A team from DET Imports, an American company based in Detroit, comprised of Tambouridis Angela Elaine (Product Sourcing Analyst), Karboske Joel Nathan (Director), Alebiosu Lanre (Partner), and Oluwole Johnson Oluwaseto (Director) was in Uganda late last month (from July 28, 2024, to August 2, 2024). Facilitated by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), they visited over ten producers and exporters dealing in dried fruits, vanilla, Moringa, fish, macadamia nuts, coffee, and Banana flour among others to ascertain their capacity to supply the US market.

Some of the companies visited include; Amstus Farm, Discovery Group, Zahra Foods Industry, PIBID- BIRDC-makers of tooke flour, Miecca (U) Limited, Pure Grow, Masheda Mixed Farm, Amafh Farms, Raintree Farms, Fine Spinners, and JAHL Production (U) Ltd among others.

The visit led the American team to discover the quality and uniqueness of innovative Banana (tooke) products made by the Banana Industrial Research Development Centre (BIRDC) and iced expressos produced by JAHL Production (U)Ltd. This sparked off immediate interest to have these two and other Ugandan products in the American market. There is confirmed readiness by the parties involved to pursue partnerships.

At the end of their feasibility study, the DET Imports team had an opportunity to share some of their insights about Ugandan products and their commitment to expanding markets and creating new opportunities for their partners in Uganda. Below is their brief conversation with PACEID’s Communications Officer Rowland Bon Nkahebwa.

What were some of the key factors that influenced your decision to consider Ugandan products for your imports?

We had an opportunity, an introduction to Uganda and what it has to offer and it was enticing to come and see, and once we came here, we saw the abundance of products and the opportunity.

PACEID Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo’s trip to Detroit influenced our decision. At first, we didn’t even understand all the opportunities in Uganda. We first came here in February 2024. After that, we assembled our team to come back and we knew we wanted to work with Ugandans and import their products. We think there a real story here, and we can help from the farmer all the way to our retailers and make an impact here.

What are the key factors that differentiate Ugandan products from other potential sources and make them attractive for import to the US market?

When we visited the farms, it was educating how the products are made. Like in the USA, you might find 1000 acres from one farmer but in Uganda, it is everywhere on a small acre where they do everything from seed, there are not a lot of pesticides, and everything is real, green, and organic. The environment here, being on the equator and having a 365-day farming season. Those are some of the key factors, it is a better product than other places we have been.

Also, we want to do business with the country and be involved with a country that takes care of its people. We want to be involved with those types of businesses and suppliers as well.

Can you provide an overview of the type of Ugandan products that DET Imports is currently seeking to import for its warehouse in Detroit?

We are going to be starting with coffee, not just your green and roasted coffees but some different types of products from coffee that we don’t want to get into right now. Also macadamia nuts, dried fruits, vanilla, banana flour, textiles, and moringa oils. Those are the ones we are focusing on right now. We are going to support the creatives as much as possible too. The basket-weaving women we visited at Nkore Designs by Masheda, Discreet, and others.

What specific unique features did you observe in the products from the exporting companies and farms you visited in Uganda?

The quality of the products, from the farm, they are natural, and the taste of their organic and sustainable farming practices. Training the community, training different farmers, you see the love that goes into it into the quality of the products.

Having some of the larger suppliers that we toured coming up with training programs and actually teaching farmers what to do, and the biggest part is buying their products. Knowing that the product is already sold takes away the worry to provide for their families and eases the process of going into the next season.

What are some of the challenges/obstacles you might have encountered during your visit to the different farms and suppliers in terms of sourcing products?

Some of the suppliers are smaller and they are not currently exporting up to speed on different requirements, from potentially large orders, there might be a bit little bit more time to get them up to speed. But there are good plans in place for those suppliers, a lot of them have a future vision of where they can go. You know Uganda is still new, they are not China or Mexico and we don’t want them to be. So, they are not up to those volumes yet but we see the potential and see that they can handle the capacity. But it also comes down to operational capital for whoever is doing the production and we think that could be a problem because they go and buy a new machine because their interest rates are 23-33 percent in the bank and this takes away all their profits. It is harder for them to borrow money, so I think PACEID is working well with them, helping them to obtain their goal through invoice financing from UG EXIM if they have an order so they can supply it properly and on time.  

What strategies do you have in place to handle potential challenges related to logistics, regulations, or quality control when importing products from Uganda?

