Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives

What Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives does

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) is a government ministry of the Republic of Uganda, established in 1995 under Article 189 of the Constitution, with mandate over trade policy, industrial development, and cooperative promotion. It serves Ugandan businesses, cooperative societies, MSMEs, exporters, importers, and industrial enterprises through policy formulation, regulatory oversight, and direct service delivery. The ministry operates a portfolio of digital trade facilitation systems, including the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) for collateralizing agricultural commodities under the Warehouse Receipt System Act 2006, the NTB Reporting Tool (web and *201# USSD) for real-time non-tariff barrier reporting, a Trade Information Portal (ugandatrades.go.ug), an internal Ministry Database, and the Cooperatives Registry Management Information System launched in 2024. It also runs policy programs such as Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) certification and One Village One Product (OVOP), and oversees an ecosystem of wholly-owned affiliated institutions including Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotion Authority (UFZEPA), Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB), Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA), and the Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC).

MTIC is funded through Uganda's national budget rather than commercial revenue. For FY 2016/17, its sectoral allocation was UGX 93.409 billion (0.46% of national budget), with earmarked sums for export promotion (UGX 2 billion), UNBS quality marks (UGX 2 billion), MSMEs Industrial Cluster Development (UGX 1 billion), Kiira EV Car project under UDC (UGX 10 billion), and counterpart project funding (UGX 2 billion). Supplementary donor-funded programs include DICOSS (USD 3.33M via EIF/UNOPS), UIP Phase 1 (USD 6.26M via UNIDO and five donor governments), QUISP (Sida-funded), and EPA TAPSS (EU-funded). Limited fee revenue is generated from cooperative registration, trade licenses, import/export permits, sugar factory licensing, and BUBU certification mark issuance. Distribution is delivered through the Kampala headquarters (Farmers' House, Plot 6/8 Parliamentary Avenue), District Commercial Offices across 135 districts, and online self-serve portals.

Name

Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives

Legal name

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Website

https://mtic.go.ug

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is a Ugandan government ministry that formulates trade, industrial, and cooperative policy and delivers regulatory services, digital trade facilitation systems, and MSME support programs to businesses, cooperatives, exporters, and importers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Trade Regulation

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Business Associations (813910), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Government trade regulation
• Cooperative registration
• Export promotion
• MSME development
• Warehouse receipt system

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) is a government ministry of the Republic of Uganda that formulates and implements policies, strategies, plans, and programs that promote trade, cooperative development, environmentally sustainable industrialization, and technology transfer. It provides regulatory services including trade licensing, import/export permits, cooperative society registration, warehouse receipt system management, and BUBU certification, while coordinating affiliated institutions such as UNBS, UDC, UIRI, UFZEPA, and UEPB.

