This archive report was first published on 23 November 2019.
On Friday, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni officially launched Uganda's first mobile phone manufacturing and assembling plant in Namanve, Kampala. The facility, established by Chinese firm Engo, is expected to produce SIMI-branded handsets.
At full capacity, the factory will operate three production lines, each producing 2,000 feature phones, 1,500 smart phones, 800 laptops, 2,000 chargers, 4,000 USB cables, and 4,000 sets of earphones daily. The plant will directly employ over 400 staff.
President Museveni expressed his happiness with the Chinese solidarity with Uganda and Africa, stating that the country's economy has grown to $35 billion using the normal method of calculating GDP. He also highlighted the need to overcome corruption among public servants as the only remaining challenge for his government.
According to the State Minister for Investment and Privatization, Evelyn Anite, manufacturing phones locally will reduce the country's import bill. She added that a phone will cost only Ush20, 000 ($5), and encouraged Ugandans to buy products made in Uganda for the growth, development, and betterment of the country.
ICT Minister Frank Tumwebaze noted that one of the cost-push factors for internet is the failure by people to afford devices that can connect to the internet. He also mentioned that a plan is underway to connect all industrial parks to the National Backbone infrastructure, reducing the costs of internet connectivity for investors.
Published on November 23, 2019.
