Equity Trade Mission Puts Uganda’s Manufacturing Capacity to Regional Test

September 20, 2026 in Business, Companies, Financial Services, Trade & Industry by Editor

Mark Ssempijja, the General Manager at RZ Innovations Ltd taking the Equity Trade Show delegates through a stategic tour of the factory

Equity’s Uganda trade mission highlights RZ Innovations’ manufacturing capacity, regional exports and challenges with energy, finance and logistics.

 

Uganda’s ambition to expand manufacturing and supply regional markets is facing a practical test as local producers contend with energy shortages, financing gaps and high logistics costs in their push beyond the domestic market.

That challenge came into focus during a visit by more than 150 investors from 10 countries to RZ Innovations Limited and its parent company, Royikems Industries Limited, as part of Equity Group’s 2026 Uganda Trade and Investment Roadshow.

The factory visit, following the launch of the roadshow at the Marriott Hotel in Kampala on September 14, offered participating investors a closer look at Uganda’s industrial capacity and the commercial opportunities and constraints shaping its expansion.

The engagement also brought attention to the infrastructure and operating conditions that manufacturers must navigate as they seek to convert regional market access into sustained business growth.

RZ Innovations’ development illustrates the progression of a business that began in motorcycle spare-parts trading and expanded into industrial production.

The group traces its origins to a spare-parts business established in 2005. It entered manufacturing through Royikems Industries in 2013 before launching RZ Innovations in 2021 to produce motorcycle brake shoes.

The company now manufactures brake shoes, inner tubes and motorcycle tyres, employing approximately 650 people.

Its monthly production capacity stands at about 900,000 brake shoes, 600,000 inner tubes and 150,000 motorcycle tyres. Products are supplied to Uganda and export markets including Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The wider group also operates Five Star Plastics, which manufactures consumer packaging, and Goose Foam, a polyurethane mattress brand.

The scale of the operations provides a practical example of the manufacturing capacity available in Uganda, while the company’s regional distribution network points to opportunities for producers seeking to serve markets beyond their home country.

Despite its production expansion, RZ Innovations identified unreliable electricity supply as a major obstacle to factory operations.

Company management told the visiting investors that it was investing in an additional power connection while exploring commercial solar solutions to improve electricity reliability.

Foreign exchange fluctuations, transport infrastructure and rising costs of imported raw materials and logistics were also identified as challenges affecting the business.

These constraints are significant for manufacturers operating production lines where interruptions can affect output, operating costs and delivery schedules. For companies seeking regional markets, the ability to maintain consistent production is closely linked to their competitiveness.

Dr Ishaka Buya, a Kenyan investor and member of the trade mission, said commercial solar could help manufacturers address some of these pressures.

“Integrating commercial solar is a game-changer for high-demand manufacturers like RZ Innovations to stabilise factory operations and reduce overhead costs,” Buya said.

He advocated combining solar generation with the national grid and backup systems to support continuity during power interruptions.

The company’s consideration of additional energy solutions reflects the broader need for manufacturers to address energy reliability as they increase production capacity.

Recycling becomes part of the industrial strategy

Alongside energy security, RZ Innovations is placing recycling and local production at the centre of its operational development.

Mark Ssempijja, the company’s general manager, said the business was increasingly focusing on local manufacturing and recycling to improve efficiency and reduce waste.

The company collects scrap aluminium, melts it and uses the material to manufacture components for its brake shoes. It also incorporates recycled rubber into production and is planning to establish a dedicated rubber recycling plant.

The approach links manufacturing expansion with efforts to recover materials and reduce waste within the production process.

However, the company’s plans also underscore the investment requirements associated with developing a more integrated manufacturing operation, including equipment, energy systems and material recovery infrastructure.

Equity seeks to connect producers with regional buyers

The factory visit formed part of Equity Group’s broader effort to connect businesses and investors across its operating markets.

Irene Irungu, Senior Manager of Trade Relations at Equity Group, said the roadshow was driven by demand from customers seeking opportunities to expand across African markets.

“The journey started because of overwhelming demand from our customers who wanted to explore different parts of Africa,” Irungu said.

She said the initiative was intended to match producers with buyers across Equity’s subsidiary markets, enabling direct trade and helping businesses find new commercial opportunities.

The approach positions trade facilitation alongside financing, with businesses seeking access to capital, technology, suppliers, distribution networks and customers.

Such connections could support efforts to expand export markets and develop partnerships. However, converting investor interest into new production lines, distribution agreements or capital commitments will depend on the commercial terms and execution of individual arrangements.

RZ Innovations already has a distribution network in Kenya and supplies products to several East African and neighbouring markets. The company expressed interest in partnerships to support further investment in manufacturing, renewable energy and distribution.

Equity’s trade mission provides a platform for businesses to explore those connections, while the factory visit gives investors a view of the production capabilities and constraints behind Uganda’s industrial ambitions.