ANKOLE INDUSTRIAL BOOM! Museveni Allocates 10 Square Miles for Industrial Parks, Tayebwa Says
BUSHENYI — Ankole could be headed for a major industrial transformation after Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa announced that President Yoweri Museveni has allocated land for two industrial parks in the sub-region, alongside a separate industrial hub in Bushenyi District.
Tayebwa said the projects are expected to create thousands of jobs, boost manufacturing and enable the region to add value to its agricultural produce rather than continuing to depend largely on the sale of raw materials.
He made the announcement on Tuesday while representing President Museveni at the burial of the late Edna Kentaro Baryaruha in Bushenyi District.
According to Tayebwa, Bushenyi District has already provided 70 acres of land at Kyeizooba for an industrial hub.
“As people of Ankole, the President has given us an industrial hub. It will be set up in Kyeizooba. The district has given us 70 acres. We shall start working on it very soon,” Tayebwa said.
He further revealed that Museveni has allocated five square miles of land at Ruhengyere and another five square miles at Nakivale in Isingiro District for industrial parks.
“The President has given us two industrial parks. He wrote to me. He has given me five square miles of land for an industrial park in Ruhengyere, which will deal with the processing of foodstuffs. He has also given me five square miles in Nakivale, Isingiro. All these are in writing,” he said.
The announcement could mark a major step towards fulfilling Museveni’s pledge during the recent election campaigns to establish an industrial park in Ankole as part of efforts to promote value addition and create employment.
Tayebwa said the proposed facilities would particularly benefit young people leaving universities and other institutions, who continue to face limited employment opportunities.
“These will spur meaningful development in Ankole and generate thousands of jobs for our youth graduating from universities,” he said.
FROM FARMS TO FACTORIES
Ankole has a strong agricultural economy, with dairy farming, coffee growing, livestock rearing and food production providing livelihoods for thousands of households.
Government’s industrialisation strategy is aimed at ensuring that more of the region’s agricultural output is processed locally, allowing farmers to earn more through value addition while creating new manufacturing and supply-chain opportunities.
The proposed Ruhengyere industrial park, Tayebwa said, will specifically focus on food processing.
He pointed to the Mbale Industrial Park as an example of the potential economic impact of such projects.
“Those who don’t know the value of an industrial park, visit Mbale. The industrial park has created more than 1,000 jobs,” Tayebwa said.
If implemented, the Kyeizooba industrial hub, together with the proposed parks in Ruhengyere and Nakivale, could significantly expand industrial activity across Ankole.
Beyond direct factory employment, the projects could generate opportunities for farmers, transporters, suppliers, traders, contractors and small businesses that provide goods and services to industrial establishments.
For a sub-region long identified with agriculture, the planned industrial facilities could also provide a pathway for Ankole to move from simply producing raw materials to processing, manufacturing and value addition.
The proposed developments therefore have the potential to create new markets for local farmers while keeping more of the economic value generated from Ankole’s agricultural production within the region.
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