How Namanve industrial park is driving Uganda’s tenfold growth strategy

PmldailyJuly 10, 2026Read original

KAMPALA, Uganda — A few years ago, accessing land inside the Kampala Industrial and Business Park in Namanve was a nightmare for businesses. Investors struggled through muddy tracks, delivery trucks routinely became stuck, flooding cut off entire sections of the park during heavy rains, and vast stretches of gazetted industrial land remained undeveloped.

Today, that picture is rapidly changing, and the park has positioned itself as a central driver of the national economic master plan. Modern roads now crisscross the 2400-hectare industrial city, solar-powered streetlights illuminate major routes, drainage channels have significantly reduced flooding, and new factories continue to rise almost every month.

At the heart of this transformation is the Namanve Industrial Park Infrastructure Project, one of Uganda’s largest industrial infrastructure investments, which currently stands at 80 percent completion. Funded through a partnership between the government of Uganda and United Kingdom Export Finance, with additional backing from Standard Chartered Bank, the project is being implemented by the Uganda Investment Authority and constructed by Lagan DOTT Namanve Ltd.

The project is increasingly becoming one of the primary enablers of Uganda’s ambitious Tenfold Growth Strategy. The framework seeks to expand the national economy from approximately US$50 billion to US$500 billion by 2040 through massive industrialisation, value addition and increased exports.

Standing along one of the newly completed roads, Andrew Bamanya, the authorised representative of Lagan DOTT Namanve Ltd and regional director for Lagan Group Ltd, recalled the enormous engineering challenges the project initially presented.

Bamanya said construction started in 2018, but many people do not appreciate that the majority of the area was essentially a swamp. He noted that before laying a single layer of asphalt, engineers had to stabilise the ground by surcharging the soil to create a firm foundation. He added that the process took considerable time but was necessary to build infrastructure that will serve Uganda for decades.

The engineering effort is already paying off for the national economy. When construction began, only about 15 factories were under development despite more than 30 investors having acquired land. Today, the park hosts approximately 480 factories, with nearly 280 already operational.

According to statistics from the Uganda Investment Authority and the Uganda Revenue Authority, businesses operating within the park now contribute about US$3 billion annually in tax revenue.

Bamanya explained that when an infrastructure investment of about 215 million euros is compared against annual revenues of approximately US$3 billion, the economic value becomes very clear. He added that the park has also created around 28000 direct jobs and an estimated 150000 indirect jobs across regional supply chains.

The improved infrastructure has fundamentally changed investor confidence. Factories that once sat on inaccessible plots are now connected by paved roads, reliable electricity, dedicated water supply, fibre optic connectivity and enhanced security systems.

Gerry Cawley, the international business director at Lagan, said the project demonstrates how quality infrastructure creates an enabling environment for industrial growth. Cawley noted that infrastructure is far more than roads and drainage because it creates confidence for investors. He said that when businesses know they can access reliable roads, utilities and services, they invest with certainty, forming the foundation for sustainable industrial growth that will benefit Uganda for generations.

The transformation has been so significant that virtually all industrial plots within the park have now been allocated, and government agencies report continued demand from investors seeking manufacturing space.

While investors are among the biggest beneficiaries, surrounding communities say the infrastructure project has transformed everyday life. Residents of nearby Butto Village remember years when floods regularly submerged homes and roads, making movement almost impossible. Today, proper drainage has greatly reduced flooding, while increased business activity has created new employment opportunities.

Oscar Okiring, a resident of Butto Village, said the changes are impossible to ignore. Okiring recalled that before the roads were built, the area was isolated whenever it rained, affecting homes, businesses and transport. He noted that the community now enjoys better roads, improved drainage and increased security due to the high volume of people and businesses operating there. He added that many young people from the community found employment during the construction phase and within the operational factories.

The improved transport network has equally transformed logistics for the transport sector. Long-distance truck driver Shafiq Walusimbi, who frequently transports goods to factories inside the park, said delivery times have significantly reduced. Walusimbi noted that trucks previously spent hours navigating muddy roads, especially during the rainy season, making deliveries unpredictable. He said movement is much smoother today, transport costs have reduced, and businesses can plan deliveries with confidence.

Economic experts state that efficient transport is essential for maintaining Uganda’s competitiveness in regional and international markets. Beyond roads, the infrastructure project includes comprehensive stormwater drainage, dedicated water supply systems, electricity distribution, fibre optic connectivity, solar street lighting and closed-circuit television surveillance. Together, these investments are positioning Namanve as Uganda’s premier industrial destination.

Jameson Olonya, the contract manager at DOTT Services, said the project represents far more than the construction of roads and utilities. Olonya noted that it is laying the foundation for Uganda’s industrial transformation by providing world-class infrastructure that will attract investment, create jobs and support sustainable economic growth.

According to Olonya, the project demonstrates what can be achieved through strong collaboration between the government of Uganda, development partners, the Uganda Investment Authority and the contractor.

Olonya said the goal has never been simply to complete an infrastructure project, but to create an industrial environment where businesses can thrive, investors have confidence, and communities benefit through employment and improved livelihoods. He added that the project is expected to be substantially completed by the end of the year.

As Uganda pursues its goal of becoming a US$500 billion economy by 2040, projects like Namanve are increasingly viewed as critical economic enablers. Industrial parks provide manufacturers with serviced land, reliable infrastructure, tax incentives and efficient logistics, creating conditions that attract both domestic and foreign investment.

Bamanya said the Kampala Industrial and Business Park is contributing significantly to employment, exports and government revenue. He paid tribute to the government of Uganda, development partners and implementing agencies that made the project possible.

Bamanya said he sincerely appreciates the vision of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, whose commitment to industrialisation continues to drive projects like this. He also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Finance, the Uganda Investment Authority, United Kingdom Export Finance, the British High Commission and all stakeholders whose collaboration enabled the transformation.

For communities surrounding Namanve, the transformation is measured less in economic statistics than in everyday realities of safer roads, reduced flooding, better security, growing businesses and thousands of supported livelihoods. The project has successfully turned what was once an inaccessible wetland into the beating heart of Uganda’s industrial future.