Grapevine

Shs400b to be injected in Mbale industrial park roads

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has said government has already contracted China Railway Number 3 Group to design and build key infrastructure in the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park.

The 619-acre park, which was commissioned in 2018, currently grosses an investment portfolio of more than $600m (Shs2.2 trillion) from over 58 companies, thus requiring improved roads, water and sewer systems.

Speaking at the launch of UniSteel first phase of steel rolling trial and ground-breaking for the second phase of production in Mbale at the weekend, Mr Tayebwa said Parliament and government as a whole are committed to seeing that the challenge of flooding due a poor road and drainage network in the park is mitigated to support the fast-paced growth the industrial park has witnessed since it was commissioned.

“Government has already approved Shs400b for infrastructure in this park. I think you have seen some work going on. Government contracted China Railway Number 3 Group and as the leadership of Parliament, we want to make sure that money is allocated to this project every financial year,” he said, noting that Parliament wants to get involved in the development of Uganda by prioritising key sectors of the economy.

However, Mr Tayebwa challenged investors to enhance investment in agro-processing noting that Uganda was exporting a lot of raw materials, thus losing billions in raw exports.