The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) Executive Secretary, Dr. James Kisaale has assured Standard Waves Uganda Limited of the government’s unwavering commitment to addressing operational challenges and strengthening the company to become East Africa’s premier manufacturer of genuine, high- quality automotive spare parts .
Established in 2016 and wholly Ugandan- owned, standard Waves Uganda Ltd is Uganda’s only large- scale domestic manufacturer of automotive spare parts operating a vertically integrated production facility on 12 acres in Kyabadaza, Butambala District, producing over 1,000 distinct replacement parts across 18 product lines for more than 80 vehicle models in active use across Uganda and the East African Community.
During an oversight visit to the factory premises , Dr. Kisaale commended the factory’s technological strides, noting that local innovation is critical to reaching Uganda’s target of a $500 billion economy.
“I was here two weeks ago and I was amazed at what our country can do,” Dr. Kisaale said. “I want to assure Ugandans that among the millions of vehicles on our roads, there is a spare part produced right here by Mr. Ssempijja Shaffik.”
Dr. Kisaale highlighted that the Government of Uganda—under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and through the Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in the Office of the President—continues to support indigenous industrialists like Ssempijja.
He emphasized the urgent need to bridge the gap between industrial facilities and academia, promising that UNCST will coordinate with Ugandan universities to send engineering and technical students to the facility for practical learning and knowledge transfer.
The company Product lines include brake pads, oil filters, fuel filters, air cleaners, U- bolts, wheel studs, side mirrors, wipers, engine oil, hydraulic oil, coolant, brake fluid, reflectors, tail lamps, and structural components. The company employs 50 Ugandans in permanent positions and 60 casual workers at peak production, with 90 percent of them young people and 40 percent women.
Mr. Nicholas Kaaya, General Manager of Standard Wave Uganda Limited, outlined the company’s impact on job creation and technology transfer, noting that the facility currently employs 67 permanent staff and over 300 casual workers.
Kaaya expressed gratitude to the government for the capital support grant used to purchase manufacturing machinery, confirming that the funds were effectively utilized.
He raised challenges facing local manufacturers, particularly regarding raw materials and taxation urging the government to protect domestic industries from foreign dumping, safeguard national foreign exchange reserves, and address high operational overheads that shorten the lifespan of local enterprises.
Kaaya invited investors, partners, and policymakers to look beyond what they have already built and join them in what they are building toward: a self- reliant, industrialized Uganda – manufactured at home.
Standard Wave limited aims at championing import substitution by producing spare parts locally, reducing reliance on imports, and, as a result, stimulating job creation and retention within Uganda and the region.
The UNCST, established in 1990, is mandated to advise the government on science and technology policy and coordinate and guide national research and development. It is also responsible for helping integrate science and technology into national development policies.
