The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has urged Uganda to overhaul its manufacturing and export sectors to realize its ambition of expanding the economy tenfold to $500 billion, according to Nwanne Vwede-Obahor, the UNDP Resident Representative in Uganda. Speaking at the Engineering Development and Innovation Co-creation Forum in Rwebiteete, Kiruhura District, on Thursday, Vwede-Obahor stressed that the Tenfold Growth Strategy requires concrete structural changes rather than mere aspirations. She emphasized that manufactured goods must nearly double as a share of exports, with medium- and high-technology manufacturing rising from 21% to 50%, and merchandise exports increasing from 13% of GDP to 50% of GDP. These targets, she stated, are not abstract but critical for economic transformation.
Vwede-Obahor highlighted the necessity of shifting Uganda’s economy from an agrarian base to higher-value industrial production, advocating for increased output of precision equipment, machinery, and technology-driven products. This shift, she said, would reduce reliance on low-value raw material exports. The Smart Manufacturing Centre in Kiruhura, established under the National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Innovation Skills Enhancement Project, was presented as a key platform for this transition. The facility aims to equip Ugandans with skills in reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, and machine assembly, while reducing dependence on imported tools and fostering local innovation and employment.
The forum, attended by stakeholders in engineering, technology, and manufacturing, focused on strengthening industrial capabilities and local production. Vwede-Obahor underscored the importance of transforming such centers from demonstration spaces into functional hubs for skills development, innovation, and commercial manufacturing. She noted UNDP’s collaboration with the Technology and Innovation Secretariat to operationalize the initiative, stating that these facilities must serve as practical platforms rather than symbolic projects. The event also underscored the role of engineering innovation in addressing Uganda’s economic challenges and unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth.
The UNDP’s call comes amid broader discussions on Uganda’s economic strategy, including efforts to leverage mineral wealth, manage public debt, and align with global financing rules. While the Smart Manufacturing Centre represents a step toward industrialization, experts warn that achieving the $500 billion target will require sustained investment in infrastructure, policy reforms, and capacity building. Vwede-Obahor’s remarks reflect a growing emphasis on manufacturing as a cornerstone of Uganda’s long-term economic resilience and inclusive development.