President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed that Uganda’s future lies in industrialization, describing it as the surest path to wealth creation, modernization, and mass employment.
The President made the remarks yesterday while commissioning four new factories and laying the foundation for the construction of nine more at the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park.
The Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park is a significant industrial development centre located in Eastern Uganda’s Mbale city. The park, which currently hosts 73 factories with 54 already in operation employs about 11,000 Ugandans.
The commissioned four factories included; Unisteel Investment Uganda limited, Nice textiles Uganda limited, Xinlon textile and garment technology co. ltd and Timber Paper Industry Uganda Company Limited.
The nine factories to be constructed include; Elgon Steel Uganda Limited, Myno Technology Company Limited, Shengtang Machinery Manufacturing Limited, Yangtze Industry Limited, Futian Hardware Uganda Limited, Planetic Industries SMC Limited, Hai Lan Industries Limited, Aofan Garments Company Limited, and Hercules Automobile Manufacturing Uganda Limited.
During the commissioning, the President explained that from the beginning the NRM’s vision was clear and that without a clear vision a country cannot move forward. “To create wealth, we have four sectors; sector one is commercial agriculture, where people should learn how to make money through agriculture, comprising crops, livestock and fisheries. The second sector is factories; manufacturing which is to process and preserve and add value to what is produced in agriculture, in minerals. The third sector is services, including; transport, hospitality and so on, and the fourth sector is ICT, but the sectors which create more jobs are mainly manufacturing and services.”
He explained that developed countries have fewer people in agriculture but more in industries and services, urging Ugandans to embrace the same shift. “In the USA, only 2% of the people are in agriculture. Here you still have many Bagisu in the mountains on one acre of land that is not sustainable. We must shift more people into industries and services. That is part of modernization,” he said.
Recalling his teaching years in the 1970s, the President said: “ In the 1970s, I was teaching economics. I took time to teach at Moshi Cooperative College for two years, and one of the subjects I used to teach was economics, and one of the topics was characteristics of backwardness. And one of them was finding too many people in agriculture.”
The President noted that industrial parks like Mbale are transforming Uganda from towns of shops into towns of industries, producing goods once imported from abroad. “Now you see the difference. So many of the things we used to uproot from outside are now made here like the telephones, televisions, paper and steel.”
Highlighting the park’s impact, President Museveni said industries not only create jobs but also strengthen the economy by consuming power and supporting agriculture. “This park employs 11,000 people and consumes up to 50 megawatts of power, soon 100. These industries need food, so the Bagisu in the hills should grow food to supply this big workforce. That is how we link agriculture to industry,” the President said.
He thanked the Chinese investors for their role in Uganda’s transformation. “I want to thank Mr. Zhang and our Chinese friends for helping us transform our country. I am glad to be here to open new factories and lay foundation stones for more. All the issues you raised, including the floods, will be solved immediately.”
The President also revealed that the management had requested an additional 600 acres to expand the park into a new industrial city.
President Museveni further underscored the growing strength of Uganda’s manufacturing sector. “Today, manufacturing employs 1.2 million Ugandans more than the 480,000 in public service,” he said.
On her part, the Minister of State for Investment and Privatisation, Hon. Evelyn Anite, praised the President’s consistent drive for industrialization and commended the resilience of workers and investors in Mbale.
“I salute all of you who work in the industrial park. Your Excellency, you have not only saved these young people but also walked the talk of industrialization, you have done an excellent job, and that is why we are now talking of 1.2 million people employed under this industry. May the good Lord bless you and protect you,” she said.
Mr. Paul Zhang, Chairman of Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, also expressed gratitude for the government’s support. “Your Excellency, thank you for supporting Mbale Industrial Park. More than 10,000 Ugandans have jobs because of this project. Without your support, we would have nothing to do.”
The commissioning was also attended by leaders including Hon. David Bahati, State Minister for Industry, Hajjat Faridah Kibowa, Chairperson of the National Women Council, among others.