By Wadulo Arnold Mark
Metro Cement Uganda Limited was honoured with the Gold Award for Best Cement Manufacturer in Uganda at the Business Excellence Awards 2026, held at Sheraton Hotel Kampala on 14th August 2026. The recognition comes as the company continues to strengthen its position in Uganda’s manufacturing sector.
The award recognises Metro Cement’s resilient journey since its inception in 2019, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shamil Razack, Group Director at Metro Cement Ltd, noted that such accolades are a “great honour” and significantly boost the confidence of international investors, particularly those from the UAE.
According to Razack, Uganda’s industrialisation drive is gaining new momentum, but there are calls to attract more medium-sized investors across value chains so that players can benefit from economies of scale. Catalysing this segment of investors could also boost much-needed government revenue and create employment opportunities for Uganda’s young and skilled labour force.
When asked about government’s proposed amendments in the excise duty tax on cement this financial year, he said “Remember, the margins on cement are thin, so a UGX 250 excise duty bump would be weighty on us. We might need to work together with government on this,” Razack pointed out.
He added saying “Any increase in taxes on the cement industry will put additional pressure on manufacturers, particularly medium-scale factories like ours. At the same time, we must consider the impact on consumers, many of whom are middle-income earners working hard to build their homes, and we should not place an additional burden on them.”
The Minister of State for National Guidance, Hon. Alioni YorkeOdria, emphasised that national development is a collective effort involving “patriotic entrepreneurs” who create jobs and build local capacity. He lauded the impact of manufacturing investments such as Metro Cement, noting that government is committed to supporting such entities through strategic incentives. He also highlighted a major fiscal measure, stating that government has declared zero import duty on imported raw materials for manufacturing.
Metro Cement exported a record UGX 8.1 billion worth of cement to South Sudan in 2023. This is roughly equivalent to 247,000 50-kg bags, based on the stated value alone.
