President Museveni has assured industrialists that the challenge of electricity will soon be history since the government is currently solving the issue.
He made the remarks Thursday while commissioning 16 factories and groundbreaking for the construction of 9 new ones at Sino Uganda- Mbale Industrial Park in Mbale City.
“Otherwise, electricity is enough and we are building more dams. We are also going to construct a water channel to deal with the problem of floods that affected us last time. We are also producing more fire brigade machinery for this industrial park and helping the industrial park with the infrastructure.”
President Museveni also castigated unpatriotic government bodies like those in the power generation sector who don’t want to support local investors but instead resort to buying machinery from foreign countries.
“Therefore, I have ordered all government bodies to buy all these meters from Uganda starting from 1st September. The Ministry of Energy is here. The cables and the meters must be bought from our factories here and the ones in Kampala. Anybody who does not will have to go and look after his goats at home,” he ordered.
The President also condemned some countries which are trying to curtail the market of Ugandan products.
He assured the stakeholders that the move would be hard to achieve by the critics because “our products are of good quality and at relatively low prices”.
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, lauded the President for spearheading development in Uganda through Industrialisation.
“I want to add my voice as well. You have been the chief sower by sowing the mustard seed. When I look at the infrastructure in Uganda like the roads and electricity; indeed, I see the mustard seed. Like the Bible says everything has its own time, I think it’s time for harvesting but sowing and harvesting go together especially where the soils are fertile,” she noted.
“Uganda is fertile as far as investment is concerned because you, together with the gallant sons of Uganda; fought for peace and peace is a prerequisite for development. We are here celebrating because you chose to take that route to pacify this country. We are now seeing Industrial parks booming all over the country because we have peace.”
She added: “Your Excellency, I’m aware of the challenges of electricity here. I assure the residents that we are working hard to solve the problem. We shall have a mobile station to improve the supply of power.”
The colorful event was attended by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Francis Mwebesa, the Minister of State in the same Ministry Hon. David Bahati, and the chairperson of NRM Women’s League Ms. Lidya Wanyoto, among others.
The Mbale Industrial Park produces a variety of goods such as glass, textiles, household detergents, mobile phones, smart televisions, baby diapers, clothes, LED bulbs, tubes, electric meters, and stockings.