President Museveni Inaugurates New Factories at Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, Reaffirms NRM’s Vision for Wealth Creation

Mbale-President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to industrialisation as a cornerstone of Uganda’s economic transformation, during his visit to the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park. The President inaugurated newly established factories and laid the foundation stones for several more that are set to begin operations.

The visit underscored the steady progress of the park, which has already created 11,000 jobs and become a hub of industrial activity in the Eastern region. President Museveni commended Mr. Paul Zhang and his team for their dedication in driving forward the industrial park project, pledging his full support to ensure its continued expansion.

In his remarks, the President reflected on the importance of vision in national development, emphasising that a lack of vision is one of the main causes of stagnation in countries. He noted that from its inception, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has been guided by a clear economic vision centered on four pillars of wealth creation:

Commercial Agriculture

Industry

Services 

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

While all four are critical, the President highlighted industries and services as the leading global sources of job creation, stressing their importance for modernisation and poverty reduction in Uganda and Africa at large.

President Museveni pointed out that the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park is not just expanding local economic opportunities but is also transforming the town into a hub focused on manufacturing rather than retail trade. Products manufactured at the park are already meeting many of Uganda’s critical goods requirements, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening the country’s industrial base.

“The Industrial Park here in Mbale has developed a town focused on industries, not just retail. Many products are being manufactured, and it has already created thousands of jobs. This is why we say industries are a crucial part of the solution for Uganda and Africa,” President Museveni remarked.

The Mbale Industrial Park is one of several industrial hubs established under the government’s policy of promoting value addition, manufacturing, and job creation. These parks are intended to attract both domestic and foreign investment, increase Uganda’s exports, and integrate the country more effectively into regional and global value chains.

The creation of 11,000 jobs at the park is a tangible demonstration of the transformative potential of industrialisation. Beyond job opportunities, the factories also contribute to skills development, technology transfer, and the expansion of Uganda’s tax base.

President Museveni assured investors and the public that government will continue to prioritise infrastructure development, policy support, and stability to create a conducive environment for industries to thrive. He reiterated that industrialisation is not only central to Uganda’s economic agenda but also a pathway for Africa’s broader socio-economic transformation.

“As a country, we must focus on sectors that generate wealth and jobs for our people. The Mbale Industrial Park shows what is possible when vision, planning, and commitment are combined. Uganda will continue to support industrial growth to ensure prosperity for all,” he affirmed.