Former Nsambya carpenters target EU market

KAMPALA - Carpenters who were evicted from Nsambya roadside plan to export their wood products that include furniture and sculptures, among others, to the European and other regional markets.

This was revealed by the secretary general of the Kigo Mutungo Carpentry Village Majid Kigonzi, following the launch of the Sustainable Wood-Based Value Chain Project, an initiative of the Government of Uganda, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO). 

Through the program, close to 500 members of his association will be supported to acquire modern machinery for processing wood products and skills to handle modern machines, among others.

“The biggest problem we have today is that we don’t have most of the modern machines that can make us produce products that can compete with those in the international markets. We need wood dryers, machines for designing, fire extinguishers among others,” Kigonzi said.

He, however, added that through the new project, they hope to acquire modern wood processing machinery, and skills transfer to those with limited skills so as to produce quality products that can be marketed in Europe and beyond.

According to Majid, the major challenge faced by his association of close to 500 members includes support from the Government, European Union through the food and agriculture organizations, which aims at promoting inclusive investments in the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Officiating at the launch at Mutungo Kigo Carpentry Village in Kigo on Thursday, Abebe Haile Gabriel, the Assistant Director and Regional Representative for Africa of the Food and Agriculture Organization, said that the project will support the sector over challenges of low productivity, poor quality processing machinery, getting markets among others so as to become a viable business.

“A viable business can become profitable, and then part of the profits can be used to expand the business. Because if a business is viable, to make money, then can hire a skilled workforce, pay better, make profits, re-invest and expand,” Abebe said.

Alfred Okidi, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water, Gabriel Abebe Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Sanne Willems Team Leader Green Transition Private Sector and Antonio Querido, FAO Representative in Uganda during the launch of the Wood Sustainable project for Kigo carpentry village in Wakiso district on April 10, 2025. (Credit: Wilfred Sanya)

He also hailed President Museveni for initiating policies like those under the PPDA Act, where 30% of products procured for government agencies, ministries and departments should be sourced locally.

“I am sure this particular community is going to transform into that viable business. I am encouraged by the action and leadership taken by President Yoweri Museveni, through policy support by creating the 30% market for local products through the procurement act.”

He added that such a policy will create an assured and ready market for goods produced in Uganda, including wood products. He added that such an action creates a ready market and acts as an incentive to more investments.

At the same event, the EU team leader for Green Transition and Private Sector Sanne Willems said that the Wood Value chain is an initiative which is part of a wider initiative in Uganda, which is the EU Forest partnership programs, which promotes sustainable forestry, environment conservation and forest-based entrepreneurship.

The partnership is designed under the European Green Deal's priorities. She explained that the EU supported the government to establish plantations of pine and Eucalyptus.

Although this increased coverage of forestry, there is more that should be done for commercial forestry, adding that after planting trees for the last 20 years, the new project is now coming in to find a good price for the wood, and create jobs. 

“So, the program we are launching today is basically to facilitate investments in wood processing but also to bring skills to the people that are processing, ensure that the export market is exploited, and explore local markets,” Willems said.

Officiating at the closure of the event, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water and Environment, Alfred Okot Okidi, said that all stakeholders in the wood value chain will be brought on board, including timber growers and processors.

“This resource is finite, if we don’t manage it properly, it will run out. But the trees we have in the country are enough to supply timber for processing.  So, the project will allow us to improve the wood products' capacity due to training and will also unlock additional financing for everybody involved in this value chain,” Okidi explained.