Uganda Pushes Construction Sector Reforms to Empower Local Firms and Create Jobs

The Ugandan government has initiated a fresh push for reforms within the country’s construction sector. The strategy aims to empower local contractors, boost domestic manufacturing, and expand access to affordable financing so that Ugandan businesses can capture more value from national infrastructure investments.

Speaking at the third Annual Doing Business Forum held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, Works and Transport Minister Byamukama—representing Minister of State for Works Siraj Ali—noted that these measures align with Uganda’s broader economic vision. The nation is targeting an ambitious economic expansion from $65 billion to $500 billion by the year 2040.

According to the ministry, achieving this tenfold growth requires robust domestic industries capable of driving infrastructure development, ramping up production, and generating mass employment. Officials stressed that local contractors must be equipped to compete effectively for major projects, reducing the heavy reliance on foreign firms.

Key interventions highlighted during the forum include securing long-term, affordable financing, imparting industry-relevant skills, and scaling up domestic manufacturing to enhance competitiveness. Furthermore, the proposed Construction Industry Development Bill was spotlighted as a vital regulatory milestone needed to tackle structural bottlenecks and strengthen the entire sector.

The gathering convened key stakeholders from government ministries, departments, development partners, and the private sector. Discussions centered on unlocking opportunities across the construction value chain under the theme, “Unlocking Uganda’s Tenfold Growth through the Construction Value Chain: Regulatory Reform, Local Capacity and Infrastructure Investment.”

For more details on this development, read the original report on Nile Post.