President Museveni urges Ugandans to embrace BUBU

Aug 15, 2020

The NYTIL facility produces, among others, medical-grade cotton wool for both local and regional markets

Ugandans should buy locally made products under the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) initiative to strengthen the country's economy, create jobs and wealth, President Yoweri Museveni has said.

The President made the call yesterday as he commissioned a healthcare division at the Southern Range Nyanza Limited (NYTIL) in Jinja.

"I am always fighting people wasting our money buying things from outside. Why don't you buy things here?" he asked.

Nytil's healthcare division is a medical sundries manufacturing facility worth $3.6m.

The facility produces, among others, medical-grade cotton wool for both local and regional markets, according to a release from State House.

The unit also has a state-of-the-art personal protective equipment (PPE) and masks manufacturing facility worth $4.0m.

Observing that Nytil was once a government company, the President applauded Mr Kishor Jabanputra, the chief executive officer, who took over its running from the Government. for maintaining and expanding the factory.

"I am very happy because I captured these people from Rwanda. Kishor is a clever man and when he came here, he said Ugandans were sleeping because we had good cotton, which is a profitable product. I encouraged him to come and take over Nytil," Museveni said.

He said the textile industry was a real goldmine and once exploited to full potential, Uganda would need about 10 massive textile factories.

Museveni repeated his call to government institutions to implement the BUBU policy and support home-grown manufacturers.

During inspection, he bought a military sweater at sh100,000, saying: "All these products like tents, sweaters, protective gear and masks should be bought here."

Agriculture state minister Aggrey Bagiire said the President's efforts to support local manufacturers was paying off since companies such as Nytil were producing products that can be exported even to the European markets.

"Mr President, you have done this country proud. Thank you for being a visionary leader. Please continue with your efforts, we are behind you," Bagiire said.

Jabanputra said the new investments were dedicated to the President's selfless efforts towards industrialisation.

"You inspired us to invest in this new facility and we did that in a record 60 days during the COVID-19 lockdown," he said.

Jabanputra said the factory produces one million pieces of three-ply surgical masks every week, 500,000 pieces of KN95 masks and 50,000 PPE pieces.

Nytil, said the CEO, now employs over 3,000 people and has a target of creating more 5,000 job opportunities for Ugandans in the near future.

Jabanputra requested the Government to help market their products to other African countries, especially the PPEs and masks.

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