Robert Mukiza, the Director General of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), has provided a positive update on the development of the Industrial Park in Kisoro district. The allocation of 620 acres of Kibaya land in Bunagana and Rukundo Town councils by Kisoro district authorities to UIA on August 18th, 2021, marked a crucial step in the establishment of the industrial park.
Speaking at the 2023 Isangane Festival, an annual celebration of Bafumbira culture and heritage held in the Kisoro Mayor’s gardens, Mukiza expressed gratitude to the district authorities for the land allocation. He reassured the community that UIA has secured a land title, initiated a feasibility study, and demarcated the borders of the allocated land. The next phase involves discussions on financing for the construction of the industrial park. Mukiza emphasized his dedication to realizing the vision of an industrial park in Kisoro, aligning with President Museveni’s commitment to the economic development of the region.
The Isangane Festival, organized by the Ubuntu Bafumbira United Association (UBUA), focuses on supporting Maternal Health Care in the hard-to-reach Health Centre III in Kisoro district. Mukiza commended the Ubuntu leadership for fostering connections among Bafumbira globally and contributing to their sense of identity and connection to their homeland. He underscored the significance of unity in fostering development.
In the broader context of Uganda’s industrialization, President Yoweri Museveni approved the establishment of 25 industrial parks across all sub-regions in May 2021. These parks are integral to the government’s strategy to promote industrialization, with at least 15 parks established in the last six years. Notable among them are parks in Mbale, Kapeeka, Buikwe, Njeru, Namanve, Jinja, Soroti, Kampala Industrial and Business Park, Luzira Industrial and Business Park, and Bweyogerere Industrial Estate. The government allocated 130 Billion Shillings in October 2019 to facilitate the establishment of 20 zonal industrial parks nationwide.
