The State Minister for Industry, Hon. David Bahati has encouraged Ugandans to embrace the industrialisation agenda in order to create job opportunities and enhance the country’s economic outlook.

The minister said that this will improve tax returns and create a pathway to achieving Uganda’s US$500 billion economic target in the next 14 years.
“In context of the President’s vision for import substitution and export promotion, we have been engaging with traders especially importers, to take advantage of funding opportunities through Uganda Development Bank so as to join the manufacturing sector,” Bahati said.

The minister was responding to issues raised by legislators during debate on a motion to appreciate the President on the State of the Nation Address delivered to Parliament on 04 June 2026. 
The motion was moved by Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja last week.

Bahati also provided clarification on concerns raised by Kampala District Woman MP, Hon. Shamim Malende about delays by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in clearing trader’s imports at customs offices.

According to Malende, traders continue to incur high demurrage costs which are penalties charged when cargo or a container remains at a port beyond the agreed-upon period.
“When business owners bring in their goods, they are taken into the bond for verification and valuation by customs. Those goods attract US$60 each day and many business owners have goods that have been stranded in the bond for over a year. What is the Trade Ministry doing to avert this delay?” Malende asked.
She noted that clearing such goods often takes between six months and year, which has encumbered many traders within Kampala.

Bahati said that clearance of goods is done within two days but added that importers often lack clearance from institutions like Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and National Drug Authority (NDA) among others, which increases the clearance time.
“These clearances are on top of those required by URA and some importers have offences registered by customs. These issues delay importers in clearing their goods. That is why we are encouraging them to invest in manufacturing,” Bahati said.

Bahati also said a feasibility study is in its final stages, to establish a multi-billion dollar industrial park in Karamoja sub-region which he said will create jobs and investment prospects for residents.
“We are creating a number of opportunities to develop Karamoja with focus on setting up factories. We already have the cement and clinker industries there, which will save the country close to 80 per cent of the money used in importing clinker to work on our roads,” the minister added.

The assurances followed concerns raised by Pian County MP, Hon. Remigio Achia, who cited a development gap in Karamoja, albeit having growing industries including those manufacturing tiles from minerals like marble extracted within the region. 
“The historical mission of NRM is not yet completed in Karamoja. There is still a lot to be done in terms of poverty eradication and food security. We need to find a better strategy to address the challenges that face the area,” he said.

Hon. Fiona Nakku (Indep., Workers Rep., Female) urged government to guarantee equitable distribution of funding in different sectors of the country.
“Government should ensure that the Shs2.2 trillion allocated to the agriculture sector reaches women farmers who constitute the majority of Uganda’s agricultural workforce. Resources without effective extension will not deliver the intended transformation,” Nakku said.

Nabbanja commended President Museveni for his clear guidance on key anchors to the country’s economic progress, with zero tolerance to corruption.
“The President informed the nation that for citizens to effectively participate in both the vertical and horizontal integration of the national economy and achieve massive production and job creation, they must join the money economy and transit from traditional, pre-capitalist systems of working, utilising the available wealth-generation funds,” said Nabbanja.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi urged government to crack the whip on corrupt officials, noting that reports by the Auditor General have indicated unaccounted funds, unsupported expenditure and procurement irregularities in 72 per cent of audited entities.

In his June address to the nation, Museveni made a call to Ugandans to embrace available wealth creation initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga among others, to venture into investment opportunities.