By Ben Ssebuguzi | Head of Research ONC
On our journey to Bombo-Kalule on Luwero road to celebrate Excel vocational 18th anniversary,we saw many industries on the roadside by some OF us who were very incrisitive,a number of them over 100 of them are lined up.We came to appreciate President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni tireless efforts everyday to transform Uganda from a pre capitalistic state to a modern and a prosperous country. Some youths say that agriculture is not cool, and that’s why H.E the President undertakes this direction of industries with nostalgia.
Unfortunately some of us tend to think that it is simply a walk over to bring such people on board to commit their capital in Uganda .It means having an open door policy to receive delegation of investors 24/7.It also means putting enabling policies and laws in place to create an enabling environment.
According to Uganda tax expenditure report FY 2022/23,government spends through the tax system in form of tax exemptions,rate reliefs,allowances,deferrals &credits a staggering figure of Ugx 2.97 trillions . The tax foregone is a sacrifice by the President to make sure that these investors secure jobs for Generation Z. Other countries like China go a head to give subsidies from their resource envelope which sometimes renders industries from developing countries like Uganda uncompetitive.
How can Ugandans appreciate President Yoweri Kaguta Museven tedious journey of industrialising the economy?
As the majority young people who are the biggest stakeholders of this country,with power to influence the consumption and spending choices,we should support The President’s cause by buying these things made from Uganda and shun substitute imports.With over 90 plastic and domestic alluminiam products like source pans and all sorts of kitchen ware!
When we consume these locally made goods in excess numbers,we are able to make the manufacturers operate at excess capacity to realise economies of scale which at the end will lower down the cost of production hence employ more Ugandans.
It is bad as a youths to demand from government on social media how you want to be governed when you can’t be cautious about things that are supposed to make good governance successful. Things like ensuring that government gets more revenue are paramount in order to fund the Judiciary,parliament,local government etc
Good governance can be better achieved when government is able to collect enough revenue from investors to fund UPE,roads to mention but a few hence making the quality of our country better.
But we can’t realise enough revenue from those industries and other investments if Ugandans consume imported items which is a bad syndrome It is a reason we should support President new policy of taxing heavily some items that are a menace to our future. Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) started by Hon.Amelia Kyambadde should not be shelved by Hon.Bahati David’s technocrats at BUBU secretariat in the Ministry of trade but instead,they should come out and support the President’s purpose and vision by increasing awareness about the importance of buying Ugandan products in order to improve the welfare of Ugandans.
Some people will love to shoot down these efforts and achievements of our industrial growth because of the endemic corruption monster that is making Ugandans get fed up. Howerver we should do right things first and buy Ugandan made goods first! And then we shall have a locus to talk about unemployment and corruption.
From only 80 industries in 1986 to over 5000 employing about 1,300,000 Ugandans is a big LEAP and something to celebrate. In conclusion we can only be part of our industrial journey by buying Ugandan goods. The elites also need to note this with importance!!
