By Isabella Yvonne Mugeni
The government of Uganda through the ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives has come up with the new national industrial policy of 2020 as a guide to consolidate the achievements of the national industrial policy of 2008 to give direction to the development of the industrial sector taking into account the emerging issues in the economy
Addressing journalists at the media center in Kampala, the minister for trade and cooperatives Amelia kyambadde , said that cabinet on 7th December 2020 approved a new national industrial policy to transform the industrial sector, increase employment to about 1.3 million people, increase contribution of the industrial sector to gross domestic product GDP from 9.6% in 1986 to 27.1% in 2019.
“We realize that in the coming years, employment is going to be complicated like it is now with the effects of COVID. I therefore encourage Ugandans to venture into sectors like farming and use the different technical avenues to acquire different skills and create themselves jobs,” Said Kyambadde.
The new National Industrial Policy was approved on 7th December 2020 to consolidate the achievements of the National industrial policy 2008.it is intended to give a new direction to the industrial sector in the next 10 years as well as boosting the economy by solving the underlying challenges, the goal being an increase in the manufacturing value from 8.3% in 2018/19 to 16% by 2029/30.
Kyambadde said that the new policy will focus on the areas of increased value addition to our abundant local raw materials, increased exports of manufactured products, increased employment in the industrial sector and increased adoption of environmentally sustainable technologies by manufacturing sub sectors.
According to Amelia kyambadde, the policy has the following objectives; increased public investment and nurturing of industrial development projects, increase and sustain the supply of quality raw materials for vale addition, develop and strengthen skilled human resource in order to increase productivity and efficiency in the sector, accelerate development and use of research innovations and promote resource efficient and environmentally sustainable industrialization.
Kyambadde added that the through the policy objectives aimed at expansion of the rural development program, investment in industries and development of infrastructure, Ugandans will have ample avenues to train, learn and equip themselves with skills to boost their competence in the job sector.
“The biggest challenge affecting Ugandans is that most lack the skills and therefore do not qualify for employment however with this policy directives, Ugandans will be empowered to be creative,” Said Kyambadde.
In addition to this, Kyambadde put emphasis on the government’s commitment to supporting the policy and she asserts that with a good implementation strategy, Uganda will benefit from an increase in employment which is currently at about a 1.3million people, and a better contribution to GDP by 2030.
