Museveni Commissions Free Zones Export Facility and Launches AfCFTA Implementation Strategy

By Joella Anshemeza

Uganda’s Government officially commissioned the Free Zones Export Facility and launched the National Implementation Strategy for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The event that took place yesterday at the Uganda Free Zones Authority in Entebbe was presided over the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The event ran under the theme 𝙐𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖’𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙛𝘾𝙁𝙏𝘼 and was attended by key stakeholders including; government officials, business leaders, investors, and representatives from various international organisations.

In his address, President Yoweri Museveni expressed his commitment to Uganda’s economic transformation and the vital role of regional trade in achieving this vision. He highlighted that Uganda’s formal exports to West Africa under the AfCFTA are a major step forward, despite delays that have hindered progress.

He noted that these delays have impacted the private sector and the country’s growth potential: “We cannot afford further delays.” “We must ensure this market expansion proceeds without obstruction,” he added.

The President also acknowledged the support of President Tinubu of Nigeria, particularly for facilitating the opening of Ugandan products to the Nigerian market. He emphasised the importance of Pan-Africanism for economic development, urging African nations to trade more amongst themselves to build shared wealth and drive socio-economic transformation.

President Museveni stressed that Uganda must leverage the African market, as domestic markets alone are insufficient for long-term prosperity.

The President outlined the significance of the Free Zones Export Facility in boosting exports, particularly for high-value agricultural products like coffee, dairy, and fruits. He also highlighted the importance of attracting investments to support the country’s export goals and to increase the value-added processing of key products such as tea, coffee and fish.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Hon. Francis Mwebesa, highlighted the importance of free zones in transforming Uganda’s economy. He emphasised their role in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), boosting exports, generating employment, and promoting technology transfer.

The Minister noted that Uganda’s strategic location in the heart of Africa, coupled with frameworks like the East African Community (EAC), COMESA, and AfCFTA, positions the country as a key player in regional trade.

The Minister also reported significant achievements since the establishment of the Uganda Free Zones Authority (UFZA) in 2014. In the first half of FY 2022/23, Uganda’s free zones generated USD 27.62 million in export earnings and attracted USD 32.98 million in investments. These figures reflect the growing success of Uganda’s free zone initiatives.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Lynnette Bagonza, also spoke at the event, sharing the highlights of Uganda’s AfCFTA Implementation Strategy. She emphasised that while this marks a significant achievement, the real work of implementing the strategy now begins. She expressed gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its support in developing the strategy and stressed the need for collective action to maximise the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA strategy focuses on expanding Uganda’s exports beyond the EAC and COMESA regions to tap into the 1.3 billion people across Africa, with a combined GDP of USD 3.4 trillion. Key areas of focus include; trade facilitation, eliminating non-tariff barriers, harmonising standards, and promoting industrial investments to create jobs and add value to local raw materials.

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), Odrek Rwabogo applauded the progress made under the AfCFTA initiative. He emphasised that Uganda’s commitment to export development is critical for the country’s long-term economic success. He also highlighted the importance of continuous market research, adherence to international standards, and strategic collaborations to fully unlock the potential of the Free Zones and AfCFTA.

“This is just the beginning, we must work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure that these initiatives lead to tangible economic growth for Uganda and the wider African continent,” Rwabogo said.

The launch of the Free Zones Export Facility and the AfCFTA Implementation Strategy marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s efforts to transform its economy through trade. The government, together with its partners is committed to expanding Uganda’s export capacity and driving economic growth through regional integration.tegration.