Museveni Inaugurates Roofings’ State-of-the-Art Steel Plant in Namanve

President Yoweri Museveni has inaugurated Roofings Group’s Phase IV steel manufacturing facility in Namanve, marking another expansion of Uganda’s capacity to process steel locally.

The new cold rolling mill complex has an annual production capacity of 300,000 metric tonnes and is equipped with Level Two automation and machinery for cold rolling, galvanising and colour coating.

The facility is expected to enable Roofings to manufacture higher-value steel products locally, reducing the company’s reliance on imported intermediate products.

Speaking during the inauguration on Tuesday, Museveni said Roofings was now moving beyond importing some of its steel inputs from Japan to producing them locally.

“Now he has gone all the way. That’s why I want to salute him now. He’s now ready to join me to produce the intermediate products that have been imported from Japan here in Uganda,” Museveni said.

Museveni said Uganda has significant potential to develop its steel industry because of its iron ore resources.

“We have got the best iron ore in the whole world. It is the purest, 65 percent pure,” he said.

The President also highlighted Roofings’ contribution to employment, saying the company currently has 2,224 workers.

He put the company’s annual turnover at about 1.2 trillion shillings, equivalent to 300 million US dollars, with exports accounting for about 70 million dollars.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Sanjay Tanna attributed the growth of manufacturing investments partly to the peace and stability established under the NRM Government.

“The peace and stability established under the NRM Government has created an environment that has enabled investors to establish and expand factories in Uganda,” Tanna said.

He also pointed to lower electricity costs for industries as another factor supporting factory expansion, saying Uganda’s industrial power rates are competitive compared with those in the region.

Roofings Chairman Sikander Lalani thanked President Museveni for the peace and security that he said had enabled the company to grow.

“Thank you for the peace and security, for which, if it wasn’t for peace, Roofings would not succeed,” Lalani said.

Lalani also acknowledged the support of the Uganda Investment Authority and other government institutions in facilitating the company’s investments.

He said reliable electricity and better railway infrastructure remain important for the growth of manufacturing, particularly in transporting raw materials and finished products.

“Stable electricity and improved railway infrastructure are very important for us to support industrial production and transportation,” Lalani said.

He said lower electricity tariffs had eased pressure on manufacturers and pledged that Roofings would continue investing in Uganda’s steel industry and supplying the local market.

The Phase IV complex incorporates a cold rolling mill, an edge-trimming facility, galvanising and colour-coating lines.

The cold rolling process allows steel to undergo further processing, enabling the company to manufacture higher-value products for different markets.

Lalani said the new products are designed to have a lifespan of up to 30 years and will be marketed in Uganda and across the East African region.

The investment is part of Roofings Group’s continued expansion of its manufacturing operations, with the company seeking to increase local value addition and reduce dependence on imported steel products.