From L-R: Aga Sekalala Jr, the new UMA Chairman, Abid Alam, the chairman of the UMA Advisory Council, Rukia Isanga Nakadama, the 3rd deputy Prime Minister, Deo Kayemba, the former UMA Chairman and a UMA official during the farewell dinner at Hotel Africana
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Uganda Government’s recent reduction in power tariffs will boost local manufacturing, and result into job creation.
Rukia Isanga Nakadama, the 3rd deputy Prime Minister, particularly hailed UMA, under their former Chairperson, Deo Kayemba’s leadership, for their relentless advocacy that led to government-approved tariffs of 5 US cents per kilowatt-hour for manufacturers, significantly enhancing industrial competitiveness and attracting investment.
Nakadama, who represented Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister, urged the manufacturers to harness the regional and continental market, saying full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose full implementation will result into a tax free regime for all products produced on the continent.
“We pledge our continued commitment to reducing non-tariff barriers within the East African Community (EAC) and advancing Uganda’s participation in trade pacts which will boost cottage industries,” she said during the farewell dinner of UMA’s board chairman, Deo Kayemba and welcoming Aga Sekalala Jr, at Hotel Africana recently.
Kayemba said they had for years requested President Yoweri Museveni to provide a tariff of at least 5 US per kwh.
“This came to pass last week when the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) announced new end user tariffs and granted us 5.5 US cents per kWh, which will reduce the costs of manufacturing and make our operations more profitable,” he said.
The incoming UMA chairman Aga Sekalala Jr, expressed his readiness to serve out Kayemba’s term of the remaining one year.
Kayemba served only 3 years of his four-year term. UMA is a body that brings together over 3000 members.
Dr Ezra Muhumuza Rubanda, the UMA ED disclosed that they will soon get a new home. He said President Yoweri Museveni has promised to avail them with a piece of land outside Kampala to construct a new secretariat and exhibition center.
“We have been having high level engagements with President Museveni, who has promised to avail us with land for construction of a new office block and exhibition area, since the current one is becoming smaller by the year,” he said.
