Kabalega petroleum-based industrial park to unlock investment opportunities — Experts
The Kabalega Petroleum-Based Industrial Park is expected to play a central role in supporting Uganda's downstream petroleum industry by attracting manufacturers, fostering innovation, and strengthening industrial linkages that contribute to sustainable economic development.
UNOC CEO Proscovia Nabbanja addresses participants during a conference held in Naguru on Tuesday. (Courtesy)
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The Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotions Authority (UFZEPA), Hez Kimoomi Alinda, has highlighted the immense potential of the Kabalega Petroleum-Based Industrial Park to transform Uganda's manufacturing sector and drive innovation.
Speaking during a conference held in Naguru on Tuesday (today), Alinda said the industrial park is strategically positioned to become a catalyst for industrialisation, value addition, and export-led economic growth.
He noted that the petroleum-based industrial hub presents significant investment opportunities for both local and international manufacturers seeking to establish operations in Uganda.
“The park will provide a conducive environment for industries that utilise petroleum and petrochemical products as raw materials, creating opportunities for downstream manufacturing, technology transfer, and innovation,” Alinda added.
He emphasised that the development aligns with Uganda's broader industrialisation agenda by promoting value addition, job creation, and increased competitiveness of locally manufactured products in regional and international markets.
The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) CEO, Proscovia Nabbanja, disclosed that 221 investment plots are now available across seven strategic zones.
“Uganda’s flagship smart and eco-industrial hub, Kabalega Industrial Park, is backed by world-class infrastructure and a transparent investor onboarding process; KIP is set to drive industrialisation,” Nabbanja explained.
Ali Ssekataw, Director, Legal & Corporate Affairs at Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), stated that the economic transformation agenda is anchored on shifting Uganda from an economy that exports raw materials and imports finished products to one that manufactures, adds value, and exports finished goods.
The conference brought together government officials, industry leaders, investors, and development partners to discuss strategies for accelerating industrial growth and maximising opportunities arising from Uganda's emerging oil and gas sector.
About the Kabalega Petroleum-Based Industrial Park
The Kabalega Petroleum-Based Industrial Park (KPIP), also known as the Kabaale Industrial Park, is one of Uganda's flagship oil and gas infrastructure projects located in Kabaale Parish, Buseruka Sub- County, Hoima District, about 45 kilometres from Hoima City.
The 29.57-square-kilometre industrial hub is being developed by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) to support the country's emerging petroleum industry and broader industrialisation agenda.
The park is designed as an integrated industrial ecosystem anchored by the planned 60,000-barrel-per-day Uganda Oil Refinery.
It will also host the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) export hub, Kabalega International Airport, petrochemical and fertiliser manufacturing plants, polymer industries, logistics and warehousing facilities, light and medium manufacturing industries, and a free trade zone.
Supporting infrastructure will include power, water and wastewater systems, internal road networks, workers' housing, schools, healthcare facilities, and commercial services.