By Aggrey Baba At a time when Uganda is seeking to strengthen local participation in major infrastructure projects, Frank Kizito, a young manager at Abubaker Technical Services and General Supplies Ltd (ATSGSL), is helping steer one of the country’s growing construction companies through an ambitious expansion. As General Manager, Kizito is part of the leadership team overseeing a business whose operations span road construction, quarrying, asphalt production, drainage works and the supply of construction materials. His role comes at a defining moment for Abubaker, which has expanded its project portfolio and production capacity with support from the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC). The company is currently executing two major road contracts worth a combined UGX525.19 billion, comprising the Busunju-Kiboga-Hoima Road and Matugga-Semuto-Kapeeka Road projects. For a young manager operating in a sector traditionally associated with heavy capital requirements, technical expertise and fierce competition, the task is to help translate the company’s growing resources into efficient operations and successful project delivery. During a media visit to Abubaker’s 30-acre quarry and asphalt plant in Mayirikiti Village, Nakaseke District, Kizito demonstrated a clear understanding of the operational demands behind the company’s expanding business. The facility produces construction materials used in road projects and has become increasingly important as the now construction giant takes on larger assignments. The company operates three stone crushers with capacities of approximately 50, 60 and 65 tons, alongside an asphalt plant capable of producing about 130 tons per hour. Its equipment base also includes excavators, loaders, trucks and other machinery needed for quarrying and road construction, and it’s employing over 130 people, out of whom only five a non-Ugandans. Kizito explained that the company previously had only one crusher and struggled to utilize its plant to the level required to support its ambitions. The partnership with UDC, which began in 2023, helped change that position by providing financing and strengthening the company’s ability to compete for larger contracts. “The partnership is not only about how much cash they bring. The money is part of it, but the bigger issue is how they help us grow our capacity, guide us and strengthen the business,” Kizito said. UDC’s cumulative financing to Abubaker has reached UGX96.15 billion through equity and shareholder loans, with the corporation holding a 26.82% stake in the company. The investment has helped the contractor settle expensive debt, strengthen its balance sheet and obtain working capital for major projects. For the young General Manager, the benefits extend beyond machinery and money. He said the partnership has improved the company’s standing with banks, particularly when seeking performance guarantees required for major construction contracts. “When you want a performance guarantee from a bank, having a partner like UDC makes a difference when the bank is assessing you as a contractor,” he said. That increased capacity is reflected in the company’s growing involvement in nationally significant infrastructure. The 145-kilometre Busunju-Kiboga-Hoima Road project, valued at UGX309.07 billion, connects Kampala to Hoima City and the Albertine oil and gas region. The Matugga-Semuto-Kapeeka Road project, together with five kilometers of town roads, is valued at UGX216.12 billion. The projects place substantial operational demands on the contractor, requiring reliable equipment, consistent supplies of construction materials, technical expertise and effective coordination of workers. Abubaker’s progress also reflects a wider effort to strengthen Ugandan contractors in a market where foreign firms have often enjoyed an advantage through access to cheaper financing. Kizito said the cost of borrowing locally can make it difficult for domestic firms to compete on price, even when they have the technical capacity to deliver major projects. He believes strengthening local contractors will help more Ugandan businesses move beyond subcontracting and participate directly in large infrastructure assignments. Beyond the construction sites, the company’s growth has implications for employment and skills development. UDC’s 2023/2024 annual report shows that Abubaker’s workforce increased from 235 employees in the 2021/2022 financial year to 491 in 2022/2023 and 676 in 2023/2024. The figures illustrate the employment growth that accompanied the company’s expanding operations. Kizito said the company recruits workers from the communities where it operates, bringing in specialized engineers and technical personnel where necessary. “We do not take people from our head office in Kampala to go and work in Hoima, Arua or Moroto. We use the people who are there to execute these jobs. We bring in our engineers and technical expertise, but most of the employees are locals,” he said. The approach allows local workers to participate in infrastructure projects while gaining practical experience alongside experienced technical teams. Founded in 2002 and operational since 2005, Abubaker has developed a broad construction portfolio covering roads, bridges, drainage systems, water infrastructure, concrete products and solar street lighting. Its documented track record includes projects for government agencies and municipalities across Uganda. Its development illustrates the importance of combining experience with investment in equipment, people and productive capacity. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).