Uganda’s Homegrown Brands Dominating Supermarket Shelves

In Uganda’s rapidly growing retail landscape, supermarkets like Carrefour, Quality Supermarket, Capital Shoppers, Fraine, and Mega Standard play a key role in promoting local businesses. Through the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) initiative, these stores are filling their shelves with various Ugandan-made products, ranging from non-food items to fresh produce and beverages. Walking through Ugandan supermarkets today reveals a growing shift highlighting the country’s increasing reliance on homegrown goods.

Thanks to BUBU, locally made products are steadily replacing imported goods, transforming shopping experiences and fueling the economy in unexpected ways.

Carrefour, one of Uganda’s most prominent supermarket chains in Uganda, has fully embraced this movement, dedicating over 80% of its shelf space to Ugandan-made products. This shift not only aligns with the government’s BUBU policy but also empowers local manufacturers to scale up, innovate, and meet the growing demand for homegrown goods. The Buy Uganda, Build Uganda policy was approved by the Cabinet in 2014 and officially launched in 2017. It aims to promote the consumption and procurement of locally produced goods and services, thereby fostering economic growth, self-reliance, and self-sufficiency.

The policy encourages both foreign and local investors to prioritize local production, enhancing the capacity of Ugandan producers to meet government procurement needs. Additionally, BUBU seeks to improve the quality and competitiveness of Ugandan products in both local and international markets. By supporting local production, the policy intends to create employment opportunities and contribute to Uganda’s journey toward achieving middle-income status.

Currently, Carrefour offers an unrivaled choice of more than 12,000 products, including freshly baked pastries, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, and a selection of non-food items. Carrefour works with over 300 local suppliers, ensuring that 99% of the 20,000 products available in-store are sourced from Ugandan enterprises.

The products range from foodstuffs like bananas, fresh vegetables, and fruits to locally sourced and produced flour, rice, and cooking oil, among others.

Supporting BUBU products helps local farmers, manufacturers, and artisans grow, creating jobs and contributing to the development of communities across the country. Additionally, many of these goods meet international quality standards, making it easier for them to compete in both local and international markets.

The rise of BUBU products in Ugandan supermarkets is also contributing to environmental sustainability. Locally produced goods travel shorter distances, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation. As Carrefour and other retailers prioritize BUBU products, they’re not only supporting Ugandan businesses but also taking steps toward a greener, more sustainable future.

In essence, the BUBU initiative is transforming the landscape of Ugandan retail. Supermarkets are no longer just places to shop; they are platforms for economic growth, sustainability, and community development.