Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said that government is working on lowering the cost of production that will lead to the settlement of the minimum wage that has already been looked into by Parliament.
The President has also re-echoed the directive that all government agencies will be compelled to purchase products manufactured by local industries as a way of supporting the economy.
He said this while commissioning new factories at the Mbalala Industrial Park in Mukono District over the weekend.
He also observed that business means talking about a product whose market has been rolled out using cheap infrastructure.
A total of five new factories were commissioned in implementation of the country’s policy to promote industrialization and creating employment.
The factories include Royikem Industries Limited owned by businessman Mr Zikusooka Robert that manufactures Rose Foam mattresses and disposable plastics. The same firm will in the near future will start assembling motorcycles.
Other factories included Landy Industries manufacturers of shoes, Sino Industries Ltd, CCLE Rubber Company Ltd and Tian Tang Group.
According to a State House statement, Museveni said that among the business parameters is also an element of peace which Uganda happens to have.
On the issue of high taxes, the President said he will discuss the matter with other counterparts in the East African Community.
Right path for development
In November last year, Museveni commissioned six industries in Namanve Industrial area including Orion Transformersu, Alfasan Limited. Steel and Tubes Industries, Interior Technologies, Luuka Plastics and Toyota Motors saying that they move puts Uganda on the right path to development.
State Minister for Privatization and Investment, Everylin Anite commended the President’s efforts for championing the cause for job creation, especially, among the youth.
Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zheng Zhuqiang said that the establishment of various factories in Uganda by different Chinese companies goes a long way in cementing strong relationship between Uganda and China.
“We shall have more support in these initiatives for the two sister countries,” he said.
On February 8, 2007, Museveni emphasized the need to build an integrated, independent and self-sustaining economy”.
Before, the country was still exporting 4 million bags of coffee unprocessed coffee, 200,00 bales of unprocessed cotton, still importing processed juice from South Africa and 10 million metric tonnes of bananas just being consumed and 40 percent of this would just rot away 80,000 litres of milk were being poured away on a daily basis.
By David Sseguya