Product overview

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) is a government ministry responsible for trade, industrial development, and cooperative promotion in Uganda. The ministry operates as a regulatory and policy body rather than a product company. Its services include trade licensing and permits, cooperative society registration, export/import procedures, warehouse receipt system management, MSME support programs, quality standards facilitation through partner agencies (UNBS), and various trade facilitation initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) An electronic warehouse receipt system for agricultural commodity marketing that allows farmers, cooperatives, traders, and processors to deposit commodities at licensed storage facilities and obtain negotiable warehouse receipts usable as collateral for bank financing. Operating under the Warehouse Receipt System Act, 2006.
• NTB Reporting Tool
• Trade Information Portal
• Ministry Database An internal database system for the ministry's operational data management, accessed at database.mtic.go.ug.
• Foreign Traders Registration Online and offline registration system for foreign traders operating in Uganda, regulated under the Trade Licensing Act Cap 101.
• Cooperatives Registration Registration and management system for cooperative societies in Uganda, managed by the Commissioner for Cooperative Department and Registrar of Cooperatives.
• Cooperatives Registry Management Information System Digital system for managing cooperative society registrations and information in Uganda.
• BUBU Certification Mark Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy certification system for promoting locally produced goods and services, with an application process for businesses to obtain BUBU certification.
• Export and Import Procedures Portal Online portal providing procedures, requirements, and application processes for export and import licenses and permits issued by the ministry.
• One Village One Product (OVOP) Program A community-based development program utilizing local resources to promote production, processing, and marketing of products and services at village level across Uganda.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UN-OHRLLS (United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025Jointly organized National Workshop on Enhancing Uganda's Trade Resilience to review strategies for export diversification and trade resilience. Aims to bring 15 additional LDCs into graduation pipeline by 2031, addressing trade tensions and tariffs.
• MTN UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to push for digitalization of trade in Uganda. The ministry commenced collaboration with MTN Uganda to digitize trade processes and procedures.
• Hortifresh Association UgandaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHortifresh Association seeks partnership with the ministry to boost Uganda's horticulture exports through collaboration on quality standards and market access.
• CBS-PEWOSA (Central Broadcasting Service Pewosa)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to organize annual MSMEs exhibitions and promote local small and medium enterprises.
• Makerere UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to conduct research and development of Refractance Window Drying (RWDT) Machine for drying fruits and vegetables; supported MSMEs technology adoption training.
• Kyambogo UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration organized first Leather Academic and Practical exchange Conference promoting Triple Helix concept bringing together Government, Academia and private sector.
• BRAC (U) (Bangladesh Rural and Advancement Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed between MTIC, Directorate of Industrial Training and BRAC(U) targeting 1,000 enterprises in 5 regions of Uganda for training and certification of MSMEs.
• Plan InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support integration of Gender and Equity priorities into sectoral development and strategic plans under NDPIII.
• COMESA-African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobilized and facilitated virtual trainings for 16 representatives of Leather manufacturing MSMEs association, academia, and UNBS on standards, certification, traceability systems, and designs.
• Uganda Cleaner Production Centre (UCPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuccessful grant under Green business Component B of Switch Africa Green (SAG) Project for promoting sustainable consumption and production practices and eco-entrepreneurship.
• UNESCO/International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTAC collaborated with UNESCO/IIEP on annual programmes for capacity building in institutional management including the IMHE programme attracting 36 African university participants.
• National Institute of Small Industries Extension Training (NISIET) of IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU facilitated working with Indian organization; brought four Indian companies to exhibit at Jinja Show ground. Indian High Commission donated 100 management development books to MTAC library.
• Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNBS provides quality marks and product certifications for MSMEs. Ministry allocated UGX 2 billion to UNBS to support MSME certification for exports.
• Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUIRI is an attached institution providing industrial research, technology development, and incubation services under the ministry's mandate for industrialization.
• Uganda Development Corporation (UDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUDC is a wholly government-owned investment institution making long-term investments in strategic sectors. UGX 10 billion allocated for Kiira EV Car project under UDC.
• Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotions Authority (UFZEPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAttached institution responsible for developing free zones and promoting exports. New board inaugurated in December 2024.
• Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAttached institution mandated to coordinate export growth. UGX 2 billion allocated for export promotion activities.
• Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAttached institution supporting cooperative movement development in Uganda.
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for Uganda Integrated Programme (UIP) to enhance industrial competitiveness with focus on agro-industries and MSMEs.
• East African Community (EAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional integration framework for trade liberalization, customs union, and coordinated industrial policies among EAC partner states.
• COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional trade bloc for market access and trade facilitation. Ministry participates in COMESA policy organs meetings and competition training.
• Kampala Rice Traders AssociationminorOthersAssociation of rice importers raising complaints about restrictive permit allocation system allegedly favoring brokers over legitimate traders.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization): UN agency actively partnering with MTIC on Uganda Integrated Programme (USD 6.3M, Phase 1) for agro-industry and MSME competitiveness. Closest programmatic peer in industrial development methodology.
• International Trade Centre (ITC): Joint UN/WTO agency providing trade development support to MTIC's MSME and exporter segments. Direct peer in trade information portals, NTB work, and export readiness programming.
• Ministry of Trade and Industry (Rwanda): Rwanda's trade ministry operating under similar EAC framework with strong focus on trade facilitation, ICT-enabled service delivery, and export promotion. Direct regional peer often cited as a benchmark for efficient trade administration.
• Ministry of Trade and Industries (Tanzania): Tanzania's national trade and industry ministry with equivalent functions in trade licensing, cooperative development, and export promotion. Comparable in EAC regional integration role and MSME-focused programmatic structure.
• Ministry of Trade, Investments and Industry (Kenya): Sister national trade ministry in Kenya with overlapping mandate for trade policy, industrial development, and SME support under EAC framework. Directly comparable in scope, structure, and target stakeholders; operates under similar constitutional mandate and donor ecosystem.

Others

• AfCFTA Secretariat: Continental free trade area secretariat that MTIC supports via national implementation; comparable as a public-sector trade-facilitation counterpart shaping Uganda's export market access strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (Nigeria): Nigeria's federal trade ministry handling industrial policy, export promotion, and SME development across a much larger economy. Overlapping functions in trade licensing and quality standards coordination via SON.
• Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (South Africa): National trade and industry department of South Africa with broader regulatory mandate. Comparable in industrial policy, export promotion, and SME development, though operates at much greater scale and includes competition policy.

Emerging players

• East African Community Secretariat: Regional body driving customs union, common market, and trade liberalization that MTIC implements domestically. Directly comparable in customs union, NTB removal, and industrial coordination workstreams.
• COMESA Secretariat: Regional trade bloc MTIC actively participates in; provides NTB monitoring, trade policy harmonization, and competition training that overlap with MTIC's mandate. Functions as both peer and partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mtic_uganda
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0WZbXWHhwvhCnvI0u7SnCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/mticuganda
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministry-of-trade-industry-and-cooperatives

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives