UGANDA, Ankole | Real Muloodi News | President Museveni has given the go-ahead to leaders in the Ankole and Tooro Sub-regions to develop industrial parks on the land of the Nakivale and Kyaka refugee settlement camps.
The president made the statements during a community mobilisation address in Runyakitara last Monday, carried on local radio stations in the Western Region.
According to the president, the government promised to build 22 industrial parks, but Ankole and Tooro had trouble finding land.
“While we were in Cabinet and discussing how to build 22 industrial parks across the country, Ankole failed to get land, but rather they have two acres in Nyamityobora and Mbarara. I was wondering how Banyankore can fail to get land for an industrial park,” Mr Museveni said.
According to President Museveni, Ugandans have failed to progress since they continue to rely on foreign products, which will soon change with the development of industrial parks.
“During the colonial period and the independence time, before National Resistance Movement (NRM) came into power, people were misled. These places you call towns Mbarara, Masaka and many others were towns of only shops selling threads, syringes, paraffin, and one would ask where these people get what they sell? If there were towns of shops, why don’t we have industrial towns?” Mr Museveni asked.
“How will a country develop if it depends on importation? That is where NRM came in and said we need to have industrial towns that manufacture, assemble and beautify, that is what we call industrial parks,” he added.
Mr Museveni permitted Isingiro leaders to build an industrial park on two square miles of the 71-square-mile Nakivale Refugee Settlement Camp to guide growth in the Ankole Sub-region.
“I had told ministers in Cabinet that if Ankole does not have land, they should cut part of the refugees land…those who had occupied the land should get out and go. Tell the squatters on the government land to leave it in good faith. We do not want to ask them for anything,” he said.
Mr Museveni stated that the Namanve Industrial Park in Kampala would house 500 enterprises specializing in various talents like car production, electrical equipment, iron bars, and medicine.
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