Africa-Press – Uganda. Investors at Uganda’s Namanve Industrial Park have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the industrial goods levy recently imposed by the Tanzanian government on Ugandan exports.
They argue that the tariff presents a significant barrier to regional trade and undermines the growth of Uganda’s industrial sector.
The concerns were raised during a visit by officials from the Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotion Authority (UFZEPA) to Roofings Group, a leading manufacturer based at Namanve Industrial Park.
Stuart Mwesigwa, Corporate Affairs Manager at Roofings Group, described the levy as a major tariff barrier that reduces Uganda’s competitiveness in the East African market.
He implored government and relevant agencies to quickly intervene.
“The levy slapped on Ugandan goods by Tanzania is a serious barrier to trade. It affects our ability to compete regionally” Mwesigwa said.
He says that this trade barrier hinders Ugandan investors to enjoy the privileges of being a member of East African community there Tanzania should allow them trade freely.
Mwesigwa also pointed out that Uganda is not fully leveraging its natural resources and called on the government to invest in water transport infrastructure on Lake Victoria and Lake Albert.
Improved waterway logistics, he explained, would facilitate more efficient export and import operations and help reduce reliance on regional road networks.
In response, Hon. Fred Jachan Omach Mandir, Chairperson of UFZEPA, pledged the authority’s commitment to engage with regional counterparts and work towards resolving the trade challenges posed by the Tanzanian levy.
He also encouraged local investors to adopt import substitution strategies by making better use of Uganda’s mineral wealth. This approach aims to increase the country’s export contribution from the current 40% to 50%.
“At the same time, we encourage local industries to take advantage of Uganda’s mineral wealth and adopt import substitution strategies that can strengthen our export base.” Omach said.
Hez Kimoomi Alinda, Chief Executive Officer of UFZEPA, said the visit to Roofings Group was intended to understand the factory’s business model and its economic contribution.
The authority aims to support industrial players so they can scale up production, create more jobs, and generate increased government revenue.
“We are here to understand how these industries operate and how they are supporting the country, our goal is to create an environment that allows these manufacturers to scale up, create more jobs, and increase national revenue.”
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
