The Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) has called for stronger local capacity, regulatory reforms and increased investment in the construction sector to position Uganda’s construction value chain as a key driver of the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
The call was made on 5 November 2026, at the 3rd Annual Doing Business Forum held at Mestil Hotel, Kampala, where the State Minister for Works, Hon. Siraj Ali, represented the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, delivered the Minister’s remarks and officially opened the Forum.
The Forum was organised by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) under the theme, “Unlocking Uganda’s Tenfold Growth through the Construction Value Chain: Regulatory Reform, Local Capacity and Infrastructure Investment.” It brought together Government officials, private sector players, development partners, financiers, manufacturers, contractors and other industry stakeholders.
In the Minister’s remarks, Government emphasised that Uganda’s ambition to grow its economy from approximately USD 65 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040 will require increased production, investment, job creation, skills development and stronger domestic industries.
The Minister underscored the central role of the construction sector in achieving this ambition, noting that infrastructure investments should go beyond delivering physical assets and deliberately build Ugandan firms, skills, manufacturing capacity and capital.
Key priorities highlighted included strengthening local participation in public procurement, improving payment discipline and access to contractor finance, developing practical and demand-driven skills, and strengthening the institutional framework for the construction industry. The Minister also highlighted plans to advance the Construction Industry Development Bill to strengthen the competitiveness, regulation, formalisation and capacity of players across the construction value chain.
The Forum also featured a series of panel discussions on key issues affecting the construction value chain. One of the discussions focused on the implications for the FY 2027/28 Budget, NDP IV and implementation of the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Eng. Tonny Mugenyi, Commissioner for Construction Industry Development and Regulation at MoWT, participated in this panel alongside Mr. Denis Kidega, Ag. Commissioner for Physical Planning; Eng. Flavia Bwiire, Executive Secretary of the National Building Review Board; and Dr. Ashman Guloba, Director at the National Planning Authority.
Eng. Mugenyi highlighted priorities including stronger regulation, enforcement of local content and subcontracting policies, demand-driven skills development, addressing delayed payments to contractors and improving access to affordable credit.
The Forum was later officially closed by Hon. Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Microfinance).