Govt to develop another Industrial Park in Mukono

MUKONO - The State Minister for Investment, Evelyn Anite, has said the government will develop Mbalala Industrial Park in Mukono district with similar utilities to match with other industrial parks in the country.

Warning against wetland encroachment, the minister said investors in Mbalala will be provided with all the necessary requirements to elevate the park.

"Currently, eight out of the proposed 27 industrial parks are already operational, namely: Namanve, Luzira, Bweyogerere, Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Mbarara and Kasese. We also have private ones like Liao Shen in  Kapeeka in Nakaseke district, plus MMP in Buikwe district."

Anite made the remarks at a meeting (Balaza) on Tuesday, May 6, at Mbalala in Mukono district.

She thanked the investors who came up with the vision of putting up industries in the area, which has created jobs for young people, especially school dropouts and even those without professional skills.

“In the past, Africans were not ready to take the role of industrialisation. But under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni, he has attracted both the local and foreign investors to establish industries in various parts of the country to reduce the importation of goods,” Anite said.

She explained that to encourage foreign investors, the government has given out tax holidays depending on the total amount of investment made to allow their business to grow before they can begin to pay taxes.

Minister Anite thanked the investors who came up with the vision of putting up industries in the area, which has created jobs for young people, especially school dropouts and even those without professional skills. (Credit: Wilfred Sanya)

“I would like youths to take up the government opportunity of using the presidential hub, which provides skills in various sectors. The skills learnt will benefit those coming to work in factories since they are certified with government agencies like the Directorate of Industrial Training to earn better salaries,” she asserted.

She warned investors who bring in their own people, whom they refer to as “expatriates” emphasising that as according to the government regulations, investors are supposed to offer 75% of employment to Ugandans.

She appealed to the investors to offer better pay to workers as well as pay into their National Social Security Fund so that during their retirement, they have something to support them.

During the engagement, investors expressed the hurdles affecting their businesses.
Owen Jin, manager of the Tian Tang Group, said investors are suffering losses due to unstable water supply and electricity in the area. 

Sarah Mbeiza, Principal Engineer, National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), assured investors that if the Katosi water supply project is completed, there will be constant, stable water supply.