President Museveni has commissioned 16 factories in Mbale and hailed the policy decisions made by his government in bolstering industrial growth that in turn brings in investors.
Museveni who was in Mbale on August 24 where he also did a ground breaking of nine new factories at Sino Uganda- Mbale Industrial Park in Mbale City explained that the site was a bush some years ago but now it has a labour force of 2,000 with 36 factories.
He also explained that the government of Uganda created a conducive environment that has enabled investors to come and invest in the country and reassured them of a ready market for their products.
“Many people don’t know that having a market is wealth. We have a market for Ugandans of 46 million and on that, we add the East African market of 130 million people as well as the African market of 1.5 billion people. All those people have needs which should be obtained using money from their pockets,” he said.
The President further thanked the NRM members who understand and support the vision and strategy of the party that has proved to be fruitful. He also commended the friends of Uganda especially the Chinese who have been working on mutual understanding and cooperation with the East African country and Africa since 1949.
Museveni however condemned some countries which are trying to curtail the market of Ugandan products. He assured the stakeholders that this will be hard to achieve by the critics because Ugandan products are of good quality and at relatively low prices.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the challenge of electricity is made history since the government is currently solving the issue.
“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,” he explained.
In her remarks, Evelyn Anite the State Minister for Investment and Privatization explained that President Museveni took over power in 1986, he assured Ugandans that his government will cause fundamental change and indeed fulfilled this promise by promoting peace and security as well as development.
“Your Excellency, a country that you inherited with a collapsed economy, you have built it to the extent that currently as Uganda we are talking about manufacturing with 500,000 factories in the country.”
She added: “The Industrial Park in Mbale has created 2000 jobs for the youth. I want to thank you for being very energetic, very visionary in attracting investors to come to Uganda and encouraging Ugandans to join the money economy and add value on our God-given resources.”
The Ambassador of China to Uganda H.E Zhang Lizhong hailed the existing good relationship between China and Uganda saying the two countries are working together to implement the nine programs announced by President Xi Jin Ping of China in the latest China -Africa Summit.
Energy Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa lauded the President for spearheading development in Uganda through Industrialization.
“When I look at the infrastructure in Uganda like the roads and electricity; indeed, I see the mustard seed. 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 of 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 noted.
Nankabirwa explained that she is aware of the electricity challenges in the area and assured the residents that her ministry is doing its best to solve the problem. She pledged to put in place a mobile station to improve the supply of power.
Currently, the Sino Uganda-Mbale Industrial Park has 36 factories composed of; 20 factories in operation, one factory destroyed by fire, 5 factories under construction and 12 at a stage of assembling plant and machinery.
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.
The colourful event was attended by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, Trade minister Francis Mwebesa, his junior David Bahati, the chairperson of NRM Women’s league Ms Lidya Wanyoto and the Chairperson of Sino-Uganda Industrial Park Mbale, Zhang Zhigang, among others.
