H. E. President Yoweri Museveni (middle, white shirt) (Credit: PPU)

President Museveni commissions four factories in Mbale Industrial Park; to create 15,000 jobs at full capacity

President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday commissioned four factories at the Sino-Uganda Industrial Park in Mbale, eastern Uganda.

The four factories are: Pearl Light Technology Limited (for LED bulbs)

(Courtesy photo: PPU)

Uganda Victoria Cables Limited (for both high and low voltage electric cables)

(Credit: PPU)

Obon (for detergents and other personal care products)

(Credit: PPU)

And, Kyoga Capital Textile Company Limited (for socks)

The four factories are part of 55 factories that will be established in the industrial park with a total value of 600 million dollars. At full capacity, the industrial park will create and estimated 15,000 jobs for Ugandans.

(Credit: PPU)

President Museveni also laid a foundation stone for Automobile of Uganda Group, which will assemble Jeep cars, as well as a mattress making factory.

Seven additional factories are at advanced stages of constriction and are expected to be commissioned in the next seven months.

In 2018, the Government of Uganda, through Uganda Investment Authority, acquired 619 acres of land and signed an agreement with Tian Tang Group, which mobilized a consortium of eight Chinese companies to invest in the industrial park.

President Museveni promised to develop Mbale into an industrial town for manufacture of products like steel, and others that include a lot of local raw materials.

Said the President: “It’s through industrialization that we can have a modern society. This investment project is located on 619 acres of land and one factory that I have just commissioned is to manufacture electric cables, it is located on only ten acres, it’s going to save us from spending about 200 million dollars annually on imports, it’s creating jobs.”

The President said investors establishing industries in traditional towns and other areas in the country will benefit from a 10-year tax holiday.

Minister Anite (centre) (Credit: New Vision)

State Minister for Investment and Privatization, Hon. Evelyne Anite, said the factories are going to save Uganda from importing products that can now be produced locally, noting that exports have significantly increased due to establishment of industries.

“I have done research in Uganda Revenue Authority that shows that Uganda has been spending 810 billion shillings on importation of electricity cables but will be saving over 137 billion shillings. We’ll save over 17 billion shillings in importation of socks,” she explained.

Minister Anite said the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial and Business Park is one of 22 industrial parks earmarked by the Government for development to spur industrial production, create jobs and enable equitable economic transformation.

To acknowledge to the President the tremendous role Uganda Investment Authority is playing in Uganda’s industrialization, Anite introduced members of the Board and Management present, led by the Chair, Dr. Emely Kugonza.

Board members present included Mr. Fred Opolot, Mr. Godfey Byamukama, Dr. Joshua Mutambi, Ms. Naima Obombasa and Mr. Morrison Rwakakamba.

Management was led by the Acting Director General, Mr. Lawrence Byensi, and included Mr. Godfrey Semakula, the Deputy Director Industrial Parks Development Division.

“Mr. President, I’m happy the Uganda Investment Authority is corruption free, they have improved on service delivery to the investors,” Anite said.

Paul Zhang, the Chairman of Tian Tang Group, said establishment of industries will facilitate growth and economic development in the country.

The Member of Parliament for Mbale Municipality, Jack Wamanga Wamai, hailed Uganda Investment Authority for attracting and locating the industrial park project in Mbale.

“I wrote a concept paper to the Authority regarding the establishment of this park, I am happy that this project has been implemented successfully because our people will get employment,” he said.

The Mbale District Chairperson, Benard Mujaasi, said the local leaders have already given a blessing to the industrial park because it to create jobs especially for young people in Mbale and eastern Uganda.

The Mbale District Woman Member of Parliament, Connie Nakayenze Galiwango, hailed Uganda Investment Authority for compensating all the project affected people.

MP Galiwango asked the investors to establish social services like schools and health centres for the workers and neighbouring communities.

To safeguard against the spread of coronavirus, strict preventive measures like hand washing with detergents, scanning and maintenance of social distance.

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