Persistent value chain bottlenecks including high-cost financing, inadequate infrastructure, and limited processing capacity continue to stall Ugandan manufacturers from fully capitalising on local and international markets.
These hurdles took center stage at the recent Stanbic Business Forum, where sector leaders and financial experts gathered to co-create sustainable solutions for industrial growth.
The manufacturing sector remains an irreplaceable pillar of Uganda’s economy.
According to Tunde Thorpe, the Executive Head of Business and Commercial Banking at Stanbic Bank Uganda, the industry drives the country’s growth in highly tangible ways.
“If you think about how much the sector contributes to GDP, it is anywhere between 14% and 16%,” Tunde highlighted. “It represents about 30% of the tax base and employs between one to two million people, directly or indirectly. The manufacturing sector is key to the growth of Uganda.”
Under the theme From Farm to Shelf, the forum focused heavily on agro-processing and localized value addition.
Tunde noted that converting raw harvests into finished, commercial goods is the ultimate vehicle for economic transformation. However, overcoming structural pain points requires a unified front.
“Having recognized that we cannot solve for it alone as a financial institution, it was important to convene a forum that brings all the important players together from policymakers to the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) and financiers,” Tunde added, emphasizing the need to refine Stanbic’s Customer Value Propositions (CVPs) to alleviate client pain points.
Focusing on a holistic approach, Tunde noted that addressing these barriers requires stronger public-private partnerships, modern processing technologies, and improved access to affordable financing.
Thorpe echoed insights from policymakers, stating that if Uganda is truly to grow, it cannot be done “company by company,” but must be handled holistically across the entire value chain to maximize the multiplier effect and mitigate risk.
Furthermore, market access beyond Uganda’s borders remains a critical milestone for local indigenous corporates.
Thorpe advised that manufacturers must aggressively leverage continental free trade frameworks and regional export processing zones to expand market access, meet strict international quality standards, and enhance the global competitiveness of Ugandan products.
To bridge these gaps, Stanbic Bank is already deploying digital and physical collaborative frameworks, such as their One Farm solution, a marketplace designed to seamlessly connect value chain players.
Looking ahead, partners are set to advance these actionable agendas at the upcoming Uganda Manufacturers Association conference on July 30th.