UMCS 2026

About the Survey

The Uganda Manufacturing Capability Survey (UMCS) 2026 is a nationally representative survey of approximately 6,000 manufacturing enterprises across Uganda's seven regions — Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA), Central, Eastern, Western, Northern, West Nile, and Karamoja. It is implemented by the Engineering Development and Innovation Centre (EDiC), a Government of Uganda institution under the Office of the President's Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Secretariat, in partnership with the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) and the Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA).

UMCS 2026 is one of the most extensive assessments of Uganda's manufacturing sector ever undertaken. By systematically capturing data on the capacity, technology, skills, and operational realities of manufacturing enterprises nationwide, the survey is designed to build a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of the country's industrial base — from large-scale manufacturers to small-scale industries — informing policy, investment, and support programmes at a national level.

Our Partners

UMCS 2026 is delivered through a formal partnership between:

Both UMA and USSIA have formally endorsed the survey and committed coordinators, technical personnel, and facilitation support to ensure strong participation across their membership bases.

Scope and Coverage

• ~6,000 manufacturing enterprises targeted nationwide
• All seven regions of Uganda
• Coverage spanning both large-scale manufacturers and small-scale industries

Methodology

Data collection is carried out by a trained corps of Research Assistants (RAs) deployed to the field, supported by dedicated Supervisors and Facilitators coordinating fieldwork on the ground. Enumerators use a digital data collection tool to capture enterprise-level data directly from manufacturers, with responses transmitted to secure, purpose-built cloud infrastructure for real-time monitoring and data quality assurance.

The survey instrument and field protocols have been developed and refined in consultation with UMA and USSIA sector heads to ensure relevance and coverage across the diversity of Uganda's manufacturing base, and the survey protocol has been submitted for independent ethical review.

Field Implementation

1. Recruitment and training of Research Assistants, Supervisors, and Facilitators
2. Tool validation and field testing ahead of full deployment
3. Full-scale field data collection across all seven regions, coordinated by trained Supervisors and Facilitators
4. Data quality assurance and validation as responses are received centrally

Why It Matters

Reliable, up-to-date data on manufacturing capability is essential for shaping Uganda's industrialisation agenda. UMCS 2026 will provide government, industry associations, and development partners with a robust evidence base to:

• Understand the true scale and distribution of manufacturing capacity nationwide
• Identify gaps in technology, skills, and infrastructure across the sector
• Inform targeted policy, investment, and capacity-building interventions
• Strengthen the partnership between government and industry associations in driving industrial growth

Explore the Data

Get Involved

Manufacturing enterprises across Uganda are encouraged to participate when contacted by an accredited UMCS Research Assistant. For questions about the survey, verification of field teams, or partnership enquiries, please contact EDiC directly.