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Uganda’s expanding manufacturing sector and its potential to drive regional trade took centre stage as more than 150 investors from 10 countries visited RZ Innovations Limited and its parent company, Royikems Industries Limited, during Equity Group’s 2026 Uganda Trade and Investment Roadshow.
The visit offered investors an opportunity to explore Uganda’s manufacturing capabilities firsthand, while connecting them to potential markets, investment opportunities and commercial partnerships across the region.
The visit followed the launch of the Trade and Investment Roadshow at the Marriott Hotel in Kampala on September 14. Irene Irungu, Senior Manager of Trade Relations at Equity Group, said the initiative was driven by demand from businesses 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. It was about regional integration, directly matching our producers with buyers across our subsidiary markets so they could conduct direct trade rather than struggling to find new markets on their own,” Irungu said.
RZ Innovations traces its roots to a motorcycle spare-parts trading business started in 2005. The group established manufacturing operations under Royikems Industries in 2013 before launching RZ Innovations in 2021 to manufacture motorcycle brake shoes.
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The company has since expanded into motorcycle inner tubes and tyres, employing about 650 people. Its current monthly production capacity includes 900,000 brake shoes, 600,000 inner tubes and 150,000 motorcycle tyres.
The products are supplied to markets including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The wider group also manufactures consumer packaging through Five Star Plastics and polyurethane mattresses under the Goose Foam brand.
Mark Ssempijja, General Manager of RZ Innovations, said the company was increasingly focusing on local production and recycling to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
The company collects scrap aluminium, which is melted and used to manufacture components for its brake shoes. It also incorporates recycled rubber into its production, while plans are underway to establish a dedicated rubber recycling plant.
However, the company said unreliable electricity supply remains one of the major challenges affecting manufacturing.
The management told the visiting investors that it was investing in an additional power connection while exploring commercial solar solutions to provide a more reliable source of electricity.
Other challenges highlighted included foreign exchange fluctuations, transport infrastructure and rising costs of imported raw materials and logistics.
Dr Ishaka Buya, a Kenyan investor and member of the trade mission, said renewable energy could help manufacturers reduce the impact of power interruptions and high electricity costs.
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“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 said combining solar with the national grid and backup systems could help manufacturers maintain production during power interruptions.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of financing and partnerships in helping manufacturers expand their operations and compete in regional markets.
For RZ Innovations, regional distribution remains a major growth opportunity. The company already has a distribution network in Kenya and supplies products to several East African and neighbouring markets.
The company expressed interest in partnerships that could support further investment in manufacturing, renewable energy and distribution.
The Equity trade mission is aimed at connecting investors and businesses across markets where Equity Group operates, while creating opportunities for companies to access capital, technology, suppliers and new customers.
For Uganda’s manufacturers, the engagement comes as regional integration continues to create opportunities to supply goods beyond the domestic market.
The visit also gave investors an opportunity to see the scale of local manufacturing and understand some of the challenges businesses face as they seek to expand.
RZ Innovations said continued investment in production capacity, energy security, recycling and regional distribution would be central to its next phase of growth.
The company’s expansion reflects the broader opportunity for Ugandan manufacturers to move beyond importing finished products and increase local production for the East African market.
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