Uganda has started the exportation of the locally made SIMI mobile phones with Morocco being the first external market.
"It's a great morning. We are excited. Today the first batch of phones manufactured in Uganda being exported to Morocco will be flagged off," The National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U), the statutory body that coordinates and regulates Information Technology services in the country said in a tweet.
It should be remembered that In November last year, President Yoweri Museveni launched Uganda's first ICT Manufacturing & Assembling factory. It is the same factory, today, that is ready to export its first batch of phones.
While commissioning the firm last year, the president told Ugandans that this was a drive to achieve the government’s initiative of promoting Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) programme.
In a letter addressed to the State Minister for Investment and Privatisation, Ms Evelyn Anite, the Uganda phone manufacturer asked Ms Anite to flag off the exportation tomorrow.
“I have the honour on behalf of the board of directors to invite you to our factory on May 23 to come and flag off the first Uganda-made mobile phones to the Republic of Morocco,” the letter to the minister reads in part.
In the letter signed by Mr David Beecham Okware, the chief executive board secretary of Engo Holdings Group Ltd|SIMI Mobile Uganda, the company is also manufacturing protective facemasks to protect against the Covid-19 pandemic.
