Local manufacturers cry out to Museveni over imports influx undermining BUBU policy

Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, Head of the Office of the National Chairman, in a group photo with Mr Kaka Kasim, Executive Director at Ahmed Raza Foods Industries Ltd and his staff at the factory headquarters in Matugga, Wakiso District on Wednesday, November 05, 2025

Wakiso, Uganda: Ugandan local manufacturers have urged government to intervene against the flood of imported biscuits and confectionery products that continue to undermine Uganda’s Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) initiative and threaten the survival of domestic manufacturers.

The appeal was made during a courtesy visit by Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, the Head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), to Ahmed Raza Foods Industries Ltd, manufacturers of Everyday Biscuit and Wheat Flour in Matugga, Wakiso District.

The company, which employs more than 500 Ugandans, has been in operation since 2007, producing over 500 boxes of biscuits daily under its flagship brand, Everyday Biscuits.

During the visit, the company’s Executive Director, Mr Kasim Kaka, applauded the government for creating a stable investment climate but voiced serious concern over the influx of cheap imported biscuits, particularly from Kenya, Egypt, and India, which have dominated local supermarket shelves.

“Our locally made biscuits face unfair competition from foreign brands that are cheaply imported, often at subsidized rates or through loopholes in tax policy,” Kaka said. “This situation is crippling local industries and killing the very spirit of the BUBU policy that government is championing.”

According to Mr Kaka, the imported biscuits have become commonplace in Ugandan retail outlets, outpricing local products produced by manufacturers, which leaves them with a diminished market scope for their locally made products.

He further noted that while local factories pay full taxes and incur high electricity and raw material costs, importers often benefit from preferential trade arrangements and lower customs tariffs, making it difficult for Ugandan producers to compete. “We need fair regulation and protective measures so that Ugandan-made products can thrive on our own market,” he emphasized.

Hajjat Namyalo (L) interacts with officials at Ahmed Raza Foods Industries Ltd in Matugga, Wakiso District

Mr Kaka also highlighted other obstacles to business growth, including high taxation, rising fuel and electricity costs, and limited access to affordable raw materials, particularly wheat and packaging materials. “Local manufacturers face huge production costs that foreign companies don’t have to deal with. We are committed to quality, but we need policy reforms to stay competitive,” he explained.

Despite these hurdles, he urged other investors to consider Uganda a prime destination for manufacturing, citing the country’s political stability, youthful workforce, and strategic location within the East African market.

Namyalo Promises to Engage President Museveni

In response, Hajjat Namyalo commended the company for its resilience and pledged to present the investors’ concerns to President Yoweri Museveni. She said the government remains committed to strengthening the BUBU initiative and protecting local manufacturers from unfair trade practices.

“The President values local investors and the jobs you create for our young people,” Namyalo said. “I will ensure your concerns about imports and taxation are heard at the highest level. We must make Uganda’s manufacturing sector competitive.”

She also engaged with the workers, most of them youth, urging them to work diligently, live responsibly, and take advantage of government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) for financial empowerment.

ONC Boss Hajjat Namyalo interacts with workers atAhmed Raza Foods Industries Ltd in Matugga, Wakiso District

However, workers voiced frustration, saying their long working hours often prevent them from accessing government programs or parish offices. “Many of us can’t benefit from PDM because we work full-time at the factory and have no time to attend meetings,” said Henry Kasirye, one of the employees.

Others raised concerns about low wages and lack of National IDs, which hinder access to government services, but Hajjat Namyalo encouraged them to start small side businesses to supplement their income and promised to seek empowerment tools and equipment from her office to support them.

BUBU at Risk Without Policy Protection

Economic analysts have long warned that without strong protection mechanisms, Uganda’s Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy could falter as imported consumer goods continue to dominate the market.

Official data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) shows that Uganda imports over Shs 80 billion worth of confectionery products annually, including biscuits, cookies, and wafers; a figure that continues to grow despite local capacity.

This means local manufacturers like Ahmed Raza Foods Industries, Britania Allied Industries, Harris International, and House of Dawda, among others, have the capacity to meet domestic biscuit demand but struggle to match the pricing, packaging, and distribution advantages of foreign competitors.

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