Metal and Metal Products

Metal working in Uganda comprises of blacksmithery, metal fabrication, foundry shops, steel plants and mechanical workshops (machine and forging shops). The metal working sector is strategic in economic development because the constituent industries manufacture structural metal products such as steel structures for factories and related installations, spare parts, motor vehicle bodies and trailers, domestic appliances, tanks to mention but a few.

The reforms recently implemented by the government such the removal of import bans, elimination of licensing requirements, the reduction of import tariffs, the elimination of export taxes and abolition of the requirements for exporters to relinquish their foreign exchange earning to Bank of Uganda, have opened up a number of sector activities. More specifically, the industries that consume metal products.

The industrial sector of which the metal working sector is part, has been recovering and registering growth rates averaging over 12.2% per annum since 1991. Per capita construction of steel in Uganda is expected to rise to between 12 and 15 kg in the next 2 years.

Some of the industries which consume metal products are sugar, tea, railways, cement plants, cotton ginneries, textile, steel plants, mining, electrical machinery, oil and soap manufacturing.

Opportunities

Various investment opportunities have been identified in the following sub-sectors:

  • Modern foundries to produce metal and metal products;

  • Castings;

  • Manufacture of cutlery, general hardware and hand tools;

  • Manufacture of agricultural machinery;

  • Mining, quarrying and construction machinery;

  • Manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers;

  • Fabrication and moulding of bodies of motor vehicles and trailers;

  • Manufacture of automobile spare parts; and

  • Manufacture of steel tanks, pumps, compressors, taps and valves.

Click here for details of about the opportunities in this sector

Contact us at:
The Investment Centre
Plot 28 Kampala Road
P.O. Box 7148
Kampala - Uganda
Tel: (256-41) 251562/5, 251854/5
Fax: (256-41) 342903
E-mail: info@ugandainvest.com