The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Ramathan Ggoobi, has pledged government support to the Uganda Industrial skills training centre managed by Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) at Namanve Industrial and Business Park.
He made the remarks while visiting the 15-acre campus which was built and equipped using a $30 million grant from the People’s Republic of China was commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni on 15th January 2020.
The objectives of the project include developing a model machining and manufacturing facility that employs state of the art technologies with a focus on manufacturing precision machine parts and eventually machines.
The PS/ST said his visit was aimed at understanding the work done at the centre and identifying their challenges and solutions.
“We are ready to support this project. The NDP III has identified industrialisation (manufacturing) as one of the drivers of socio-economic transformation,” said Ggoobi.
He said the manufacturing and machining centre will train and help young people to acquire practical skills using modern technology.
He applauded the Executive Director, UIRI Prof. Charles Kwesiga for clearly identifying the constraints to the manufacturing sector which include technology and skilled human resource.
Prof. Kwesiga said the centre will help the country build its capacity and address the challenge of doing things theoretically, adding that appropriate technology will reduce external dependence.
“Industrialisation must be treated as a special effort, we need to critically look at the industries we have in Uganda to see what they do. We need to make products that can be used for import substitution,” said Prof. Kwesiga.
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