Uganda launches first packaging centre of excellence to Slash US$400M import bill

UGANDA – Uganda has launched its maiden Packaging Centre of Excellence in Kampala, a national hub for research, training, and harmonisation of packaging standards to help local products compete globally and reduce the country’s more than US$400 million annual import bill.

The facility, unveiled by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation during National Science Week on May 2, 2026, aims to bridge a critical gap in the country’s industrial chain.

Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Dr Monica Musenero explained that packaging had become a decisive factor in commercial success, noting that weak packaging limits Uganda’s ability to benefit from its innovation and manufacturing base.

The Packaging Paradox

Dr Ezra Rubanda Muhumuza, director of the Uganda Manufacturers Association, emphasised that packaging serves as the face of a brand, highlighting the “packaging paradox” where modern designs must simultaneously protect products, communicate clearly, and remain easy to handle. 

Cathy Muwumuza of the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat lamented that poor packaging remains a barrier to Ugandan products competing globally, adding that brilliant products are often packed as if destined for the trash rather than the shelf.

Scientific Approach to Preservation

Julia Kigozi, dean of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-engineering at Makerere University, added that the centre provides a scientific platform to test packaging durability. 

Research allows processors to determine the exact materials needed to preserve quality for months, reducing unnecessary costs and layers. 

The facility is designed to tackle physical loss of goods, helping manufacturers find the right materials to protect products during transit and storage.

Aligning with Export Standards

The centre will work with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards to align products with regulatory and market requirements. 

Moses Byaruhanga, Venture Lead at Made in Uganda, said the platform will help address structural challenges facing manufacturers, offering product testing to assess standards. 

The centre supports research-based packaging design, consumer testing, regulatory alignment, and material selection.

A Strategic Economic Intervention

Uganda currently spends more than US$400 million annually importing packaging materials.

The manufacturing sector has grown from 80 industries in 1986 to over 9,000 today.

However, nearly 50 percent of food produced in Uganda is wasted, much preventable through better packaging. 

Dr Musenero called upon innovators and clients to make use of the centre for proper guidance and knowledge, describing the facility as a “great innovation for us.”

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