EMMANUEL KATONGOLE, BOARD CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CEO FORUM CALLS FOR REPLICATION OF KAPEEKA’S INDUSTRIAL SUCCESS ACROSS UGANDA DURING THE INAUGURAL INFORMATION TOUR AT KAPEEKA INDUSTRIAL PARK ON FRIDAY, 17TH OCTOBER 2025

During the launch of the Industrial Park Information Tours in Kapeeka, Mr. Emmanuel Katongole, Chairman of the Presidential CEO Forum (PCF), delivered an inspiring speech that connected Uganda’s economic past with its promising future. Speaking with reflection and conviction, Katongole shared personal experiences and urged both policymakers and private sector leaders to replicate the successes seen in Kapeeka nationwide.​

From Farmland to Industrial Powerhouse
Emmanuel Katongole reminisced about his youth, recalling how he once farmed maize and cassava on the very land that now hosts the thriving Namunkekera Industrial Park. “Back then, this area had plantations generating no more than a hundred thousand dollars a year. Today, the same place is producing millions of dollars for our country,” he remarked, emphasizing the transformative potential of industrialization. He further challenged fellow business leaders and financiers to champion the creation of more industrial parks, saying, now imagine if we had ten of these industrial parks. Our economy would be sorted. He urged every Ugandan—whether a banker or manufacturer to rally behind industrial expansion.

Katongole attributed much of Uganda’s economic progress to President Yoweri Museveni’s liberalization policies, which opened markets and spurred private sector growth. Drawing from his personal journey, he recalled the difficulties of doing business in the 1980s when even cross-border trade required smuggling dollars in shoe soles. He highlighted the growth of sectors such as coffee, which has become Uganda’s top foreign exchange earner and a major source of rural employment, directly crediting this transformation to the President’s vision. “We should always be thankful,” Katongole stated, acknowledging that most Ugandan entrepreneurs are direct beneficiaries of those reforms.​

Reflecting on Uganda’s banking evolution, Emmanuel Katongole reminded attendees that the financial freedom they now enjoy was a product of deliberate government policy. “Back in the day, Uganda Commercial Bank was ‘our bank,’ but look at what we have now,” he said, citing Standard Bank, DFCU, ABSA, and others as contributors to Uganda’s industrial ecosystem. He underscored that ownership in an open economy goes beyond possession; it is about participation through shares and dividends.

Quoting a Harvard Business Review ranking, Emmanuel Katongole noted that Uganda is the second most entrepreneurial country in the world after India, attributing this to a culture of creativity and enterprise. From women selling produce by the roadside to traders in Masaka selling insects, everyone is part of this vibrant economy. He praised Uganda’s digital transformation, noting that mobile financial technology now connects even the most rural households. “You can send 10,000 shillings to your grandmother without stepping into a bank,” he observed, calling this a symbol of equitable development.​

In his closing remarks, Katongole issued three clear calls to action:

Replicate Kapeeka’s Success: “This shouldn’t be left to Gen. Saleh alone—it’s your responsibility and mine,” he declared, urging the private sector and government to spearhead more industrial parks.

Promote Proactive Policy Innovation: He appealed to policymakers not to wait passively for directives but to initiate growth-centered policies.

Tell Uganda’s Story: “If you have a trumpet, blow it loud enough for everyone to hear,” he said, rallying leaders to actively communicate Uganda’s economic achievements to build national pride and confidence.

He concluded with a heartfelt reminder on peace and stability: “I’ve done business in Congo, South Sudan, and Somalia and believe me, you don’t want to return to chaos. Let’s be agents of protecting these gains.” Through his speech, Emmanuel Katongole reaffirmed his belief in Uganda’s entrepreneurial spirit, the power of liberalization, and the necessity of expanding the industrial base as the surest path toward a prosperous and inclusive economy.