President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Japanese investors to establish production facilities in Uganda, urging Japan to move beyond exporting goods to Africa and instead tap into the continent’s vast economic and industrial potential.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Kampala Flyover project, the President emphasized the historical relationship between Uganda and Japan, recalling how Uganda transitioned from importing British-made vehicles to becoming a key market for Japanese cars and engineering products.
“For decades, Uganda and the rest of Africa have played a crucial role in supporting Japan’s economy. We have bought your vehicles, your textiles, and other products. It is now time for Japan to reciprocate by setting up manufacturing plants here,” Museveni stated.
The President took the audience through Uganda’s historical encounters with Japan, dating back to World War II.
“In the 1940s, East African soldiers—including Ugandans—fought in Burma (now Myanmar) against the Japanese on behalf of the British. Interestingly, some Japanese soldiers had been told that Africans were cannibals,” Museveni narrated.
“So, when our troops would light a campfire and start dancing, the Japanese believed we were roasting and eating another Japanese soldier,” he added, drawing laughter from the audience.
Museveni recalled how, in the 1950s, Ugandans were introduced to Japanese-made textiles called Japan and Marekani (American textiles), which were widely popular in the country.
Then came the 1960s and 1970s, when Uganda started seeing an influx of Japanese-made vehicles, particularly Toyota, Datsun (now Nissan), and Mitsubishi. These cars eventually outcompeted British-made vehicles like Bedford and Land Rover, as well as German, French, and American brands.
“By the time we returned from the war against Idi Amin in 1979, Japanese vehicles had completely taken over the Ugandan market. They had displaced British, German, and French brands. Toyota and Nissan had become household names,” Museveni explained.
President Museveni then shifted focus to the future, making a strong case for why Japan should establish factories in Uganda and other African countries.
“Africa’s population today stands at 1.5 billion people. In the next 30 years, we will be 2.5 billion. That means that one in every four people on Earth will be African. This is an immense market that cannot be ignored,” he stated.
He emphasized that Uganda and Africa do not just need imported goods, but factories that create jobs and value for their people.
“We welcome Japan’s infrastructure projects, but I tell them every time: ‘Do not stop at just aid and roads—bring industries here. Manufacture your cars and other products here so that you sell within Uganda, Africa, and even third-party markets like Europe, China, and America,’” Museveni urged.
About the fly over project
President Yoweri Museveni called on the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to collaborate closely with the public in maintaining infrastructure projects like the newly commissioned Kampala Flyover. He emphasized the need for collective responsibility in keeping the city clean and curbing harmful practices such as littering, which often leads to blocked drainage systems.
“I urge KCCA to work well with the public. It’s crucial to involve everyone in maintaining our city, ensuring cleanliness, and preventing habits like littering that clog our drainage,” Museveni stated.
The president also congratulated Ugandans on the completion of the flyover, hailing it as a significant milestone in improving urban mobility and development.
The project aims to contribute to the sustainable economic and social development of Uganda and enhance logistics and transport to neighboring countries.
The project spearheaded by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),encompassed the construction of flyovers, underpasses, pedestrian bridges, road widening, and intersection improvements to enhance urban mobility.
Construction of flyovers at critical junctions, such as Kitgum House and Clock Tower, to separate through-traffic from local traffic, thereby reducing bottlenecks. Widening of Mukwano Road and improvements to interfacing roads and junctions to facilitate smoother traffic flow. Installation of pedestrian bridges to ensure the safety of foot traffic and reduce conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians.
The Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Takuya Sasayama, reaffirmed Japan’s long-standing commitment to Uganda’s development, highlighting several major infrastructure projects supported by Japan.
“Japan has partnered with Uganda on various projects, including the Source of the Nile Bridge, the Kampala Flyover, the road from Mukono to Nimule, and the upcoming Karuma Bridge. These are long-term investments in Uganda’s infrastructure,” Sasayama stated.
The ambassador also emphasized Japan’s commitment to skills development and knowledge exchange, revealing that over 110 Ugandan engineers have been trained by Japanese experts over the past six years.
“Beyond constructing roads and bridges, we are building human capacity. Our goal is to ensure that Uganda’s engineers and technicians can sustain these projects for generations to come,” he added.
While celebrating the successful completion of the Kampala Flyover, Ambassador Sasayama also issued a word of caution regarding road safety.
“One of the challenges of better roads is increased speeding. When roads improve, people tend to drive faster, which can lead to more accidents,” he warned.
He urged Ugandans to observe traffic regulations, respect speed limits, and prioritize road safety, emphasizing that infrastructure development must go hand in hand with responsible usage.
In his concluding remarks, President Museveni reiterated that Uganda and Africa are ready for deeper economic engagement with Japan, beyond traditional aid and infrastructure projects.
“Japan has been a reliable partner, and we commend them for their support. But as I have always told my Japanese friends: Africa is the future. Do not just sell to us, manufacture here. Invest here. Partner with us to create jobs and economic growth,” Museveni emphasized.
The event ended with a reaffirmation of Uganda-Japan cooperation, with both sides expressing optimism about deeper economic ties that will benefit both nations in the coming years.