Education. So, working with their suppliers upfront to make sure that the understanding is there. The travel that we do by coming here, reaching out to our resources to make sure that they can go and work with the suppliers. So we train them to make sure that they are equipped. Logistics-wise, we work together, we use brokers who can help with their transactions, for ourselves and suppliers, and also provide knowledge.

Every aspect of the shipping is important too, to ensure everything is on time and actually gets there without being spoiled or damaged. So, right from the farm, the product has to be refrigerated to make sure the temperatures are there, implement GPS systems and temperature controls that can be monitored from our offices and our cellphones, and just get up to speed on technology which we are in process of doing and we are working with everybody to get this accomplished.

What specific factors or qualities are you looking for in Ugandan products to ensure they meet the standards for importing and stocking in your warehouse in Detroit? 

We kind of live in the US and have worked in the retail business for fifteen years, we just kind of feel we know the needs of the American market. We can bring in better products from Uganda that the Americans will consume. So, we know we can recognize the trends and what is missing from our American market, not just fresh foods because a lot of these we already have there but different products we don’t have access to like the Moringas, real natural products that provide benefits, the Matooke (banana) flour. There are a lot of gluten allergies or digestive issues that we are facing in the US, so that is one product to add to the market and fill a void of gluten-free products.

So we are really looking at a lot of those products and in addition to others and what Americans are missing and what we can take there. One thing we have done is teach the Americans and show them what they need and put in their face. That is why we created a green room in our warehouse where we are going to be shooting content and showing people what banana flour can do, bringing local cooks and chefs and cook with Ugandan products, and doing presentations in different restaurants. Lanre, our business partner is in the fashion industry, he does a segment on TV every month regarding what’s new in Detroit, and what’s new in the US. So we want to take the products to the US and show them what it can do for them. This right here will create a need in the US market for banana flour.

Could you elaborate on the potential economic and social impact of importing Ugandan products to your warehouse in Detroit?

Long-term, if Uganda’s exports go up, there is obviously a higher demand, and with that comes the need to automate their facilities and have machinery that can handle large volumes. This reduces the manual labor and bumps up the skill level of the employees to now have to know how to operate and fix machines. That is one area that could be impacted.

How has your collaboration with the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development impacted your visit to Uganda and the selection of Ugandan products for import?

We probably wouldn’t be here in Uganda if it wasn’t for PACEID. They have been very instrumental, not only in coordinating meetings with suppliers and government agencies but helping us understand Uganda and how things work and getting us to the right people. This would have taken us ten times as long to get to where we are right now, so expediting our business development tremendously would be a good way to summarize it in a few words.

PACEID has helped us widen our outreach by streamlining the process to help us get to where we need to be.

Lastly, a lot has been said about Uganda out there, what is your assessment of Uganda compared to before you visited?

Uganda is a beautiful country, people are happy, and we feel well-received here. We enjoy Uganda and are looking forward to more productive trips. Due to time, we did not get the chance to visit some of the amazing tourist destinations, but next time we shall make sure to do so.

The Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) has reached out to local leaders starting with Acholi Sub-Region for collaborative efforts to enhance the region’s agricultural sector and meet international market demands. Led by Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo, on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, they delivered an informative presentation at the Bomah Hotel in Gulu City, focusing on the production and sourcing of agricultural export products to key stakeholders in the Acholi Sub-Region. In the session, Rwabwogo emphasized the importance of implementing responsible agricultural practices to maximize export potential and promote sustainable growth.

During the presentation, Rwabwogo highlighted the significance of adopting upstream and midstream models in agricultural production and sourcing. “By incorporating these models, stakeholders can streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and mitigate the risk of engaging in unethical practices.”

Rwabwogo urged the audience, which included local leaders; Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) from Regional District Commissioners (RDCs), Assistant RDCs, Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), District Internal Security Officers (DISOs), and Mayors to prioritize transparency, accountability, and compliance with standards to avoid misconduct and ensure the success of agricultural exports.

This activity took place on the sidelines of the district local leaders’ week-long retreat organized by the Office of the President about mindset change and empowerment to perform better at the district level. The local leaders had gathered to engage, remind themselves of their core mandate, equip themselves with more appropriate tools for service delivery, effectively represent the central government, and prioritize government projects to achieve the country’s ultimate goal of socio-economic transformation.   

PACEID’s presentation served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among key players in the agricultural sector, creating a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges in exporting agricultural products.

