President Museveni, Ruto Launch USD 500m Devki Steel Plant to Power East Africa’s Industrial Rise

Tororo, Uganda — East Africa marked a major stride in its industrialisation agenda today as Presidents Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and William Ruto of Kenya jointly presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the USD 500 million Devki Mega Steel Plant in Tororo. The integrated steel project, spearheaded by industrialist Dr. Narendra Raval, is expected to shape the region’s industrial future and create up to 15,000 jobs across related value chains.

The project, owned by the Devki Group, is designed to produce 1 million tonnes of steel annually using Uganda’s abundant iron ore reserves. It is widely viewed as a turning point in the region’s effort to reduce reliance on imported steel, retain value locally, and strengthen cross-border investment cooperation.

Museveni: “A Major Step in Ending Africa’s 500 Years of Value Loss”

President Museveni described the project as part of Africa’s long journey to reclaim value lost through slavery, colonialism, and the export of raw materials.

“For over 500 years, we have been losing value through slavery, colonialism, and exporting raw materials. With this integrated steel operation that will employ more than 15,000 Ugandans, we move closer to ending that haemorrhage of our minerals, our jobs, and our foreign exchange,” Museveni said.

He commended President Ruto for encouraging Devki Group to set up the factory in Uganda, noting that East Africa must grow together and leverage regional comparative advantages.

Museveni also urged local communities to avoid holding back investors through compensation disputes, reassuring them that government will handle all compensation processes to prevent unnecessary delays.

The President revealed that Uganda loses USD 5 billion annually through imports of goods that could be manufactured locally. He emphasised that the upcoming Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will be central to supporting such heavy industries and unlocking further investment.

Ruto: “A New Chapter in Africa’s Industrialisation”

President Ruto hailed the moment as a defining milestone for East Africa.

“This occasion signifies more than the commissioning of a factory; it marks a new chapter in Africa’s industrialisation driven by visionary leadership,” Ruto said.

He applauded the collaboration between Uganda and Kenya, saying the Tororo project shows the region’s growing capacity to build globally competitive industries that accelerate Africa’s transformation.

Dr. Raval Pledges Full Value Addition and Local Job Protection

Devki Group Chairman Dr. Narendra Raval, affectionately known as Guru, expressed gratitude to both leaders, saying Museveni’s consistency and vision gave Devki confidence to choose Tororo for the mega project.

“Today is a historic day for Uganda and East Africa. With the continued guidance of H.E. Kaguta Museveni, we chose Tororo for this project. His experience provided answers we did not have at the start,” Raval said.

He disclosed that President Museveni assured him that once the factory begins production, government will take firm measures to protect local manufacturers, including restricting steel imports.

“Importing anything is importing poverty — we are exporting our jobs,” Raval stressed. “If any government does not support the local industry, it is denying jobs to its citizens.” 

Citing global examples, he referenced U.S. President Donald Trump’s heavy duties on imported steel as a deliberate move to safeguard domestic jobs. 

Railway Infrastructure to Boost Operations Raval praised Uganda Railways and Kenya Railways for working together to extend the railway line to the factory, a move he said will cut transportation costs and position Tororo as a regional export hub.

“From here we can export up to Mombasa Port and beyond,” he said, expressing hope for President Museveni’s continued support of the railway connection.

In a light-hearted moment, Raval shared a humorous anecdote about his wife’s photo on his phone screen, saying it reminds him he can overcome any challenge — sparking laughter from the audience.

A Regional Game-Changer

The Tororo Mega Steel Plant is expected to have far-reaching impact.

Key Expected Outcomes

Job Creation: 10,000–15,000 direct and indirect jobs

Import Substitution: Significant reduction in Uganda’s steel imports Increased

Tax Revenue: Stronger domestic revenue mobilisation

Boost to Mining: Expansion of iron ore mining, including the upcoming Kabale project

Regional Integration: Strengthened Uganda–Kenya economic cooperation

Enhanced Export Capacity: Facilitated by railway connections to Mombasa Investors and analysts agree that the factory represents more than an industrial installation — it marks a strategic shift toward value addition, a cornerstone of Uganda’s and East Africa’s long-term development plans.

The groundbreaking of the USD 500 million Devki Mega Steel Plant signals growing investor confidence in Uganda’s industrial agenda and the broader East African economy. With strong political backing, strategic regional cooperation, and a promise of thousands of jobs, the Tororo steel project stands as one of the region’s most promising industrial milestones in recent years.