Uganda has secured one million Euros from COMESA to begin construction of at least one border market in the 2017/2018 financial year and, US$2 million from the World Bank to develop a border market at Mpondwe, in Kasese near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Addressing a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre today, the Minister for Trade Amelia Kyambadde said the government has also finalized the development of feasibility studies for construction of borders markets at Katuna, Elegu, Busia, Lwakhakha, Oraba and Kikagati.
According to Ms. Kyambadde, her ministry has already developed a Master Plan, an Environmental Impact Assessments, Documentation and Designs, Bills of Quantities and bidding documents, for the exercise.
The minister noted that her ministry is focusing on improving the trade environment to enable the private sector take advantage of the market opportunities on the domestic market, and consequently build capacity and competitiveness to join the export market.
Further, Ms. Kyambadde noted that the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) policy is the springboard for increased export trade adding that her ministry will continue working with other ministries, the Private Sector and other stakeholders to ensure increased production in the priority sectors and compliance to the required standards of products and services.
“Domestic markets enable enterprises to harness competitiveness and build capacity, which then makes them competitive enough to export,” Ms. Kyambadde said, adding: “There are many students from abroad who study here, we have doctors in Rwanda, USA that means that we trade services.
Giving a brief overview of BUBU, which was launched by Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda in March 2017, Minister Kyambadde said the policy is yielding positive results, with 90 per cent of the cement used in the construction of Karuma Bridge being supplied by local cement factories.
She also disclosed that the Hima Cement factory had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Communication Construction Company (CCCC), to supply 120,000 tons of cement for three major projects.
