President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated that government agencies will be compelled to purchase products manufactured by local industries as a way of supporting the economy.
On Friday, the President commissioned six industries in the Namanve industrial area. The industries include Orion transformersu, Alfasan limited, Steel and Tubes industries, Interior Technologies, Luuka Plastics and Toyota motors.
He said that this puts Uganda on the right path to development.
There are a total of 35 active operators within the industrial park.
Museveni said in a statement that these industries will add value to locally available raw materials thus boosting the agricultural and mineral sectors.
“Industry is one of the sectors that will spur the development of Uganda and economically liberate our people. For instance, this park so far offers direct employment to 3,000 people,” the President said in a statement.
“I have already directed that Government departments must buy what is produced here. Officials who do not implement this will be dealt with for being an obstacle to our progress”.
Museveni said that imported goods that are similar to those manufactured locally will be taxed at a given rate that government will determine.
He revealed that in a bid to the lower the cost of doing business, government is working on improving roads, electricity and water within the park.
Regarding security within the industrial park, Museveni has directed the Police “to increase their presence in all the industrial parks”.
“This coupled with the security infrastructure that we are modernising, we shall be able to arrest criminal elements,” said Museveni.
