MUKONO DISTRICT – State Minister for Industry, Hon. David Bahati, commended Pamoja Packaging and Industrial Solutions Limited for investing in Uganda’s manufacturing sector, saying the project represents the Government’s long-standing ambition of building an independent and self-sustaining economy.
Bahati made the remarks on November 5, 2026, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Pamoja Packaging manufacturing facility at Namanve Industrial Park in Mukono District.
The project, supported by the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), is aimed at strengthening Uganda’s packaging industry through local production of packaging materials used by manufacturers, coffee processors, food and beverage companies, pharmaceutical businesses and other industries.
The proposed facility is expected to manufacture a range of products, including bottle preforms, flexible printed packaging, folded cartons, paper shopping bags and industrial bags, providing local businesses with access to packaging materials without depending entirely on foreign suppliers.
Speaking at the ceremony, Bahati recalled President Yoweri Museveni’s declaration in 1986 that Uganda needed a fundamental change towards an independent and self-sustaining economy. He said the vision, which was also reflected in the Government’s Ten-Point Programme, emphasised import substitution, export promotion and the development of an integrated economy.
He explained that Pamoja’s investment directly supports this vision because local manufacturers and coffee processors would be able to obtain packaging materials from within Uganda instead of importing them, allowing different industries to complement one another.
Bahati also praised the investors for establishing an indigenous company, noting that although Government welcomes both local and foreign investors, Ugandan-owned businesses making investments in the country represent an important contribution to domestic economic development.
He further emphasised that investments play a significant role in creating employment opportunities for Ugandans while generating tax revenue for the national Treasury, which supports Government programmes and service delivery.
The investment is expected to strengthen Uganda’s industrial capacity, reduce reliance on imported packaging materials and create employment opportunities. With support from UDC, which holds a 49 per cent stake in the project, Pamoja Packaging is expected to contribute to the growth of local manufacturing and provide packaging solutions for businesses across the country and the wider region.
