Manufacturers to expand UMA Showgrounds to serve more stakeholders
According to Kayemba, due to the increasing significance of the trade fair and the need by members to showcase their products, they are running out of space hence the need to expand by utilizing all their land.
Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) has expressed interest in expanding the UMA showgrounds in Nakawa so that they can serve more members and stakeholders.
The development was revealed by the Chairperson of the Uganda Manufacturers Association, Deo Kayemba, in an exclusive interview with Charmar News during their Annual General Meeting.
“One of them is building along the Nakawa market fence. In our project of market access, we are trying to create some kind of shops facing Nakawa and an exhibition space so that our members who could not build inside the show can buy those lockups or shops under the condominium law, and use them for both exhibition and distribution of their products,” Kayemba said of their plans for the coming year.
He also said UMA is planning to construct office building. “If you notice, our office was built at the beginning of Lugogo Showground. We now want to come up with a new and modern office block that is going to house our secretariat and host some mini-conferences. And it’s great to have meeting rooms for our manufacturers,” he said.
Adding: “If you have somebody coming in from Europe, and you stay in Kagadi, you might not need them to come to Kagadi, you come to UMA and we set up an office for you. Because you are a member, you get this facility at a subsidized fee and you carry on with your business.”
Uganda Manufacturers Association is an umbrella organization that brings together members of the private sector undertaking the manufacture of different products.
Every year, it organizes a trade fair in Kampala and several in different parts of the country.
According to Kayemba, due to the increasing significance of the trade fair and the need by members to showcase their products, they are running out of space hence the need to expand by utilizing all their land.
Kayemba who was retained as the chairperson of the association said his priorities for the next two years will be enhancing the association’s relevance through policy and strengthening its financial position.
“Over the two years, our primary focus was on advocating for manufacturers’ interests and fostering a platform for networking and collaboration. Our scope has significantly broadened from advocating for the competitiveness of manufacturers to embracing the Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) agenda to ensure accountability and sustainability of our industries,” Kayemba said.
