“Namukekera is not just an industrial park — it’s a blueprint for how Africa can build prosperity from the ground up.”

🏭 From Rural Roots to Global Markets – Namukekera’s Industrial Revolution | #UKAfricaSummit2025

Eng. Ronald Kibuuka, Chief Engineer, Namukekera Industrial Park | Technical Advisor, Office of the President of Uganda Event: UK–Africa Business, Trade & Investment Summit 2025 Date: 12 September 2025 Venue: The Royal Horseguards Hotel & One Whitehall Place, London At the 15th UK–Africa Business, Trade & Investment Summit, Eng. Ronald Kibuuka, Chief Engineer of Namukekera Industrial Park and Technical Advisor in the Office of the President of Uganda, presented a powerful case for structured, scalable, and inclusive industrialisation — positioning the Namukekera Industrial & Logistics Hub as a national model for agro-industrial transformation.

A National Model for Growth and Inclusion

Located just 65 km from Kampala, Namukekera has become Uganda’s fastest-growing industrial zone. Since 2015, it has expanded from one to twenty-four industries — averaging two new industries per year — driven by effective public–private collaboration and presidential technical oversight.

“When government, industry, and community work together, growth becomes both inclusive and sustainable.” — Eng. Ronald Kibuuka

Agro-Industrial Integration and Rural Empowerment

Namukekera supports Uganda’s agro-industrialisation agenda, a pillar of Vision 2040 that aims to generate $200 billion of the country’s projected $500 billion economy. The hub integrates 15,000 acres of farmland across Kyankwanzi, Nakaseke, Luwero, and Kiboga, linking smallholder farmers directly to processing, storage, and export operations. Its Farmer Services Centre provides subsidised inputs, access to mechanisation, and training in climate-smart agricultural practices — enabling a shift from subsistence to commercially viable participation in global value chains.

Value-Added Exports and Industrial Diversification

• Aqua City: exporting catfish flour to the UK and DRC.
• Avocado City: producing premium avocado oil for regional markets.

Upcoming investments include snack processing and pharmaceutical-grade starch production — reducing import dependency while expanding Uganda’s export base.

“We have land, a working model, and demand. What we now need are partners to scale.” — Eng. Ronald Kibuuka

Infrastructure, Innovation & Investor Opportunities

The park’s structured zoning minimises land disputes and optimises access to utilities, logistics, and digital systems. Investment-ready opportunities include:

• Pharmaceutical-grade starch development (7,700 acres available)
• Agro-processing and export manufacturing
• Technology-enabled logistics and packaging
• Green industrial infrastructure and renewable energy systems

Namukekera’s design demonstrates that industrialisation can be both inclusive and green — combining efficiency with sustainability.

A Scalable Model for National and Regional Replication

Supported by Operation Wealth Creation and the Office of the President, Namukekera’s framework aligns with Uganda’s 10x Growth Strategy, emphasising agro-processing, logistics, and pharmaceuticals as key drivers of transformation. The model is informing replication across other industrial zones — creating an interconnected ecosystem that merges rural productivity, industrial innovation, and export readiness.

Key Takeaway

Namukekera Industrial Park exemplifies Uganda’s readiness to scale inclusive, sustainable industrialisation. By aligning agriculture, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship, Uganda is positioning itself as East Africa’s hub for green, value-driven manufacturing — a future where rural empowerment fuels national competitiveness.

“Namukekera is not just an industrial park — it’s a blueprint for how Africa can build prosperity from the ground up.”