Museveni positions industrialisation as key driver for Uganda’s transformation

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President Yoweri Museveni has reaffirmed that Uganda’s future lies in industrialisation, describing it as the surest path to wealth creation, modernisation, and mass employment.

The President made the remarks on Friday, August 29, while commissioning four new factories and laying the foundation for the construction of nine more at the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park.

A significant industrial development centre located in Eastern Uganda, the park, which currently hosts 73 factories with 54 already in operation, employs about 11,000 Ugandans.

Museveni inspecting a garment on a guided tour of Xinlong Textiles in Mbale Industrial Park during its commissioning on Friday. Left is Tian Tang chairman Paul Zhanga. (PPU Photo)

The four commissioned factories include: Unisteel Investment Uganda Limited, Nice Textiles Uganda Limited, Xinlon Textile and Garment Technology Co. Ltd and Timber Paper Industry Uganda Company Limited.

According to management, nine more factories will be constructed, namely: 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. 

President Museveni poses for a photo with Chinese investors led by Paul Zhang during the commissioning of the Unisteel factory in Mbale on Friday. Standing (L) are the proprietors of the factory. (PPU Photo)

President Museveni commissioning Nice Textiles in Mbale Industrial park as Chinese investors led by Paul Zhanga (C) look on. (PPU Photo)

President Museveni (C) with Chinese investors and Ugandan ministers pose for a photo in front of some of the steel products made by Unisteel factory during its commissioning in Mbale on Friday. (PPU Photo)

He used the occasion to explain the vision.

“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.

President Museveni signs into the guest book at Sino Mbale Industrial park as Paul Zhanga (L), chairman of Tian Tang group and his team look on during the President's visit to the park to commission a new face. (PPU Photo)

Some of the workers at Sino Mbale Industrial Park listening to President Museveni's address on Friday. (PPU Photo)

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.”

According to a release from the Presidential Press Unit, Museveni 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, which is not sustainable. We must shift more people into industries and services. That is part of modernisation,” he said. 

Recalling his days as a school teacher, 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, he remarked.

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. 

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

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.”

President Museveni performs the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of nine new factories at Sino Uganda Mbale Industrial Park on Friday, August 29, 2025. (PPU Photo)

The President also acknowledged receiving a request from the industrial park management for an additional 600 acres to expand the park into a new industrial city.

The Minister of State for Investment and Privatisation, Evelyn Anite, praised the President’s consistent drive for industrialisation 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 industrialisation. You have done an excellent job, and that is why we are now talking of 1.2 million people employed under this industry,” she said. 

Mr Paul Zhang, Chairman of Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, also expressed gratitude for the government’s support.

“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.