Brenda Opus Katarikawe, PACEID Markets Team Lead appealed to the local leaders for support regarding three key aspects;

-Agricultural production data collection by identifying credible farmers, exporters, and aggregators.

-Identifying credible suppliers of agricultural products for export given that PACEID is talking to credible buyers.

-Support in terms of standards enforcement and drive to be able to do it continuously and sustainably.

“Let us work together to enforce post-handling standards to ensure quality production. Quality products minimize rates of interceptions which are costly but most importantly create a bad reputation for Uganda on the international market.” Katarikawe noted.

She reiterated PACEID’s efforts to create food safety laws that will improve the standards of agricultural products to meet regional and international levels. This is being worked on in partnership with relevant government institutions and the private sector.

The Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Masheda Foods Limited, a Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) enterprise to partner on opening the first Trade Hub in Kinshasa and other parts of Central and Southern Africa.

The pact will also see more trade hubs in other parts of Central and Southern Africa.

The signing was done by Matthew Bagonza, Head of Secretariat at PACEID, and Ms. Sherina Nabakooza Ainembabazi, the Chief Operating Officer of Masheda Foods Limited, and it was witnessed by Odrek Rwabwogo, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development and Brenda K. Opus, Head of Markets-PACEID.

The MoU will allow Masheda Foods Limited, a Congolese-registered entity, to partner with PACEID on the export of fish and fish products, beef, dairy products, grains, and many other food and industrial products. It will also allow the two to work together on the price of cargo to reduce charges for Ugandan exporters into Kinshasa, manage publicity for Ugandan products, and ensure return cargo where possible for Congolese entrepreneurs to trade in Uganda.

Rwabwogo expressed optimism about the partnership saying, “I am happy that the efforts that we began in May 2022 to open trading relations at a company level are beginning to bear fruit and I thank our Trade Representative, Mr. Justin Katoto, who has worked on several issues including non-tariff trade barriers for Ugandan businesses to sell in DRC and exchange information and products with Congolese companies.”

In June, Uganda’s head of mission in Kinshasa, Ambassador Alhaji Farid Mansoor Kallisa, said Uganda has a trade surplus with DR Congo amounting to USD 53.07 million (Shs208.9 billion). Goods from DRC to Uganda include pal oils and paints while Uganda exports fish, mattresses, salt and cereals among others to DRC.

By Rowland Bon Nkahebwa

While addressing a group of entrepreneurs and local leaders in Kirinya Bweyogerere, Wakiso District on Saturday, July 20, 2024, Odrek Rwabwogo, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), emphasized the importance of leadership in shaping the country’s production. “Strong leadership is essential for creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and for promoting economic growth”.

Rwabwogo also highlighted the role of security in ensuring political stability, which in turn leads to an increase in production, stressing a secure and stable environment for businesses to operate in builds confidence among investors, and encourages growth and development.

He briefly spoke about the history of Uganda and how President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has shaped the economy from an enclave to what it is today. He preached patriotism urging guests to shun shallow politics and adopt a national collective ethic.

During his speech, Rwabwogo also explained the work of PACEID about the four pillars of markets, standards and compliance, infrastructure, and export credit funding. He outlined how PACEID works to support Ugandan exporting businesses in these areas, helping them to navigate challenges and take advantage of opportunities for growth and expansion.

“By providing guidance and support to local industries, PACEID facilitates the development of export-oriented sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and services that are enabling Uganda to establish itself as a competitive player in the international market. We work closely with various stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, and development partners, to identify export opportunities, address barriers, and develop policies that promote trade and industrial growth.

Following Rwabwogo’s presentation, the group expressed a need for a vocational training institute in the area to advance skills development. They noted that the area currently has only one government secondary school, which is overly populated and unable to meet the demand for all school-going individuals, hence the need for a vocational institute to enhance vocational training. The entrepreneurs emphasized the importance of investing in skills development to empower the local workforce and drive economic growth in the region.

Coordinated by Francis Kagonyera of Training, Production, and Outreach at PACEID, the event was hosted in Kirinya-Bukasa at the premises of Mr. Kiyengo Richard, a former Mayor of Kira Municipality and an entrepreneur.

Others present were; Mzee Seggane Erukana, former Mayor of Kira Municipality and a businessman, religious leaders from all faiths, NRM Chairman Kira Municipality, Bweyogerere LC3 Chairman Isaac Ssenkubuge, Namigadde Harriet, Nanyonjo Faith, Lameck Kawooya and other local leaders from neighboring sub-counties.

