Roofings rolls out new steel plant as Museveni pushes local manufacturing

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissioned Phase IV Level 2 of the Ultra-Modern Rolling Mill Complex at Roofings Group’s industrial facility in Namanve, Mukono District, describing the investment as a major milestone in Uganda’s drive towards industrialisation and self-sufficiency.

The new facility is expected to deepen local value addition, reduce reliance on imported steel intermediates and expand Uganda’s capacity to manufacture higher-value steel products for the domestic and regional markets.

Speaking at the inauguration, President Museveni said Uganda’s industrialisation strategy must be viewed against the historical disruption of African manufacturing and artisanship during colonial rule, which left many African economies dependent on exporting raw materials.

He recalled that when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came to power in 1986, its Ten-Point Programme identified the monetisation of the economy and development of an independent, integrated and self-sustaining economy as key priorities.

Museveni said regional integration was equally important because a larger market gives local manufacturers the confidence to invest and expand.

“A strong market makes it easy for wealth creators to succeed. All they want is a market, and by having a big and sure market, we will create jobs and wealth,” he said.

The President commended Roofings Group Chairman, Dr. Sikander Lalani, for investing in Uganda’s industrial transformation, noting that the company initially imported intermediate products from Japan before adding value to them locally.

He said Roofings has achieved about 54 percent local value addition, while its turnover has grown to approximately Shs1.2 trillion and exports to about US$70 million.

Museveni said the company’s latest investment represents another step towards producing intermediate inputs locally rather than importing them.

He also pointed to Uganda’s substantial iron ore deposits, including high-grade ore with purity of about 65 percent, as a foundation for developing a competitive domestic steel industry.

Industrial investment

The new rolling mill forms part of a wider modern industrial complex incorporating a cold rolling mill, edge-trimming line, galvanising line and colour-coating line.

The cold rolling mill is a four-high facility designed to further process steel and enable production of higher-value products within Uganda.

The investment is therefore expected to strengthen local manufacturing while creating employment and reducing the amount of foreign exchange spent on imported steel products and intermediates.

Museveni also highlighted the role of international cooperation in Uganda’s industrial development, noting that Roofings has sourced technology and products from countries including Italy and Japan, while Chinese companies have participated in construction of the plant.

“This is how you link all of them—the Italians, Japanese and Chinese. Cooperation is the way to go,” he said.

Government support

Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Sanjay Tanna congratulated Roofings Group for its long-term investment in Uganda, describing the Namanve plant as a vote of confidence in the NRM Government.

Tanna attributed the growth of Uganda’s manufacturing sector partly to peace and stability, which he said have enabled investors to establish and expand factories.

He also cited the reduction in industrial electricity tariffs as an important factor in improving the competitiveness of manufacturers.

Dr. Sikander Lalani thanked Museveni for inaugurating the facility and credited Uganda’s peace and security for creating an environment in which Roofings could expand.

“Thank you for the peace and security, for which, if it wasn’t for peace, Roofings would not succeed,” Lalani said.

He urged continued investment in reliable electricity and railway infrastructure to support industrial production and lower transportation costs.

Roofings Group Director Oliver Lalani said Uganda and the wider East African region offer significant opportunities for steel manufacturers because of population growth, economic expansion and increasing demand for quality construction materials.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working with government to strengthen Uganda’s steel industry and serve the growing regional market.

The inauguration brought together government ministers, officials, private-sector representatives and other stakeholders, underscoring the growing importance of manufacturing and value addition to Uganda’s economic transformation agenda.