By Inyakuni Kennedy

Madi

The state for investment and privatization hon. Evelyn Anite has asked the people Madi sub region through their leaders to offer land for development of industrial park to create employment opportunities for the young blood in the sub region.  She said as a sub region, government is committed in receiving land offers of five hundred acres from any of the local governments in Madi to be developed as an industrial. “We are going to send you the letter through the LC 5 chairpersons and chief administrative officers, the land should not have encroachers, and it should be a land a district has got for government’s establishment of an industrial park,” Anite said.

The minister adds: “the government’s role for developing the industrial park is to do infrastructures like roads, electricity and water to attack foreign direct investment (FDI) but also to encourage the local population to build Small and media enterprise (SME) park where those who are in processing and other value additions will be beefed.” She has asked the local council five chairpersons and the chief administrative officers of Moyo, Adjumani and obongi districts to be more proactive since it’s a call from the government. “I’m the minister supervising Uganda investment authority and therefore I have communicated to you. The day you will tell us the land is available we will start feasibility study. We have started for Nebbi, yumbe and Madi okollo districts and the feasibility studies are underway”, Anite said.

Mr. Morison Rwakakamba, the chairperson Uganda investment authority (UIA) said purpose of the call is for wealth creation a seed which president Museveni planted and directed Uganda investment authority to create twenty five industrial parks across the country.  In west Nile region Uganda investment authority has so far secured five hundred acres of land in Nebbi district, one thousand two hundred in yumbe district, and five hundred acres in Madi okollo district for a major primer industrial parks. “What brings us here is to ensure the business community, the value addition champions of Moyo, obongi, Adjumani and in west Nile become big investors in the next generation. We are here to work with you and support you to ensure these industrial parks are occupied by people from this community for the growth of their business”, Mr. Rwakakamba remarked.


Mr. Morison Rwakakamba, the chairperson uganda investment authority (UIA)

Mr. Robert Mukara, the director general Uganda investment authority notes that one of the objectives of the industrial parks is to ensure the domestic investors in Madi sub region are the angers of the industrial parks. “You always hear of international investors, no, we want people from west Nile region to be the value addition champions, run the industry in these industrial parks,” Robert said.
He adds that Uganda investment authority is committed in supporting local investors to become industrialists, add value to their products to ensure the region is industrialized.

Mr. Williams Anyama, the LC 5 chairperson Moyo district council who double as the chairperson west Nile development association (WENDA) commented government for the decision to establish industrial parks across the country saying it’s in line with national development plan iii (NDP III), and the vision of the president in promoting agro processing and industrialization for development.

Anyama said, in west Nile region, number of different lands have been offered to Uganda investment authority for establishment of either industrial parks or free trade zones. “Districts like koboko, Nebbi, Madi okollo, yumbe even Moyo district among others for this purpose. However, the processes of developing these lands have been very slow, and it’s demotivating many local governments because there is no sign of development on the lands that have been secured for that purpose which is impacting negatively on the local governments and the landlords who have offered the land.

The chair adds: “in Moyo district we have given one hundred fifty acres in Afoji parish Moyo Sub County to Uganda free zones authority, and we are destined to sign a memorandum of understanding between Moyo district local government and Uganda free zones authority to promote export oriented production given the strategic location of Moyo district”.
Anyama has appealed to government to put to use the lands that have already been given for development other than asking for land yet in west Nile region there is no single effort seen on the said lands to be developed.

COVER PHOTO: Hon. Evelyn Anite, state minister of investment and privatization By Inyakuni Kennedy