In a moving address, Odrek Rwabwogo, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), challenged over 10,000 graduands from Ankole Region to embrace hard work, persistence, and a focus on value addition and above all, unity, as the cornerstones for sustainable economic growth and industrial development.

Addressing the gathering at the Booma Grounds, Mbarara City on Sunday, May 19, 2024, Rwabwogo commended the graduates for their achievements and encouraged them to see this milestone as the beginning of their journey towards contributing to the nation’s growth.

PACEID in partnership with the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) facilitated and certified over 10,000 individuals from all the districts of the Ankole Region with a modular category certificate. All these excelled in competence-based industrial assessment after six months.

The graduates were certified in the fields of tailoring, baking, coffee/pig/goat/cattle/bee farming, plumbing, motor vehicle/cycle mechanics, photography, soap and detergent making, dairy processing, mushroom farming, graphic design, computer application, carpentry, embroidery, music, leather design, and banana farming.

Rwabwogo, who arrived for the ceremony in the company of his wife, Patience Rwabwogo, stressed the importance of this training which is to enable more job creators rather than job seekers. “The country has many younger people coming into the employment level but some are not employable. Just graduating doesn’t mean that you are employable, they need a special touch on skilling and attitude. The importance of this training and certification is that you go start your own business and hopefully deal in the 13 products we are involved in for export and hopefully we can catch you on standards, hopefully we can find you a buyer, hopefully we can finance the orders. You have to build each level in order to lead into another.”

He reiterated that it is not enough to merely produce urging the audience to add value to the products and services which enhances their competitiveness in both domestic and global markets.

Rwabwogo also called for unity stating that individualism cannot create industry. “We must work in unity because everybody wants to work on their own in our country. There is no success unless you really bring particular products to create industries. For example, the president launched here(Mbarara) a Tin factory not far from here a month ago. For you to succeed with tin, you must be assembling radios, laptops, and other things. But if you get tin and combine it with copper which we have, then you can make brass. Brass is what we use on bullets and vehicles etc. Industries have to be strong in order for investment to come in. You cannot have one company create an industry, it takes a lot of time. The point of unity is to help us create industries on value addition and processing of those things.”

He added, “By collaborating, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another, we can amplify our impact and drive Uganda’s industrial revolution forward.”

His words resonated with the graduates, who listened intently, inspired by his vision for a future where Uganda’s industries thrive on the foundations of skilled, dedicated, and innovative individuals.

DIT Director Dr. Patrick Byakatonda congratulated the graduates and encouraged them not to stop at this certificate but to aim higher by furthering their learning to fulfill Uganda’s huge industrial capacity. “As we think about the future, we must think about Uganda, our Nation has a huge industrial capacity with one of the most innovative workforces globally. I thank the stewardship of Odrek (Rwabwogo) for unleashing industrial potential for global excellence.”

PACEID Head of Secretariat, Matthew Bagonza expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in organizing the graduation. “I am grateful to all the stakeholders involved in organizing this remarkable event. This is a testament to the fruitful partnership between PACEID and DIT, which has empowered skilled individuals and certified them after thorough assessments upon completion of their training programs in their respective fields.” he said before taking the opportunity to communicate PACEID’s mandate of boosting Uganda’s exports and increasing foreign earnings by an extra USD 6Bn in the next five years and USD 100Bn by 2062.

Kole District Member of Parliament Hon. Opio Samuel Acuti applauded PACEID for the vital role it is playing in realizing the vision for a more industrialized and export-oriented Uganda. “We are proud to support this initiative and witness the fruit of this partnership with the Directorate of Industrial Training. This is a momentous occasion for the Ankole region. These graduates represent the future leaders and innovators who will drive Uganda’s industrial and economic growth.”

The Africa Global Chamber of Commerce in Chicago in the state of Illinois in partnership with the Uganda Exports Advisory Committee (PACEID) on Friday hosted over 40 African American businesses in a drive to find buyers of Uganda’s agricultural and mineral products and attract investment in Uganda’s food value chains. The meeting which was attended by bankers, investment and finance, pharmaceutical firms, hospitality companies, leaders of the city of Chicago, representatives of the Illinois House of Representatives, faith leaders in the black community, and business people from the state of Detroit, was organized by Dr. Olivier Kamanzi, Uganda’s trade representative in the USA. Ugandan diaspora led by the former President of the Uganda North American Association (UNAA) Ms. Henrietta Wamala Nairuba attended the meeting along with other Ugandans.

