Museveni tips exporters to up dialogue with govt 

 

KAMPALA - Exporters have been urged to enhance dialogue with government through line ministries, departments and agencies on business matters to facilitate their work and ensure the creation of a good working environment to support growth.

 

The appeal was made by President Yoweri Museveni in a speech read for him by the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, at the 2019 President's Export Awards Dinner at Protea Skyz Naguru Hotel recently.

 

"It is through dialogue and facilitation that a good working environment is created to support growth," Museveni said.

 

He applauded the outperforming exporters for the exemplary work, noting that the Government remains committed to creating and sustaining a good environment that will make Uganda a middle-income status and beyond. 

 

This, he said, is done through prioritising infrastructure development by investing in energy, railway and road networks to enable entrepreneurs get their goods to the market in a secure and timely manner and facilitate the movement of workers.

 

He retaliated the need to end 'slavery' of exporting raw materials by focusing on value addition and industrialisation. This, he said, will also help the country curb exportation of jobs to other countries.

 

Museveni pledged government's commitment to continue designing policies and regulations that encourage and enhance Uganda's business development to make locally produced products competitiveness in the region.

 

The Uganda Export Promotions Board executive director, Elly Twineyo Kamugisha, said the country's export earnings grew to $3.74b (sh13.6 trillion) as of November 2019, owing to market and product diversification and the good work done by exporters.

 

He noted that although the country still has a trade deficit, it will reduce once the Government completes the construction of major infrastructure projects, which are contributing to the huge import bill.

 

Kamugisha noted that government procurement of imports has over the last three years grown by 120% because of mega infrastructure projects.

 

"Our huge import bill is for machines and equipment for the factories being established. Once the factories are established, we will start producing for the domestic and export market. 

 

It is also good that we have started mining our own iron ore so iron, meaning the iron and steel industry will also soon stop importing raw materials. Once those are achieved, the import bill will come down and exports will increase," Kamugisha said.

 

Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde applauded exporters for performing better than last year and urged them to work harder to enable the country attain the middle-income status.

 

About the award

The President's Export Award is an annual event organised by the Uganda Export Promotions Board to recognise and honour the contributions made by the export community towards national development. 

 

It also seeks sensitise and create awareness about the importance of exports and rallying Ugandans to associate with the country's export agenda.

 

Olam Uganda, the exporters of Cotton, Cocoa, Sesame and Coffee were the best exporters of 2019, walking away with the Platinum Award. The company exported goods worth over $69m during the year.

 

It was followed by Kyagulanyi Coffee Uganda Limited as the First Runners Up, walking away with a Gold Award, after posting over $65m in annual turnover from the export of coffee.

 

UGACOF emerged the Second Runners, taking the Silver Award. It had an annual turnover of over $56m from coffee exports.

 

WINNERS

PRESIDENT'S EXPORT AWARD

Olam Uganda Limited - Platinum Award

Kyagulanyi Coffee Uganda Ltd - Gold Award

UGACOF Limited - Silver Award

 

AGRICULTURAL AND AGRO-PROCESSED PRODUCTS  

TEA 

McLeod Russell Ltd - Gold Award

Rusekere Tea Growers Factory Ltd - Silver Award

 

CEREALS

Agri-Exim Ltd - Gold Award

Bakhresa Grain Milling Ltd - Silver Award

 

COCOA AND COCOA CONFECTIONARIES

Esco Uganda Ltd - Gold Award

African Tradewinds Ltd - Silver Award

 

EDIBLE FATS AND OILS

Mukwano Industries Ltd  - Gold Award

Bidco Uganda Ltd -  Silver Award

 

FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS

Fresh Perch Ltd - Gold Award

Karmic Foods Ltd - Silver Award

 

FLOWERS AND CUTTINGS

Wagagai Ltd - Gold Award

Rosebud Ltd - Silver Award

 

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

FFP Uganda Ltd - Gold Award

Mairye Estates Ltd - Silver Award

 

DAIRY AND DAIRY PRODUCTS

Lakeside Dairy Ltd - Gold Award

Pearl Dairy Uganda Ltd - Silver Award

 

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS (BASE METALS)

Roofings Uganda Ltd - Gold Award

Steel and Tube Uganda Ltd - Silver Award

 

BEVERAGES (Non-Alcoholic)

Crown Beverages Uganda Ltd - Gold Award

Harris International Uganda Ltd - Silver Award

 

BEVERAGES (Alcoholic)

Nile Breweries Uganda Ltd - Gold Award

Uganda Breweries Ltd - Silver

CEMENT

Hima Cement Uganda Ltd - Gold Award

Tororo Cement Uganda Ltd - Silver Award

 

PLASTICS AND PLASTICS PRODUCTS

Quality Plastics Uganda Ltd - Gold 

Africa Polysack Ltd - Silver

 

SUGAR AND SUGAR CONFECTIONARIES

Kakira Sugar Works Ltd - Gold Award

Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL) - Silver Award

 

SERVICES (EDUCATION)

Kampala International University (KIU) - Gold Award

Bugema University - Silver Award

 

SERVICES ( LOGISTICS)

Bollore Transport and Logistics Uganda Ltd - Gold Award

Spedag Interfreight Ltd - Silver Award

 

SERVICES (ICT)

I3C Uganda Ltd - Gold Award

Data Care Uganda Ltd - Silver Award

 

SPECIAL AWARDS (Regional)

Gulu Agriculture Company Ltd - Northern

Huppi Trading Company Ltd - Eastern

Pearl Flowers Ltd - Western