![[Uganda] Government prioritizes local manufacturers in tenders for mega projects](Uganda construction.jpg)
[Uganda] Government prioritizes local manufacturers in tenders for mega projects
In a move meant to promote local companies and cut cost of import, the government of Uganda has announced it will start offering tenders to local manufacturers to supply big construction projects in the country.
This after it passed the local content policy giving priority to local manufacturers. The country has over the years relied on raw imports from China for its mega projects.
“As government, we have embraced local content and products/materials from here and are going to be used,” Mr Hebert Kabafuzaki, the minister of State for Labour and Employment Affairs said.
He said it is now a policy encouraging Ugandan big industries/factories to supply raw materials to big projects such as Standard Gauge Railway, Karuma Dam and the oil refinery.
“Roofings is one of the industries with good materials and will be given a tender to supply the standard gauge railway and other big projects,” he said.
He appreciated Roofings for manufacturing strong products with a long shelf-life in addition to employing many people.
Mr David Bahati, the State minister of Finance for Planning, said local content has been discussed for many years now and is going to be solved.
“You are going to be able to provide materials and President Museveni will take action on this issue,” he said. Mr Bahati said they passed the policy during the oil debate to allow 40 per cent for people to invest in the oil industry.
“Uganda has been importing materials from China but now Roofings is going to supply big projects since their materials are of quality,” he said.
According to Mr Bahati the government would build 25 industrial parks in Uganda in the next five to 10 years and will offer facilities they need as investors such as roads and electricity.
He said it is through industrialisation that unemployment can be solved in Uganda. “Unemployment can not be solved through defiance, protest but through building factories,” he said.
