‘Govt has failed to fund Free Zones Authority’

In Summary

The authority is meant to oversee production of goods for exports

The Uganda Free Zones Authority has said it has failed to secure funds from government to set up facilities to ease production of goods exclusively meant for the export market.

Speaking at the United Arab Emirates-Uganda trade and Investment conference at Kampala on Monday, Ms Doreen Kembabazi, the authority’s public relations officer, said apart from acquiring office space and establishing a board, the authority which was set up in 2014, has failed to set up a free zone because it is a capital intensive project which requires about $15m (Shs50b) to set up.

“We have written proposals to government and development partners and now we are looking at countries such as the United Arab Emirates which have more than 43 free zones to come and help us,” she said adding that the concept is not new as it has existed for 20 years in Kenya, 10 in Tanzania and five in Rwanda.

The Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dubai Export Authority have organised the 6th UAE-Uganda trade and Investment conference aimed at helping Ugandan businesses gain access to the Middle East market.

According to Mr Sudeep Mohanty, the UNCCI first vice president, the aim of the conference is meant to change the narrative from Uganda being called a land locked country to a land connected country where 10 percent of its imports come from the United Arab Emirates.

“As a country, we must now be talking of an economy which has transformed rather than an economy in transition,” he said.

sotage@ug.nationmedia.com