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Chinese electronics firm, ENGO Holdings Limited, has joined Uganda’s industrial
sector to domestically manufacture and assemble mobile phones, iPads and laptop
computers.
The firm is setting up its plant in Namanve, Uganda’s flagship industrial
park. The construction works expected to last six months commenced this
morning with a groundbreaking ceremony presided by State Minister for
Investment Evelyn Anite and the Minister of Information, Communication and
Technology (ICT) Frank Tumwebaze.
Ares Chow Yu Qing, the Executive Director ENGO Holdings Limited says the firm
will unveil the first generation of products manufactured and assembled from
the plants to the market before close of 2019.
Chow says the plant will rely on Chinese imported main boards, screen, touch
panels, battery, Cameras and speaker receivers and vibrators as well as
circuits for the domestic manufacture of the phones until qualified workers
have been trained to undertake the commercial process from home.
According to Chow says the firm will invest 15 Million Dollars, approximately
55.6 Billion shillings over five years to increase the production capacity from
initial 1 Million mobile phone gadgets a year to its maximum. The firm’s
trademark is known as Simi Mobile and will produce both cheap analogue and
smartphones.
Chow says “We will do this step by step. We will use experienced
Ethiopians until we have trained our own workforce. So we will start will
100,000 gadgets per month. For Computers, the target Computers is One Million a
year – depending on demands. But we will bring more machines if the demands are
high” Chow said.
Dr Emily Kugonza, the chairman of the board of Uganda Investment Authority-UIA
says he is confident the company will revolutionize the ICT Sector after
visiting its assembly and manufacturing plant in Ethiopia. He said the
development is coming at a time when Africa is the next frontier of
development.
Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of ICT says the development is a huge milestone
for the country. He urged the franchise to explore the use of Uganda’s
manufactured soft wares in their manufacturing value chain.
Evelyn Anite, the State Minister of Investment says it is wonderful that Uganda
will reduce on its import bills on Computers and mobile phones.
Anite says some of the gadgets will come with self-charging solar units making
them ideal for rural communities.
James Ssaka, the Executive Director of the National Information Technology
Authority says Uganda’s ICT Sector has dramatically grown over the last ten
years. He says the budget 104 Billion in 2018 to 146 Billion in 2019.
According to NITA, there are 22 Million mobile phone subscribers in Uganda. It
says the sector is growing at 27 percent per annum.
Chinese Firm Sets Up Uganda’s First Computer Assembling Plant
