A silent industrial revolution is unfolding at Namukekera Industrial Park in Kapeeka, Nakaseke District, about 62km north of Kampala.
Customers in Europe are placing orders for garments to keep them warm during winter.
Inside a garment factory at the park, dozens of young men and women are working hard to ensure the orders are delivered on time.
To keep the workers busy but relaxed, the supervisor plays music in the background.
“When you receive orders on the scale we do, you must ensure your people are highly motivated,” Ernest Iga, the production supervisor, said.
“Most of our clients are high-end customers who demand top-quality products delivered within tight deadlines. We have to keep everyone focused and motivated,” Iga added.
He explained that some clients are now placing orders for as many as 30,000 garments at a time—nearly 10 times the volume the factory handled just a few years ago.
“Meeting that kind of demand requires skilled and committed workers. You have to keep your troops in top shape,” Iga said during a guided tour of the park organised for journalists by the Uganda Media Centre on July 14, 2026.
Uganda’s garment exports rise
Historically a net importer of clothing, mainly from India and China, Uganda is steadily shifting the balance.
According to Bank of Uganda statistics, garment exports increased from $42.1m, about sh155.3b, to $55.8m, about sh205.8b, in 2025.
The exports are projected to reach $58.5m, about sh215.8b, by the end of 2026.
According to Iga, increased activity is common at the park whenever winter approaches in Europe and other parts of the world.
He said demand for warm clothing rises as temperatures fall abroad, creating lucrative opportunities for Ugandan manufacturers.
“We produce jackets, winter suits and other garments here and export them,” Iga said, noting that each winter suit can sell for around $300, about sh1.1m.
“The more we produce, the more interest we attract from international buyers. We are proud these products are made here and go out there to compete in the major markets.”
According to Iga, most of the company’s products are exported to Greece, France, the Czech Republic and Romania, where demand for its high-quality workwear and combat uniforms continues to rise.
The company currently employs about 500 workers, although the number increases during peak production periods as demand rises ahead of Europe’s winter season, which mainly runs from December to February.
Industrial park promotes import substitution
Namukekera Industrial Park, also known as Liao Shen Industrial Park, was established in 2015 under the stewardship of the chief coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, Gen Salim Saleh.
It was established as part of efforts to promote industrialisation, import substitution and export growth.
The private industrial estate now hosts 26 factories involved in sectors ranging from textiles, electronics and ceramics to household products.
Reflecting on the early days of the park, Gen Saleh said: “When we started the Namukekera Rural Industrial Centre, it was a small, peasant-driven model. Many people doubted it, but we stayed the course.
“That persistence has transformed Kapeeka into a hub of factories, jobs and opportunities—a living testament to what vision, patience and collective effort can achieve for Uganda’s industrial future.”
Today, the park supports the livelihoods of more than 15,000 Ugandans.
Tiles and household goods expand manufacturing base
Beyond textiles, the industrial park has attracted a diverse range of businesses, including manufacturers of ceramic sanitary ware and other household products.
David Mawejje, the administrative manager of Goodwill Ceramic Company, said the development had transformed both production and the surrounding community.
Mawejje told journalists that the company employs about 1,200 workers and produces approximately 40,000 square metres of tiles daily, equivalent to about 20 truckloads.
“About 90% of the materials we use are sourced locally. Producing locally has reduced dependence on imports and saved the country millions of dollars,” Mawejje said.
He added that the factory helps Uganda save more than $20m, about sh72b, annually through import substitution.
At Venus Industries Uganda Limited, which manufactures household products including bulbs, tube lights and electric kettles, head of production George Ndugwa said the company imports some components from China before assembling the finished products locally.
The company has created more than 600 jobs.
Mawejje noted that the arrival of factories had stimulated the growth of housing, transport, agriculture and other services.
“Farmers have new markets because workers need food. Land that was once idle is now being used commercially,” he said.
Industrial growth transforms surrounding communities
For boda boda rider Magidu Walekaki, the industrial park has been life-changing.
He migrated from Busoga in search of opportunities, arriving before the factories had taken root.
“When I came, there were no factories. Much of this place was forest and farmland,” Walekaki recalled.
“Today, there are many businesses and many people looking for services. When I came here, I had nothing. Everything I have today, I earned from this place.”
However, rapid population growth has also created challenges.
Walekaki noted that rising demand for housing had pushed up rental prices. Ten years ago, a single room cost about sh30,000, while today, the cheapest rooms cost between sh120,000 and sh150,000.
He called for more investment in social services to meet the needs of the growing population.
Agro-processing creates markets for farmers
The economic ripple effect has also revitalised the agricultural sector, creating a relationship between factories and local farmers.
Deborah Kyarisima of Yahe Investment, a company dealing in maize, said its operations had expanded to include a silo with a capacity of 6,000 tonnes, allowing the company to buy maize from farmers across the country.
The company now employs 200 people.
“Farmers receive cash for their produce, and we process 100 tonnes a day, running shifts night and day,” Kyarisima said.
The company exports most of its maize to Kenya, while its maize flour is supplied to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and markets in South Sudan.
