Trade minister Mbadi rallies locally made products support
Mbadi has also pledged continued government commitment to promote local products and services through the implementation of the Buy Uganda Build Uganda policy and strategy for import substitution and export promotion.
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Gen.Wilson Mbadi inspecting exhibitions at the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) Regional Trade Show 2025, Western region edition at Independence Grounds in Mbarara City. The trade show was held at Independence grounds in Mbarara City. (Photo by Abdulkarim Ssengendo)
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Trade State Minister Gen. Wilson Mbadi has urged residents of the Western Region to support the purchase and consumption of Ugandan-manufactured products.
Mbadi has also pledged continued government commitment to promote local products and services through the implementation of the Buy Uganda Build Uganda policy and strategy for import substitution and export promotion.
The minister made the call over the weekend while presiding over the opening of the western region edition of the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) Regional Trade Show 2025 at Independence Grounds in Mbarara city.
The three-day trade show, which ended on Sunday, was organised under the theme: Buy Uganda Build Uganda: Driving Uganda’s growth through sustainable Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
The theme was in cognisance of the role that MSMEs play in the economic growth and transformation of Uganda.
According to Mbadi, also former chief of defence forces (CDF), MSMEs account for over 90% of Uganda’s private sector and employ 2.5 million Ugandans, the majority of whom are youth and women.
Assistant Mbarara Resident City Commissioner Hakim Twinamatsiko thanked the trade ministry for supporting the strengthening of domestic trade but requested deeper enforcement of the BUBU policy in public procurement so that the local SMEs can access bigger markets.
Call for tax waivers
Speaking at the event, young investors called for tax waivers on their products and ease the process and costs of certifying their products.
Others requested the ministry to support them revive cooperatives and coherently bring out the aspect of cooperative development in Uganda.
In response, Mbadi noted that the Government is aware of the challenges faced by MSMEs and has stepped up efforts to address them through the establishment of regional laboratories to bring testing services closer to the MSMEs. UNBS now operates a regional laboratory in Mbarara.
Minister added that his ministry, through the rural industrialisation strategy, has provided modern value addition equipment across the region to support the MSMEs. The facilities, include milk processing facilities, carpentry and joinery and juice processing machinery.
He added that the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act has been revised and foreign firms undertaking government-funded projects are now required to partner with local companies, enabling skills and technology transfer.
Mbarara city mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi urged region residents to take advantage of such expos and forums to engage the Government in promoting local products.
The minister hailed the contribution of MSMEs towards steady growth in trade performance, reporting that the total exports have doubled from $4.4 billion in 2020 to $8.5 billion in 2024. The upward trends, he said, reflect the strength of Uganda’s trade systems and the resilience of the private sector.
Today, Mbadi reported that trade contributes an estimated 43% of Uganda’s GDP and generates over 20% of the tax revenue, making it one of the most significant pillars of the economy.
He noted that BUBU expo promotes working together to promote import substitution and export promotion. Other achievements of the BUBU policy minister mentioned improved market access for local products which now occupy 56% of the supermarket shelf space up from 20% in 2015.
Government procurement of the local products, he said has increased to 60% from the target of 20% in 2015. Compliance of local products to standards has also increased.
Nuwagaba Chrispus thanked the ministry for the regional trade show, saying it has opened a wider market for their products.