The proposed construction of a fully-fledged industrial park in Kabale district hangs in balance due to lack of sufficient land.
On Tuesday, a team of officials from Uganda Investments Authority-UIA led by Evelyn Anite, State Minister of Finance for privatization, David Kwesiga Bahati, State Minister for Industries Victoria Businge Rusoke, State for Local Government and Ndorwa East county Member of parliament, Wilfred Niwagaba arrived in Kigezi to assess the preparedness of districts towards the establishment of industrial parks in the region.
The team visited Kanyinaburiba airstrip in Kanyinaburiba village of Kyanamira Parish in Kyanamira Sub-county, which was earmarked by Kabale district council about two and half years ago to host the industrial park. However, to their surprise, the team found that the available land is less than 50 acres against the recommended 500 acres by the president.
The officials also discovered that the district is yet to secure a title for the land, which is still in the custody of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority. As a result, Evelyn Anite, State Minister of Finance for privatization directed Kabale district authorities led by the Chief Administrative Officer, Edmond Ntimba and LC V Chairperson, Nelson Nshangabasheija and Mayor of Kabale Municipality, Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha to expedite the process of securing a title.
She also noted that Kabale is likely to get a mini industrial park as opposed to a fully-fledged one due to insufficient land.
Byamugisha explained that they were in the process of securing the title after the fresh boundary opening ahead of the elevation of Kabale Municipality to a City Status. Wilfred Niwagaba, Ndorwa County East Member of parliament pleaded with Anite to allow Kabale to get a fully-fledged Industrial park, saying the land crisis is a major problem in Kabale, adding that most residents survive on trade.
The team is currently in Kisoro on the same mission. Last month, Kisoro district council resolved to turn Kibaya government land in Nyarubuye sub-county and Bunagana town council measuring 500 acres into an Industrial Park.
In May this year, President Yoweri Museveni approved the establishment of 25 industrial parks in all sub-regions in the country. He said that the parks will be established in Arua and Adjumani in West Nile, Gulu in Acholi, Lira in Lango, Moroto in Karamoja, Soroti in Teso, Mbale in Bugisu, Jinja in Busoga; Kabale in Kigezi and Rukungiri in Western; Mbarara in Ankole, and Hoima in Bunyoro, Mukono, Namanve, Kapeeka in Nakaseke and Mengo in Kampala.
At least 15 industrial parks have been established in the last five years. The parks were set up in Mbale, Kapeeka, Buikwe, Njeru, Namanve, Jinja, Soroti, Kampala Industrial and Business Park, Luzira Industrial and Business Park, and Bweyogerere industrial estate. In October 2019, the government allocated Shillings 130 Billion to facilitate the establishment of 20 zonal industrial parks across the country.
The funds were under the presidential initiative for wealth creation and local economic development. According to the project, the parks are supposed to have mini factories with an aim of skilling all youth and women at no cost. The format also requires the setup of industrial cottages, which will be dealing in value-addition basing on what the region produces most.
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