Speaking at the event on Friday evening, the chairman of PACEID, Odrek Rwabwogo gave the history of the relationship between the USA and Uganda in trade, said “Every business or country can compete on multiple fronts based on its resources and products but Uganda has a deeper point of difference it offers the world”. This he said, “is the uniqueness of her centrality on the African market in both geography and free enterprise, market openness, skilled human resource easy to train for high-value production and the availability of raw materials to drive high growth industries such as semi-conductor chip making, electric vehicles and the emerging USD200bn health foods industry in the USA”.

Rwabwogo added, “We have had good leadership very much underestimated yet highly effective like your own Abraham Lincoln who saved your country from the curse of slavery and kept your union in 1864. Uganda’s current leadership has been so pivotal in shaping a stable and growing society in our region yet often misunderstood”. He gave an account of Uganda’s history praising President Yoweri Museveni and calling him ‘the Abraham Lincoln of Uganda who helped our country restore a sense of dignity and stability that we never had since 1962”.

President Yoweri Museveni attended the first trade and investment summit of the USA and Uganda in December 2022 in Chicago. Uganda’s coffee, vanilla, leather, fruits and banana flour companies exhibited at the event and took orders for supplies to the retail outlets in the Chicago area. PACEID with a target of USD6bn in fresh revenues in exports has been opening markets, setting food safety standards, and working on infrastructure along with efforts to provide low-cost funding for exporting firms. PACEID plans to open a trade hub with the Ugandan diaspora in the city of Chicago.

Dr. Kamanzi told the gathering, “I grew up in Switzerland and I had never been to Uganda till a year ago and I was blown off by the immense opportunity, the green of the country, its freshness and tastiness of the fruits, its game parks and how welcoming the people are. I think American companies can use Uganda as a base not just to process and export good agricultural products but also get higher returns in investment more than any parts of the world”.

Dr. Kamanzi, who is organizing the first Pan African trade, exports, culture and investment summit in Kampala in June this year, invited African American entrepreneurs like Mr. Robert Blackwell who is a manufacturer of table tennis equipment, Ms. Patricia Hanes of the Chicago Supplier Development Council,  Mr. Larry Ivory, President of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce,  Mr. Ousman Conteh, Vice President of the Chicago Hotels Association, Mr. Rifet Durmick Vice President of the BMO Bank and many others to plan their journey to Kampala and “see for yourselves the opportunity in Uganda”.

Mr. Blackwell, a leading African American entrepreneur in Chicago and a friend of former President Barack Obama, later held a private meeting with Odrek Rwabwogo and called for greater connection between Africa and African Americans. He said, “Africa has not taken seriously the bonds of friendship and relations between the continent and their kin in the USA as partners in enterprise development and economic growth”. He added that “corporations in India and China have done a good job connecting their people to the diaspora in the USA and Africa needs to take a cue”

The Commissioner of the Board of Cook County, one of the largest counties in the USA with a budget of over USD6.9bn, Ms. Donna Miller, spoke of the need for a stronger trade and cultural relationship between Uganda and the state of Illinois. The Mayor of the City of Chicago who was represented by Aldermans William Hall and David Moore called for an education exchange program between Uganda and the city of Chicago.

The meeting was also attended by Cody Lorance, one of Uganda’s trade representatives in the USA who spoke about the Endiro Coffee experience trading in the USA in specialty coffees at a consumer level. Endiro has a coffee outlet in the city of Aurora, an hour’s drive north of Chicago city. The PACEID team drove to the city of Aurora on Saturday to gain a better understanding of the coffee and other products retailing needs. The PACEID team will be in Washington DC this week to follow through on trade commitments between Uganda and the USA and hold a conference at the national press club.

ENPING, China:

The Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) trade and export delegation visiting China over the weekend held an inspection tour of one of China’s largest integrated textile plants and asked the owners to channel part of their operation in Uganda under incentives that will allow them to supply the Africa market. The Kamhing Textile Company owned by Mr. Tai Chin Wen with his family and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange has annual revenues of USD600m and processes 100million kilograms of cotton from lint, yarn, and fabric including knitting, printing, dying, and sells to western retail outlets such as Macy’s, Target, Walmart in the US and high fashion sports brands such as Nike and Adidas.

