Minister Evelyn wants a 'Uganda Town' to compete with China Town

In a Spaces session on X (formerly Twitter), Anite expressed concern over the dominance of imported products in the Chinese shopping mall and suggested that Uganda should have its own marketplace exclusively dedicated to locally manufactured goods.

“I have been seeing the debate on China Town. All the products in China Town are imported. I want us to have a Uganda Town where we would have all the products being manufactured in Uganda being sold in that market,” she said.

“The fact that it is China Town and all the products sold there are imported from China in a country which has this rate of unemployment, and the only jobs that we can brag about are public service jobs…how can we then start supporting other countries by buying their products?”

State Minister for Investment and Privatisation Hon Evelyn Anite pulse uganda

The hypermarket located in Lugogo caused chaos in the city following its opening early this month with thousands flocking to it for cheap products

The store had to be temporarily closed by police and compelled to put in place better crown management measures.

Mindset change

Speaking about the state of manufacturing in Uganda, the Minister highlighted the shift from an import-dependent economy to an export-driven one. She cited examples like Lato Milk, which has successfully replaced imported products such as Nido. “Our landscape is slowly tilting from an import to an export country,” she noted.

Anite argued that Ugandan-made products are not of low quality, as some critics claim, and highlighted the issue of demand-driven pricing.

“How is it possible that with all the green grass and farms we have, we are still importing beef? How is it possible that with all the forests we have, we are still importing honey?” she asked, urging for more local value addition to reduce reliance on imports.

The Minister also emphasised the role of manufacturing in tackling unemployment, citing government initiatives aimed at supporting the sector, including providing free land to investors.

“We have to realise that we cannot fight unemployment without manufacturing. The jobs in public service are only 470,000, yet with only 10,000 factories, we have so far created 1 million jobs,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Anite highlighted the challenges faced by Ugandan manufacturers, such as being rejected by foreign contractors. She pointed to an incident where contractors at Karuma Dam initially refused to use Ugandan-made iron bars and cement, citing quality concerns.

However, after Ugandan companies met the required specifications, the products were accepted. This, she argued, demonstrates the capability of local manufacturers to meet global standards.

The Minister concluded by urging Ugandans to shift from building arcades to investing in value addition, which she believes would significantly boost the local economy. She also encouraged her fellow Members of Parliament to create jobs through manufacturing instead of giving cash handouts to voters.