Experts say that developing a strong, dynamic private sector is crucial for sustainable development and job creation in Uganda. These remarks were made during “spotlightUg,” which aired on NBS Television Monday night under the theme “Government of Uganda Funding for Development.”
During the discussion, Mildred Barungi, Manager of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), urged the government to support private‑sector growth and build resilience. “If you have read our National Development Plan III, the government agenda is to industrialise, and we have a full programme on agro‑industrialisation. It is very important for the government to support and fund development projects because you cannot leave everything in the hands of the private sector,” she said.
Barungi explained that, although Uganda has a vibrant private sector, it remains weak, necessitating greater government intervention. “The government can work together with the private sector, and that is exactly what UDC is doing. We come in, work with the private sector, we hand‑hold them until they are able to stand on their own,” she added. She emphasized the need for more large‑capacity industries to employ workers directly and indirectly. “The government has the responsibility—not just a mandate—to ensure that no one is poor or jobless. It is important for the government to intervene because the private sector cannot carry the entire mantle on its own,” Barungi said.
In January, President Museveni criticized past regimes for undermining the private sector and limiting its ability to create jobs. He claimed that, unlike those regimes, the National Resistance Movement has created a favourable environment that attracts local and foreign investment. “Now that we have enough electricity, good roads, among other improvements, the government is prioritising industrialisation to curb the hemorrhagic costs of excessive importation of items that can competitively be produced in Uganda,” Museveni said.
The president also urged universities across the country to teach courses that meet the private‑sector job market. He believes that aligning education with market needs will help address unemployment, which many experts attribute to a lack of employable skills, limited access to resources such as land and capital, and other economic challenges.
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