Kampala, Uganda – “Profit is oxygen for business.” This powerful axiom sets the stage for a critical conversation facing Ugandan manufacturers: the urgent need to stop trading time for money and instead scale through robust systems, automation, and the creation of high-value offers. With just 48 hours remaining, the 2nd Annual Financial Symposium is poised to directly address how manufacturers can finance this crucial transformation.

The event, taking place on June 10th and 11th, 2025, at the UMA Multipurpose Hall, comes as a final call to action for industry leaders. The core challenge for any growing manufacturer is moving beyond a linear model—where more output requires proportionally more labour and time—to a scalable one where technology and systems multiply efforts, leading to exponential growth in profitability.

This strategic shift requires significant capital investment, a hurdle the symposium is designed to help manufacturers overcome. The agenda and the expertise on offer will provide a clear roadmap for financing the key pillars of a scalable manufacturing business:

• Systems: Developing efficient, repeatable processes for supply chain management, quality control, distribution, and sales. The symposium will explore working capital solutions and trade finance products that allow businesses to build and manage these larger, more complex systems without crippling cash flow.
• Automation: Investing in modern machinery and technology to increase production capacity, improve consistency, and reduce long-term operational costs. Discussions will delve into asset financing, leasing options, and specialized “green funds” for acquiring energy-efficient equipment, connecting manufacturers with institutions ready to fund these capital expenditures.
• High-Value Offers: Moving up the value chain by investing in research and development (R&D), innovative product design, and branding. Accessing venture capital, private equity, and other forms of patient capital, which will be a key topic at the event, is essential for funding the innovation that allows manufacturers to command higher prices and margins.

With top-tier sponsors including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Absa Uganda, Centenary Bank, Diamond Trust Bank, and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), the symposium represents an unparalleled opportunity for manufacturers to engage directly with the financial partners who can provide the “oxygen” for their businesses to not just survive, but to thrive.

The message is clear: the future of manufacturing in Uganda depends on the ability to scale efficiently. For business owners and industry leaders looking to make the leap, this symposium is not just an event; it’s a critical investment in their future.

Registration is closing soon. Manufacturers are urged to secure their place to be part of the conversation that will shape the next phase of industrial growth in Uganda.

Register now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-d9nKfaXI7vsh2K-YyNB2c5XJT985Vvp5bZiF2wUtOegKCQ/viewform