Abstract
Manufacturing has served as the main catalyst for economic growth and development ever since the Industrial Revolution. The significance of the manufacturing sector for economic growth and development is well supported by both theoretical and empirical data. This study examines the relationship between manufacturing and economic growth in Uganda, using time-series analysis over a period of 1990-2022. The study applies Kaldor's first growth law. The main results show a significant positive relationship between manufacturing growth and GDP growth. The results support Kaldor’s first law and hence, "manufacturing as engine of growth" holds, in the case of Uganda. This study offers the following policy implications: (i) policy measures on economic transformation ought to be anchored on industrialisation, with an emphasis on the addition of value in the manufacturing sector, (ii) the goal of policy initiatives should be to leverage the manufacturing sector's ability as a source and resource for trade, investment, and employment, and (iii) the goal of policy measures should be to optimise the manufacturing sector's current potential and position it as a growth engine for the Ugandan economy.