“We do not know much about Uganda and Africa and how to invest there, especially in a delicate product like cotton fabrics. We are not sure about water because we use a lot of steam, the levels of electricity stability, and the overall safety and security of the continent. If you can guarantee these things, we would consider a visit to explore the possibility of a partnership with the Government to source cotton and produce fabrics for the market there” said Mr. Tai Chin. Kamhing Textile Factory has product outlets on over 300 acres handling an integrated textile production, supplying Africa, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and many parts of Asia. “We can invest in phases if there are certain guarantees,” said Mr. Dai, General Manager of the company. The company which employs 5000 people has production facilities in Enping and Guangzhou regions in the southwest of China, with headquarters in Hong Kong.

Odrek Rwabwogo who led the nine-person delegation including Ambassador Kiema Kilonzo, Brenda Opus, Allan Mugisha, Joshua Akandwanaho, Enock Isingoma, and others, assured the company saying that “Uganda is at a critical stage of production increases of all agricultural commodities, a young and highly educated labor force and electricity provision at only USD5cents for manufactures. Next year, when we begin production of oil, we anticipate the beginning of a thriving petrol chemical industry that will provide us with dyes for printing for the cotton industry. If you invest today, you are an early bird and President Museveni will offer you all fiscal and market protection to give the country scale in this sector”.

Uganda’s per capita consumption of fabric per annum is 6 meters and total consumption is about 276million square meters, spending substantial amounts of foreign exchange importing used clothing. Both Fine Spinners and Nytil cotton factories in Kampala do not make a significant difference in domestic cloth consumption for imports, giving space for more large-scale investments in the sector to drive productivity at farm and firm levels.

PACEID aims to attract investment in the value chains of the products the country has set its sights on raising USD 6Bn in external earnings in the next five years.

Benton Technologies Company, one of Shenzhen’s leading manufacturers of laptop computers, tablets, desktops, and makers of educational software will be investing USD30m in an assembly and production plant of one million laptops and tablets for Uganda’s primary and secondary schools. The company officials led by Mr. Li Kaifu and Mr. Victor Zhang on Saturday conducted the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) delegation in their high-level 20,000 square meter manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Shenzhen city of Guangdong province. The facility employs 300 people and produces 2000 units per day.

PACEID’s nine-person trade and export delegation comprising of government and private sector officials, was led by Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo. The team was in China to conduct buyer-seller sessions for Ugandan agro-industrial products for the China market and attract investments in food and mineral processing in Uganda. Shenzhen town, which is close to Hong Kong, is one of China’s fastest-growing electronics and export centers in the world. PACEID hopes to attract Chinese wholesale and distribution companies for Uganda’s food products. Uganda has a target of new USD6bn in five years from coffee, grains, dairy, beef, bananas, poultry, fruits and vegetables, tourism, cement, steel, and some others from the thirteen key products the government is focusing on. PACEID has set a target of USD100bn work of exports by 2062 when Uganda makes a century as an independent country.

Benton Technologies, said Mr. Li Kaifu, “integrates design, research, and development and is a producer of high-quality products in the computing industry for schools and institutions” He said, “It is a great opportunity to partner with Uganda and fulfill the vision of President Yoweri Museveni to add value to your mineral products by assembling some of our products in Uganda”. He added, “Uganda has provided good incentives to us and if we keep to the schedule, we should be able to bring in some inputs and assemble as soon as practicable”.

The company which sells its products to Amazon, AT&T, Rakuten, and Target Retail, some of the largest retailers and telecommunications providers in the USA, visited Uganda in January this year and met President Museveni who requested them to fulfill the vision of a growing computing industry to support manufacturing in Uganda. The company produces seven- and fourteen-inch children’s tablets for schools, mini personal computers, Point of sales (POS) machines, and conference projection equipment. 

Benton Technologies supplies 30 percent of its products to the US market,15 percent to Africa and the rest to the EU and South America market. It has 31 international customers including the governments of Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Kenya and Tanzania. The computing chip sets the company uses are made in partnership with USA’s Qualcomm and South Korea’s Samsung. Odrek Rwabwogo told the Benton Technologies team, “Uganda needs to graduate from the importation of PCs and tablets which cost us more than USD160m annually, and begin assembly and eventual manufacturing of these items in the country.

