Working Paper No. 9 The evolution of industry in Uganda Marios Obwona,1 Isaac Shinyekwa,2 Julius Kiiza,3 and Eria Hisali4 Abstract The paper looks at the evolution of industry in Uganda examining drivers and constraints since the pre-colonial period in the 1940s to date. It is argued that the state played a central role in industrialization during the pre-colonial and immediate post-colonial period. The paper further looks at industrialisation during the liberal phase. The current structure, size and distribution of industry are discussed in light of the laissez fair paradigm. The non-direct interventionist policy to industrialization has not been adequate to propel industrial development in Uganda. State withdrawal from direct involvement in industrial development was prematurely done and should be revisited Keywords: industry, structure, firm, evolution, size, distribution, policy JEL classification: B15, B52, L11, L16 1 1National Planning Authority,
[email protected], 2Economic Policy Research Center, 3Makerere University, Department of Political Science and Economic Policy Research Centre, Kampala,
[email protected]; 4School of Economics Makerere University,
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