Govt to construct regional industrial parks

The decision was contained in a letter signed by Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of Information Communication Technology and National Guidance, after a cabinet meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni.

“It was agreed that the Government of Uganda shall construct an Industrial Park in each of the geographical zones. The required infrastructure shall also be provided such as roads, electricity, internet, ware and sewerage and other utilities,” read part of the communication.

By definition, an industrial park refers to a portion of a city that is zoned for industrial use rather than residential or commercial needs. Industrial parks may contain oil refineries, ports, warehouses, distribution centres, and factories.

The benefits of industrial parks are myriad, especially in promoting economic activities towards industrialisation, employment opportunities and economic development.

Industrial parks promote urban amenities in the shape of public and private physical structures such as roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, water supply, sewers, electrical grids, and telecommunications (including Internet connectivity and broadband access) and others.

In order to carry out this undertaking, Cabinet decided to put a halt on the creation of any more administrative units until the end of the 2026 Financial Year.

Since 2017, the government has created more than 360 sub-counties, 350 town councils and 10 cities nationwide.

According to Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi, this slamming off the brakes on the creation of new administrative units is correct. He adds that, since he assumed office in 2019, there are 716 non-functional administrative units without codes, staff, offices and budgets.

He thus welcomed the creation of regional industrial parks, a plan first given a public face last year when the Executive Director of Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), Mr. Robert Mukiza, said government will be constructing 25 industrial parks soon.

Mukiza added that the construction of the same would begin in earnest after government receives all the land titles to facilitate this process aimed at attracting investors into the country.

He was speaking at a Thanksgiving Ceremony held at Kisoro Tourism Hotel organised by Bafumbira leaders to appreciate President Museveni for appointing him, their “son”, as UIA Executive Director.

“I want to thank all the district local governments in Uganda that donated land on which the planned 25-industrial parks are to be constructed in a period of five years,” Mukiza said.

“I want to specifically thank the Kisoro District Local Government that donated 620 acres of land located near the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border with Uganda. Plans are underway to have all the donated land titled, connected with utilities such as roads, electricity, industrial water and internet to make them attractive to investors,” Mukiza revealed.

He went on to thank the government for its work in the ongoing road construction project in DRC, which he noted will create market linkages for the Ugandan-produced goods once all the industrial parks are fully operational.

The UIA was set up under the Investment Code 1991 (revised in 2019). According to its website, it is a statutory agency mandated to initiate and support measures that enhance investment in Uganda, and advise government on appropriate policies conducive for investment promotion and growth.