The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has launched a nationwide initiative to link Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with large manufacturers operating within the country’s industrial parks and free zones, in a strategic push to strengthen domestic supply chains.
The program, currently in its pilot phase, seeks to profile capable SMEs across Uganda to identify those able to meet the quality, compliance, and production standards demanded by anchor investors.
Through the exercise, the Authority will assess firms’ technical readiness, production capacity, certification status, and scalability potential. SMEs that need support will benefit from targeted capacity-building interventions to prepare them for structured supply chain participation.
“Our objective is deliberate linkage,” said Eria Kaweireku, Deputy Director of the Domestic Investment Division at UIA. “By connecting local enterprises to established manufacturers within industrial parks and free zones, we are supporting SME growth while deepening local content participation in Uganda’s industrialization agenda.”
The initiative prioritizes four sectors: agro-processing, wood and furniture, textiles and garments, and pharmaceuticals. Selected SMEs will be connected to market off-takers through subcontracting arrangements and structured supplier development programs, enhancing competitiveness while fostering job creation and value addition.
A key focus is on women-led enterprises. Elizabeth Kasenene, President of the African Women in Processing (AWIP) Uganda Chapter, described the government’s backing of the AWIP Industrial Park model as a “landmark breakthrough” that provides women entrepreneurs with subsidized, certified factory spaces, shared processing facilities, tailored financial instruments, and guaranteed off-take agreements.
She emphasized that this approach could position women-owned businesses as competitive players within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) marketplace.
Peter Kuria, African Union Tech Expert, praised Uganda’s leadership in driving inclusive industrialization and reaffirmed continued AU support for the full operationalization of AWIP Industrial Parks.
By integrating SMEs into formal industrial supply chains, UIA aims to cultivate a more resilient and inclusive industrial ecosystem, promote import substitution, and ensure that Uganda’s industrial growth is powered by its homegrown enterprises.