Fifteen companies close shop
FIFTEEN companies collapsed last year, the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has revealed.
By Paul Tentena
FIFTEEN companies collapsed last year, the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has revealed.
Mubarak Nkuutu, the UMA membership director, said although they were still studying the factors that led to their collapse, the global financial crisis was the major cause.
Nkuutu was addressing members during the annual general meeting at the UMA conference hall at Lugogo show grounds in Kampala on Tuesday.
He, however, pointed out that the association registered 64 new members in 2009.
Nkuutu said UMA membership stood at 372, but was targeting 500 members by the end of 2011.
This, he added, would be achieved through increased visits and interactions with companies.
but he expressed concern about the frequent change of locations and physical addresses by companies, which he noted was affecting the association’s work.
Kaddu Kiberu, the UMA chairperson, called on the government to quickly pass the Counterfeits and Adulteration bill, adding that delays were fostering counterfeiting.
He urged the Government to solve the issue of unreliable power, saying it was greatly hampering the industrial sector’s growth.
Although the East African Common Market comes into effect on July 1, Kiberu said Ugandan manufacturers were not ready.
“We are not yet competitive as a country. The Government should listen to our concern,†he said.
He advised the industrialists to penetrate the Burundian market, saying it was still unexploited.
He asked the East African governments to revive the Kampala Agreement that was promoting specialisation.
“Let them review the Kampala Agreement. Dictate to countries what they should manufacture, grow and sell to others,†he added.
The UMA chairman said governments should also revive the block trains that allowed for clearing of cargo from Eldoret in Kenya rather that the Port of Mombasa.
FIFTEEN companies collapsed last year, the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has revealed.
Mubarak Nkuutu, the UMA membership director, said although they were still studying the factors that led to their collapse, the global financial crisis was the major cause.
Nkuutu was addressing members during the annual general meeting at the UMA conference hall at Lugogo show grounds in Kampala on Tuesday.
He, however, pointed out that the association registered 64 new members in 2009.
Nkuutu said UMA membership stood at 372, but was targeting 500 members by the end of 2011.
This, he added, would be achieved through increased visits and interactions with companies.
but he expressed concern about the frequent change of locations and physical addresses by companies, which he noted was affecting the association’s work.
Kaddu Kiberu, the UMA chairperson, called on the government to quickly pass the Counterfeits and Adulteration bill, adding that delays were fostering counterfeiting.
He urged the Government to solve the issue of unreliable power, saying it was greatly hampering the industrial sector’s growth.
Although the East African Common Market comes into effect on July 1, Kiberu said Ugandan manufacturers were not ready.
“We are not yet competitive as a country. The Government should listen to our concern,†he said.
He advised the industrialists to penetrate the Burundian market, saying it was still unexploited.
He asked the East African governments to revive the Kampala Agreement that was promoting specialisation.
“Let them review the Kampala Agreement. Dictate to countries what they should manufacture, grow and sell to others,†he added.
The UMA chairman said governments should also revive the block trains that allowed for clearing of cargo from Eldoret in Kenya rather that the Port of Mombasa.