Kampala, Uganda. 17th Sept 2018. The 2018 Global Logistics Convention, under the theme ‘Freight Logistics: The Edge to Competitiveness’ is currently underway at Kampala Sheraton Hotel, hosted by Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA) in partnership with the National Logistics Platform and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
While opening the Global Logistics Convention, Hon Monica Azuba Ntege, the Minister of Works and Transport highlighted government’s commitment to developing the logistics industry noting that this is showcased by the transport infrastructure diversification approach taken by government that covers road, railway, air and water.
“In order to overcome the supply chain bottlenecks associated with over-reliance on the Northern Corridor, Government is developing the Southern – route ( Central Corridor) via Water Transport from Port Bell to Mwanza Port in Tanzania. A new port at Bukasa is being developed which will also provide faster and cheaper means of transport directly by ship to Musoma or Mwanza in Tanzania and then by land to Dar es Salam or Tanga at the Indian Ocean. This project is set to be completed in 2020,” Hon Azuba said, adding;
“The National Airline is being revived. A new airport is also being developed at Kabaale in Hoima District. The objective is to increase Uganda’s competitiveness by reducing the cost of air transport and ease connectivity to and from Uganda, with the intention of leveraging opportunities in the tourism, agriculture, minerals, and oil and gas sectors.”
In his remarks, Adrian Green, Head of Growth and Economic Management at UKAid underscored the critical role the logistics sector plays, describing it as the fuel that drives economic growth.
“Sustainable development is directly linked to how the logistics sector facilitates trade. Perhaps for too long, development partners have over looked this and focussed on rural development and ignored that we need to focus as well on logistics and transportation. As development partners, we recognise the critical importance of this sector and would like to help address the key challenges in this sector,” Adrian Green said.
The Convention, sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID) through TradeMark East Africa is bringing together over five hundred (500) participants from Uganda and abroad.
The event is offering participants a unique opportunity to share best practice in trade and policy, to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, and to redefine, the changing roles, responsibilities and emerging trends in the development of Transport and Trade Logistics as a driver for productivity and competitiveness.
In his key note address, Patrick Bitature, the chairman of the private sector foundation of Uganda challenged the private sector players to take lead in transforming the logistics industry because the sector was ripe for change.
“The public sector, politicians are running ahead of the private sector yet it should be the other way round. Time is now for the private sector to take initiative to drive and grow the logistics sector. We must be the game changers.”
