The government has pledged to address persistent challenges facing Sino-Mbale Industrial Park, including inadequate power supply, fire safety, flooding, road safety, and obstacles to the park’s expansion. The commitment was made during a visit to the industrial park on Wednesday by the State Minister for Privatization and Investment, Hajat Amina Mukalazi, and Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) Director General Robert Mukiza.
The park, which hosts about 90 factories, 72 of which are currently operational, employs approximately 15,000 people, predominantly youth, making it one of Uganda’s major industrial and employment hubs. During the tour, Mukalazi visited several factories, including Lida Jeans Factory, U Steel Factory, U Home Factory and a paper mill, where she interacted with workers and commended them for contributing to the growth of the park.
“You are the backbone of the industrial park. Providing your time and labour is very important, because without you, less will be achieved,” Mukalazi told workers. At a meeting with the directors of Tian Tang Group, the developers of the park, investors presented several challenges they want government to address. One of the major concerns was road safety along the Tirinyi Road, where investors said speeding vehicles have contributed to the deaths of 20 local workers and one Chinese employee.
Luke Wang, one of the directors, asked the government to install speed humps along the road to protect workers and other road users. Mukalazi acknowledged the concern and said the Ministry of Works and Transport would soon receive funding to facilitate the installation of speed humps. Investors also raised concerns over plans to expand the industrial park, saying the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) had blocked the expansion over alleged wetland encroachment despite the developers having purchased the land.
The Minister pledged to engage NEMA to find a solution to the dispute and facilitate the park’s planned expansion. Fire safety was another concern raised by the investors, who reminded government of a 2022 commitment to provide firefighting equipment following fires that destroyed factories at the park. Mukalazi said government had procured the equipment and assured the investors that a fire truck would soon be deployed to Sino-Mbale Industrial Park.
The investors also cited unreliable electricity supply as a major challenge affecting production. Jin Owen, the park’s deputy manager, said the available power supply was insufficient for the 72 operational factories and fluctuated frequently, resulting in damage to machinery. UIA Director General Robert Mukiza assured the investors that the government was working to provide a more stable and adequate power supply to support industrial production.
Mukiza also said works to expand the park’s drainage system would be completed by October to reduce flooding, which has previously caused damage to property. He added that improvements to the park’s internal roads would also be undertaken. Mukalazi further pledged to strengthen security around the industrial park and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting its investors.
“President Museveni is so concerned about the Mbale Sino Park. He feels it is one of the most successful parks in Uganda and is employing a number of youths,” Mukalazi said. She thanked the investors for contributing to Uganda’s industrialisation and urged them to continue expanding their operations and creating employment opportunities for Ugandans-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
