President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commissioned four new factories and laid the foundation for nine more on Friday, 29th August, 2025 at the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park.
The park is a key industrial development center in Mbale City, currently hosting 73 factories, 54 of which are operational, providing employment to approximately 11,000 Ugandans.
The newly commissioned factories include Unisteel Investment Uganda Limited, Nice Textiles Uganda Limited, Xinlon Textile and Garment Technology Co. Ltd., and Timber Paper Industry Uganda Company Limited.
The nine additional factories set for construction are; Elgon Steel Uganda Limited, Myno Technology Company Limited, Shengtang Machinery Manufacturing Limited, Yangtze Industry Limited, Futian Hardware Uganda Limited, Planetic Industries SMC Limited, Hai Lan Industries Limited, Aofan Garments Company Limited, and Hercules Automobile Manufacturing Uganda Limited.
Speaking during the commissioning, President Museveni said that industrial parks like Mbale are transforming Uganda from towns of shops into towns of industries, producing goods that were previously imported.
“So many of the things we used to get from outside are now made here, like the telephones, televisions, paper, and steel,” the president said.
President Museveni highlighted the park’s wider impact on the economy, saying that it consumes up to 50 megawatts of power, employs thousands, and links local agriculture to industrial production by sourcing food for workers.
He also revealed plans to expand the park into a new industrial city, requesting an additional 600 acres.
Hon. Evelyn Anite, the minister of state for investment and privatization, commended the president for his consistent drive for industrialization.
“I salute all of you working in the industrial park. Your Excellency, you have not only empowered these young people but have also walked the talk of industrialization. Thanks to your efforts, 1.2 million people are now employed in this sector. May the good Lord bless and protect you,” she said.
Paul Zhang, the chairman of Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, thanked the government for the support that has made the project a success.
“More than 10,000 Ugandans have jobs because of this project. Without your support, we would have nothing to do,” Zhang said.
With the commissioning of four factories and the foundation of nine more, the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park is set to further drive industrialization, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen Uganda’s economy.
