Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially commissioned Roofings Group’s new US$125 million steel plant, a major investment expected to strengthen the country’s manufacturing capacity and increase local production of construction materials.
The Phase IV Level 2 Ultra-Modern Cold Rolling Mill Complex, located at the Kampala Industrial and Business Park in Namanve, was commissioned on August 26, 2026.
The new facility adds 150,000 metric tonnes to Roofings Group’s annual cold-rolled steel production capacity, bringing its total cold-rolled capacity to 300,000 tonnes per year. The company’s overall installed production capacity now stands at approximately 625,000 tonnes annually.
President Museveni praised Roofings Group for its continued investment in Uganda and its contribution to the country’s industrial development.
He said Uganda should make greater use of its natural resources, particularly its iron ore deposits, to develop a competitive domestic steel industry.
The President also stressed the importance of strong regional markets, saying they can help create jobs, generate wealth and provide opportunities for local manufacturers to expand.
Roofings currently achieves about 54% local value addition on every hot-rolled coil it processes, with the value of local processing estimated at more than UGX 400 billion.
Beyond increasing production, the new investment is expected to create approximately 400 direct jobs.
It will also support employment across the wider supply chain, including transporters, distributors, contractors, hardware businesses and other enterprises involved in Uganda’s construction and manufacturing sectors.
The facility is also expected to provide opportunities for Ugandan engineers, technicians and manufacturing professionals to gain experience working with advanced steel-production technologies.
The new complex consists of four major production lines, including a 4-Hi Cold Rolling Mill, Edge Trimming Line, Hot-Dip Galvanising Line and Colour Coating Line.
The cold rolling mill incorporates automation technologies supplied by international companies including Danieli, Siemens and ABB. The galvanising line uses hydrogen generated on-site through electrolysis.
With the expanded capacity, Roofings can now manufacture approximately 4.2 million iron sheets every month, equivalent to more than 50 million sheets annually. The company says this is enough to roof more than 1.6 million homes each year.
Roofings Rolling Mills i Namanve
Roofings Group Chairman and Managing Director, Dr. Sikander Lalani, described the new facility as an important milestone in the company’s more than three-decade journey in Uganda.
He said the company’s vision is to support a sustainable Africa by creating lasting employment, promoting ethical business practices, developing skills and retaining more economic value within the continent.
Looking ahead, Roofings plans to deepen local production by bringing more stages of the steel value chain into Uganda. The company has already established a dedicated entity to begin exploration activities as part of its long-term vertical integration strategy.
Roofings Group’s products are sold not only in Uganda but also across East and Central Africa, including Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and South Sudan.
The company exported goods worth approximately UGX 264 billion in 2024 and UGX 229.6 billion in 2025, according to the company.
Roofings Group has invested more than US$500 million in Uganda and has grown into one of East and Central Africa’s leading manufacturers of steel and construction materials.
Roofings Group says its commitment to Uganda extends beyond industrial production.
The company is undertaking the reconstruction of Kasubi Family Primary School at a cost of UGX 3.7 billion, in partnership with Kampala Capital City Authority. It also supports initiatives in education, healthcare, forestry and environmental sustainability.
Founded in Uganda in 1994, Roofings Group now operates major manufacturing facilities in Lubowa and Namanve. Its total installed production capacity stands at approximately 625,000 metric tonnes per year, with its products serving markets across the region.
