Kadaga says industrial parks will solve unemployment in Busoga

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Establishing industrial parks in every district as part of a broader effort to create jobs for the youth in the Busoga and across the country will be the focus in the next five years, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has said.

Kadaga spoke during a visit to the Keshwala Group of Companies and Makepasi Match Ltd on January 3, 2026, as part of a campaign swing to energise support for President Yoweri Museveni's re-election in Jinja city, dubbed “Mama Kadaga asabye Londa Museveni”.

Kadaga was joined by Busoga Kingdom tourism minister Hellen Namutamba and a diaspora campaign delegation from South Africa, led by Iddi Mugoya, the chairperson of the South Africa campaign task force.

The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (middle) in a group photograph with workers of Makepasi Match Limited led by Ranmal Keshwala (on Kadaga's immediate left) the Managing Director of Keshwala Group on Saturday in Jinja City. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

The visiting officials met with over 5,000 factory workers at the two local manufacturers.

At the Keshwala Group of Companies along the Walukuba-Masese road, Kadaga was welcomed by managing director Ranmal Keshwala and addressed workers inside the factory.

She outlined a plan to establish industrial parks in each district, noting that suitable land has already been identified in Luuka and Iganga, with an additional 5,000 acres in Kamuli offered by Dr Mathias Magoola.

“My mission this term is to focus on the creation of industrial parks in each district, and this will address the high youth unemployment in the Busoga region and the country at large,” Kadaga said, adding that her team would identify specific locations for the parks.

She said, “high unemployment rate in the country causes a lot of insecurity and instability.”

Kadaga acknowledged long-standing concerns within the region, including the controversial issue of the minimum wage, and indicated that the next term would strive to tackle unfinished national issues, including those affecting Busoga.

“There is a lot of unfinished work in this country. I request you to vote for the NRM back into power and President Museveni so that he retains the Presidency to be able to work on the unfinished issues of Busoga and the country at large,” she said.

Election day plans

Keshwala, who also announced that he would close his factories on voting day, January 15, to allow workers to participate in the General Election, praised Kadaga’s visit and the Government’s development plans.

He commented that the move would support his staff in exercising their civic duties.

The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (middle) in a group photograph with employees of Keshwala Group of Companies led by Ranmal Keshwala (4th right) the Managing Director of Keshwala Group on Saturday in Jinja City. Right is Busoga Kingdom's Minister of Tourism Princess Hellen Namutamba. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

At Makepasi Match Ltd along Industrial Road, Kadaga commended the transformation underway in local industries, highlighting the inclusive employment of women and persons with disabilities.

She reminded workers that Election Day would be a public holiday to ensure broad participation in the vote.

Linda Doroka, a casual worker at Makepasi Match Ltd, who was found in her wheelchair, commended the management of Makepasi for considering people with disabilities during recruitment of workers and requested for an increase in the monthly salaries of people with disabilities.

As the campaign season continues, Kadaga’s message centres on job creation through industrial development and a continued push to address regional development disparities within Busoga and the broader nation.