By KT Reporter
Lugazi leaders and private sector stakeholders have expressed optimism about the 10,000 job opportunities expected from the industrial park currently being constructed in the area. The 100-acre Lugazi Industrial Park (LIP), co-funded by Uganda Development Bank (UDB), is the first of its kind in the region and is expected to house more than 200 factories.
During an assessment tour of the facility, which is still under construction, Lugazi Mayor John-Bosco Aseya described the park as a blessing for the rapidly growing population in the area. He emphasized that having such a facility would provide locals with employment opportunities, reducing unemployment and improving security.
“We have been praying for such an opportunity in the area,” he said. “Now it has presented itself, and the many youths who are here every minute will now have somewhere to work, become occupied, and avoid engaging in security-compromising activities.”
Aseya also highlighted the park’s potential to boost local revenue through activities such as certification and licensing fees. “All the companies that have gotten space here passed through our office,” he revealed. “We are working on their papers that allow them to operate from here, among other documents, which they have paid for. Even the people who are going to work here will spend their earnings in the economy of Lugazi.”
The mayor committed to ensuring that the municipality would develop the necessary infrastructure and expand social amenities to support the park’s smooth operation. Francis Kisirinya, the Private Sector Foundation (PSFU) Chief Membership Officer, expressed optimism about the facility, noting that it supports the country’s industrialization agenda. “One of the biggest challenges that investors face is access to serviced industrial land,” Kisirinya explained.
“A park where investors can find ready land with all the amenities makes it easier for them to invest and create jobs for the country.” Kisirinya also highlighted the planned common user facility for MSMEs within the park, which he believes will address the challenges these enterprises face with production equipment. This initiative, he said, would enable smaller companies to compete effectively in the market.
“We believe that when these companies take advantage of this facility, they will produce higher-quality products at a lower cost, enabling them to compete with bigger players and grow,” he added. The facility is also expected to boost small-scale industries by providing a system that allows individuals with raw materials to come and manufacture products, paying only for the time used in the common user facility.
Julius Lutaaya Kato, the project coordinator for the Lugazi Industrial Park, announced that they would soon begin constructing factories that will provide jobs to the people of Buikwe. Jeremiah Kasirivu, one of the organizers of the park, emphasized the focus on environmental protection, particularly preventing damage to wetlands and encouraging the use of solar power. “We are ready to protect the environment by creating green gardens and avoiding the destruction of wetlands,” Kasirivu said-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
