On 23rd September 2020, UFZA handed over the site to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), to embark on the initial phase of construction of the first Public Free Zone in Uganda.
The Zone development is projected to cost UGX 46 Billion. The Government of Uganda (GoU) has already allocated UGX 16.2 Billion for the first phase of the project to kickoff. Upon completion, the Free Zone will house seven (7) production units and a Trade house that will host offices of UFZA, URA and other Government offices to facilitate smooth flow of business in the Zone.
The proposed sectors for the project include: food processing (agro-processing), mineral processing, warehousing, storage, simple assembly, etc creating at least 240 direct jobs. All Operators in this Public Free Zone will process their products for onward export through Entebbe International Airport directly contributing cargo volumes for export.
UFZA is required to establish strategically located Public Free Zones equipped with all required infrastructure to afford Operators ‘plug and play’ facilities to enable them seamlessly undertake the business of manufacturing, value addition of products for onward export without the hustle to develop their own Zones.
UFZA appreciates the contribution of Government of Uganda, Development Partners, Private sector and key Ministries Departments and Agencies like Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), National Planning Authority (NPA), Entebbe Municipal Council, Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), etc. for the support in the project development this far.