Gulu City, Uganda: Gulu City authorities have unveiled reforms aimed at making it easier and more affordable for businesses to operate, as Millennium Tiles officially launched its second showroom in Uganda, marking a significant investment in Northern Uganda’s growing construction sector.
The new showroom, established through a partnership with Bruce Nazil Investment, becomes Millennium Tiles’ first outlet in Northern Uganda following the successful opening of its Hoima City showroom.
Speaking during the official launch, Gulu City Principal Commercial Officer George Nicholas Kidega said the city has significantly reduced business licensing fees and streamlined the licensing process, enabling investors to obtain business licences within a single day.
According to Kidega, the reforms form part of Gulu City’s broader strategy to attract investment, improve the ease of doing business and position the city as Northern Uganda’s leading commercial and industrial hub.
“The city is committed to making business easier. Investors can now obtain licences at affordable rates, and the process is completed in real time within one day. Such reforms are attracting more businesses to Gulu,” Kidega said.
He noted that Millennium Tiles’ expansion into Gulu demonstrates growing investor confidence in the city and is expected to boost local revenue, create employment opportunities and strengthen the construction industry.
Kidega also revealed that Gulu City has developed a physical development plan that will relocate hardware businesses from the congested Central Business District to a designated hardware zone, a move aimed at easing traffic congestion while improving urban planning and accessibility.
He commended Millennium Tiles for partnering with local distributor Bruce Nazil Investment, saying collaborations between manufacturers and indigenous entrepreneurs help build local capacity while expanding investment opportunities in the region.
Director of Bruce Nazil Investment, Gloria Lalam, described the partnership with Millennium Tiles as a major milestone for her company, which has been in operation for just over a year.
She said the manufacturer supplies products through a flexible credit arrangement that allows her business to sell first before making payments, enabling steady growth and improved customer service.
“This partnership has given us room to expand. Their trust and flexible payment arrangement have kept our business moving and allowed us to serve customers better,” Lalam said.
The investment has also been welcomed by players in the construction industry.
Chairperson of the Gulu Tilers Association, Okello Churchill, said tilers in Northern Uganda previously depended on supplies from Kampala, resulting in high transport costs and project delays.
He noted that deliveries sometimes took nearly a week, increasing construction costs and slowing project completion.
“Now we have quality products available right here in Gulu. It saves us time, transport costs and enables us to complete projects much faster,” Churchill said.
Representing Millennium Tiles, Nishilh Parmar said the decision to establish a showroom in Gulu was driven by growing demand for premium building materials across Northern Uganda.
He said the showroom stocks more than 60 varieties of tiles, offering customers a wider selection while reducing the need to travel long distances to access quality products.
“We recognized that customers in Northern Uganda wanted easier access to our products without travelling long distances. This showroom brings quality and variety closer to them,” Parmar said.
Meanwhile, Gulu City Mayor Acire Julius Labeja called on landowners around the city to avail land for the establishment of an industrial park, saying industrialisation remains central to Gulu’s long-term economic transformation.
“The city needs industries that will create sustainable employment, increase local revenue and reduce unemployment among young people. We appeal to landowners to support this vision by availing land for an industrial park,” Labeja said.
In recent years, Gulu City has experienced rapid growth in commercial infrastructure, manufacturing, education, hospitality, financial services and real estate, steadily strengthening its position as Northern Uganda’s economic gateway.
City leaders say continued investment-friendly policies, improved infrastructure and stronger public-private partnerships will be critical in attracting more investors and accelerating the city’s transformation into one of Uganda’s leading investment destinations.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