“The cables, circuit boards, plastic coverings, packaging material, can all be produced in Uganda if we are disciplined and enforce standards and stop taking manufacturing with a sense of casualness”. He added, “I am impressed that the village of Shenzhen of forty years ago, where Deng Xiaoping passed in 1992 before retiring and said China will never be poor again, now receives orders of high-level products from all over the world and it is an excellent city to work and live. I believe that our country too can do this very soon if we keep focused”

Rwabwogo urged Benton Technologies to think through a full value proposition to Uganda incorporating energy solutions for the laptops to village schools, and internet accessibility to facilitate studies for studies and repairs and maintenance online. He also asked to think through a good distribution network that ensures products reach students and schools on time and are kept in good working condition for at least six years.

On Sunday, the PACEID delegation traveled to the region of Xiamen to meet coffee processors and other commodity off-takers.

On the Wednesday, 1st of May 2024, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) and the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), in collaboration with the Purple Skills Klinic Foundation led by Douglas Lwanga, held a graduation ceremony at Eden Grounds in Kamwokya. The event marked the successful completion of a skilling training program by over 100 individuals, encompassing diverse fields; cosmetology, soap making, deejaying, baking, photography/videography, modeling, public speaking, graphic designing, and various other vocational skills among others.

The key speakers at the event were Dr. Patrick Byakatonda, the Director of DIT, and Matthew Bagonza, the Head of the Secretariat for PACEID. During their speeches, they congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to put the skills they had acquired to good use by contributing to the growth of the economy.

During his speech, Matthew Bagonza conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the graduands and thanked Douglas Lwanga for the initiative that is aimed at bettering the lives and livelihoods of the people in the ghettos of Kamwokya before committing continued support for the Purple Skills Klinic going forward.

“The partnership between PACEID and DIT has been instrumental in equipping these young people with the necessary skills to thrive in various industries. We are confident that they will utilize their newfound knowledge and expertise to contribute to the success of Uganda’s exports and industrial development.” Bagonza said adding that the graduates now can use newfound expertise to add value to their respective products and contribute to Uganda’s target of USD 6Bn in the next five years.  

Dr. Patrick Byakatonda took the opportunity to commission the graduates of the Purple Skills Klinic where the graduates were awarded modular occupational competence-based certificates in their respective fields. “The skills they have learned will be invaluable and I believe they will play a crucial role in the nation’s economic growth.”

One of the guest speakers at the ceremony, Duncan Abigaba, a graduate student of international business at the Higher School of Economics in Saint Petersburg, Russia, expressed his delight at being part of the occasion. He extended his gratitude to PACEID for its contribution to empowering the youth in the ghetto with practical and employable skills.

Abigaba emphasized the significance of skilled labor in economic development and advocated for the promotion of locally produced goods in the international market. “Economies are built by skilled people not educated people. I encourage you to use your skills to produce quality goods and services that align with the national, regional, and international standards.”

Amidst the celebratory atmosphere, the graduates were treated to captivating performances by renowned entertainers including Pastor Wilson Bugembe, Nina Roz, Fefe Bussi, and Karole Kasita. These artistes imparted words of encouragement to the graduates, urging them to persevere and continue creating employment opportunities within their respective fields of expertise.

Douglas Lwanga, the Founder of Purple Skills Klinic applauded the joint efforts of PACEID and DIT for their support towards the success of the ceremony. “Thank you Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo, I know you are not here with us today but we appreciate the good work you and your team are doing not only for us but for the entire country.”

This served as a testament to the positive impact of collaborative initiatives aimed at nurturing vocational skills and enabling economic empowerment within communities. As the graduates embark on their professional journeys, they carry with them not only a certificate of accomplishment but also a sense of purpose and determination to contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s socio-economic landscape.

The graduation ceremony was attended by government officials, industry leaders, and community members, all of whom celebrated the achievements of the graduates and their potential to contribute to the country’s economic prosperity. Prominent among these were Hon. Shamim Malende, Kampala Woman Member of Parliament, and Hon. Odoi Onen, Youth member of Parliament for the Eastern region.

By Victor Musiimenta

In Guangzhou 

A nine person Uganda trade and exports delegation led by Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), on Friday April 26th, 2024, rallied several Chinese agro-industrial companies that are product off-takers and investors in Guangzhou, Guangdong province of China, to focus on Uganda as a source of good agricultural products. 

