KAMPALA– The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Gen. Wilson Mbadi, has inaugurated Uganda’s National Implementation Committee (NIC) for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with a strong call for results-oriented performance to ensure Uganda fully benefits from the continental trade pact.
General Wilson Mbadi, the Minister for Trade and Cooperatives, has innaugurated the National Implimentation Committee NIC) for the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Uganda
At the Inauguration ceremony held at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi, Gen. Mbadi described the committee as “the engine that will make AfCFTA work for Uganda,” emphasizing that its work must translate into real economic impact.
“We are firing the first bullet for Uganda’s war in African trade,” he said. “AfCFTA is our generation’s greatest opportunity to build wealth at home. It means a farmer in Mbarara will access a wider, duty-free market across Africa; an innovator in Kampala will sell software to a client in Dakar; and manufacturers in Namanve will reach a market of 1.3 billion consumers worth 3.4 trillion dollars.”
The Minister also urged the NIC members to ensure that they perform beyond expectation because they will be subjected to evaluation after a given period of time. “We may decide to evaluate/ asses them periodically i.e annually basing on their terms of reference.”
On having many stakeholders on board, the Minister emphasized that , they are all required for the success of AfCTA since they all play contributory roles. “Since there are many sectors, the representatives play roles of their different MDAs in implementation process. The person from trade will not play the role of the immigration officer and same applies to other sectors.”
Ms. Anne Nambooze County Director Trade Mark Africa in Uganda, revealed that there is hope that with inauguration of this committee, by 2030 all traders trading with in Africa will be paying Zero tarrifs.
“The National Implimentation Committee for Uganda is very important because as you are aware since the AfCTA establishment , we as Uganda we have recently domesticated it, and started trading this year (2025). The Uganda Revenue Authority
(URA) has really helped us by completing the tariff schedules, the configurations and and now we have had two traders trading under this protocols.”
She added , that having seen the seem plan working for other countries, there is no doubt that it will also be a success in Uganda being that they have brought on board all key stakeholders.
Allan Senyondwa, a representative from Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) on the Committee, revealed that they are ready to tap into a wide range of opportunities that comes with AfCTA.
“As you all know, AfCTA involves exchange of goods , and it’s successful implementation, requires you to have them. In our National Development Plan, the goal is to ensure that exports increase by 20 percent and so, it’s the role of the NIC to ensure that this is fulfilled.” Stated Allan
He also added that their target as Manufacturers, is to gain more market in countries like Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) , Central African Republic, South Sudan, Algeria and Angola.
The 36 member committee launched, consists members from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Civil society organizations and Private Sector.
On 28th November 2018, Uganda retried the AfCFTA with a view of creating a single continental market for goods and services, allowing free movement of business persons and investments across 54 African nations.
