness of Ugandan-made products.
She said the government would continue supporting investments that strengthen local value chains and create opportunities for Ugandans.
Modern Laminates has also embraced circular economy principles, with its production processes focusing on resource efficiency and sustainable sourcing amid growing environmental regulations.
The company has invested in new-generation machinery designed to improve production efficiency and maximise the use of raw materials.
Its growing focus on bamboo pulp is expected to further position the company as a regional supplier of fibre and paper products, particularly in the tissue and packaging sectors.
The company says its strategy is to expand its footprint across Africa while responding to changing market demand through specialty grades and packaging solutions.
Modern Laminates’ management says its emphasis on lifecycle-based sourcing, technology and environmental compliance is aimed at improving production efficiency while maintaining competitiveness in regional markets.
The company’s expanding distribution network, coupled with its ability to respond to changing market trends, has positioned it as one of the manufacturers seeking to play a bigger role in Uganda’s industrialisation and the development of the regional manufacturing sector.