The meeting which was attended by over 80 product buyers, investors in agriculture, mining, electronics, logistics and education services was held at the Oriental Resort Hotel just outside Shenzhen city. Rwabwogo praised the leadership of China since 1949 for providing a good example to developing countries on how to restore a nation, make it rich and strong saying, “city of Shenzhen which began experimentation with the Free zones export idea in the 1990s has led China’s economic resurgence and growth in the last 40 years”. The event was co-hosted by the Institute of African studies of the Guangdong university of foreign studies and CN light technologies, manufacturers of LED screens, computers, electronics and household goods. The event coincided with the annual Canton trade fair in China which takes place from April in the city of Shenzhen.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Liu Jisen, head of the Institute of African studies challenged Ugandan producers to ensure sustainability of supplies they promise to China. “We are working with importation of beef from Zambia. Why would we not try Ugandan beef? It is because we are not sure that even when you fulfill standards required in China, you will sustain the import demand here. China demands more food products and your consistency will be an issue if you do not plan ahead” he said. Prof. Liu asked how many products entry protocols Uganda has signed with China and requested to sign an understanding with the Ministry of Education’s Department of Industrial Training (DIT) in order to improve skills for Ugandan exporters. Uganda has Quota free duty-free product entry into China for more than 90 percent of her agricultural products but few protocols on standards and compliance measures on food safety have been signed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and fisheries.

China which exports more than USD1.3bn annually to Uganda has made a case for Uganda’s avocados, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, Sesame, coffee, dried chili peppers, macadamia, castor oil and seeds, sorghum, cocoa and many more products but few Ugandan firms have been able to supply them. Uganda last year sold less than USD100m to China. The airport of Baiyun in Guangzhou handles more than 26million passengers and over 1.8million tones annually. The city and port of Guangzhou is one of the top ten import centers for China. Rwabwogo who presented the history of the trade relations with Asia from the year 1455 with Africa and the current changes Government of Uganda through PACEID has instituted to drive the target of USD6bn, assured the buyers of Uganda’s capacity to use export credit funding for firms that get orders. 

He said “we are improving the phytosanitary standards for our food products, modernizing our laws and regulations and their enforcement and also establishing trade representation in key markets. These are some of the new measures President Yoweri Museveni is applying to remove doubts from buyers of our food”. He added, “we are creating critical awareness about Uganda as a good source of products because of the reforms we are making in infrastructure such as energy, roads and water to reduce production costs for firms and improve the business environment”. Uganda has lately experienced a surge in production of commodities such as coffee, dairy and beverages and Government is investing approximately USD400m annually in Parish development model (PDM) to spur more household production. PACIED aims at connecting markets to the Uganda makes and encourages young people to use new technological channels to trade in the external markets being opened”. PACEID which works as a catalyst for ministries and departments of government that deal with exports and manufacturing, is building export product consortiums at regional level in order to make it easier for aggregators, transporters, financiers and investors in Agri value addition to source easier from Uganda.

The Uganda Consul General to Guangzhou, Dr. Judith Nsababeera who attended the PACEID buyer-seller summit, said, “We are building our own headquarters here for the embassy and we will work with PACEID to have an information centre and Trade Hub for Uganda products”. Uganda sells through Hong Kong small volumes of meat products including Fish maws, casein (ingredient of milk), coffee and grains such as simsim and more. The meeting which was attended by packaging, mining and electrical companies also had firms such as the Guangdong import and export company, wire and cable manufactures, Tourism related firms led by Kenten Structures Limited that specializes in large exhibitions, logistics and many others. 

Earlier in the day, the Ugandan delegation met the provincial government officials of Guangdong and visited CN lights company, meeting with senior officials of the firm. The delegation was conducted around the manufacturing facility which makes LED lights and solar panels. The company is investing more than USD30m in the next five years in an assembly and production plant for tablet computers, solar lights and other household appliances in Uganda. CN light which began in 1992, is listed on the stock exchange in Shanghai. It is led by Mr. Watson Chai and Mr. Dai Jen Wei. It has subsidiaries in production of textiles and fabrics, electronics, data security and computing. The company signed a memorandum of Understanding with PACEID to pursue the search for off takers of Ugandan products and investors in mining and agriculture.

The PACEID team which includes Ambassador Kiema Kilonzo consultant on regional trade and officials from NITA, will today, Saturday visit Foshan region to inspect computer production plants, textile companies and meet retailers of agricultural products.