Minister Mukalazi Hails Modern Laminates’ $90m Investment in Uganda’s Sustainable Manufacturing Drive

State Minister for Privatisation and Investment, Hon. Amina Mukalazi, has commended Modern Laminates Limited for setting a strong pace in sustainable manufacturing, technological innovation, local value addition and regional market expansion.

Mukalazi made the remarks during a factory monitoring visit in Buikwe District, where she assessed the company’s production capacity, employment contribution, export potential and the challenges affecting manufacturers in Uganda.

The minister said Modern Laminates Limited provides an important example of how Ugandan industries can combine large-scale production with environmental sustainability, innovation and the use of locally sourced raw materials to strengthen the country’s industrial base.

During the visit, Mukalazi was particularly impressed by the company’s investment in innovative production systems and its efforts to embrace circular economy principles while responding to changing market requirements in the packaging, tissue, hygiene and specialty paper sectors.

“At MMP Industrial Park in Buikwe, I engaged Mr. Dhruv Thummar of Modern Laminates Limited, alongside park directors Mr. Akash Dobaria and Mr. Jay Patel. I commend their innovation relying on bamboo plants—which are genetically developed here in Uganda—demonstrating the potential for sustainable local value addition,” Mukalazi said.

Bamboo innovation and local value addition

One of the major areas that attracted the minister’s attention was the company’s growing interest in bamboo as a sustainable source of fibre for paper and pulp production.

The use of bamboo presents an opportunity to diversify Uganda’s industrial raw-material base while creating new opportunities for farmers and communities involved in bamboo production.

Mukalazi said the development demonstrates that Uganda has the capacity to transform locally available resources into high-value industrial products rather than relying heavily on imported raw materials and finished goods.

She emphasised that increased domestic production is essential to strengthening Uganda’s manufacturing sector, creating employment opportunities, supporting exports and reducing the country's dependence on imports.

The minister was accompanied by Buikwe District Woman Member of Parliament and Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Mutasingwa.

Together, they visited manufacturing facilities and interacted with industry players on the importance of strengthening local production and improving the competitiveness of Ugandan-made products.

$90 million investment

Modern Laminates Limited represents a significant investment in Uganda's manufacturing sector, with the investment valued at approximately US$90 million.

Mukalazi described the investment as evidence that Uganda's industrialisation agenda is moving in the right direction, particularly through increased manufacturing capacity, employment creation and import substitution.

The company has an installed paper production capacity of approximately 400 tonnes per day, making it an important player in Uganda's paper and packaging industry.

Its operations support hundreds of permanent employees, in addition to employment generated through contractors, suppliers, transporters and other businesses connected to its production and distribution networks.

The company also estimates that its operations contribute to import substitution of about US$100 million annually in paper products used within Uganda.

This contribution is significant for an economy seeking to increase domestic production and reduce expenditure on imported manufactured goods.

Driving industrialisation and employment

Mukalazi said investments such as Modern Laminates Limited are important to Uganda's broader industrialisation strategy because they create productive employment while strengthening domestic supply chains.

Large-scale manufacturing generates opportunities beyond the factory floor, including jobs in agriculture, logistics, transportation, packaging, distribution, maintenance, engineering and other support services.

The company has established manufacturing and distribution networks serving different parts of Central and Eastern Uganda, giving it a strategic position in supplying paper and packaging products to businesses within Uganda and the wider East African market.

According to the minister, strengthening such industrial networks will be critical if Uganda is to fully exploit the opportunities presented by regional trade.

Sustainability at the centre of production

Modern Laminates Limited is also positioning itself within the emerging circular economy, where industries are increasingly expected to use resources efficiently, minimise waste and adopt environmentally responsible production methods.

The company has continued to invest in new-generation machinery designed to improve resource efficiency and enhance production performance.

Its approach combines technological adoption with lifecycle-based sourcing of raw materials, allowing the company to respond to changing environmental standards while maintaining industrial-scale production.

This is increasingly important as manufacturers across the region face growing pressure to meet environmental requirements while remaining competitive in local and international markets.

Modern Laminates Limited's emphasis on sustainable fibre inputs, including bamboo, could therefore become an important component of its long-term strategy as demand grows for environmentally responsible paper and packaging products.

Expanding into the regional market

Beyond the Ugandan market, Modern Laminates Limited is strategically positioning itself as a regional supplier of pulp, tissue and packaging products.

The company is seeking to strengthen its presence in East Africa and eventually expand its reach across wider African markets by developing specialised grades and packaging solutions tailored to evolving consumer and industrial needs.

Its diversified product portfolio places it in a position to serve different segments of the market, including packaging, hygiene and specialty applications.

The company's regional ambitions also align with Uganda's efforts to increase exports of manufactured goods and move away from dependence on the export of predominantly raw commodities.

For Uganda, successful expansion of manufacturing companies into regional markets can generate foreign exchange, improve industrial competitiveness and create additional demand for locally produced raw materials.

Responding to changing market demands

Mukalazi's visit also highlighted the importance of manufacturers remaining adaptable in an increasingly competitive business environment.

Industries today face changing consumer preferences, evolving environmental regulations, technological disruptions and shifting regional market conditions.

Modern Laminates Limited has sought to respond to these changes through technological investment, product diversification and sustainable sourcing.

Its ability to adjust production and develop products for packaging, tissue, hygiene and specialty applications is expected to help the company remain competitive as demand across East Africa evolves.

The company’s management has also emphasised operational resilience, technological adoption and efficient resource utilisation as key pillars of its growth strategy.

A model for Uganda's industrial future

Mukalazi's commendation of Modern Laminates Limited comes at a time when Uganda is placing greater emphasis on industrialisation, import substitution, job creation and export-oriented manufacturing.

The company's investment illustrates how private-sector capital can contribute to these national objectives by increasing domestic production and creating value from locally available resources.

Its focus on bamboo-based fibre production also demonstrates the potential link between agriculture and manufacturing, where farmers can supply industrial raw materials while manufacturers transform them into higher-value products.

Such integration can strengthen domestic supply chains and ensure that more value is retained within Uganda.

The company's growing regional ambitions further demonstrate how Ugandan manufacturers can use the domestic market as a foundation for competing in the wider East African market. 

As Uganda continues its transition towards a more industrialised and export-oriented economy, companies such as Modern Laminates Limited are expected to play an increasingly important role.

The combination of significant capital investment, large-scale paper production, local employment, import substitution, technological innovation and sustainable raw-material sourcing provides the company with a strong platform for further expansion.

Its focus on bamboo pulp, tissue and packaging products could also open new opportunities in the rapidly growing African market, particularly as consumers and businesses increasingly demand products that meet both performance and environmental standards.

Mukalazi's visit therefore underscored the government's interest in supporting productive investments that increase manufacturing capacity, create employment and strengthen Uganda's position within regional value chains.

Modern Laminates Limited's experience demonstrates that sustainable industrialisation is not only about increasing production volumes, but also about developing innovative technologies, creating efficient supply chains, using local resources responsibly and producing goods capable of competing in regional and international markets.

With continued investment and an enabling business environment, the company could further consolidate its position as a major player in Uganda's paper and packaging industry while contributing to the country's broader ambitions for sustainable industrial growth and regional trade.