Overview:
Former VP Gilbert Bukenya praises Uganda's Sino-Mbale Industrial Park for driving massive job creation and national development through industrialization and value addition.
MBALE, Uganda — Former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya is praising the Sino-Mbale Industrial Park for its significant role in job creation and national development, highlighting it as a key outcome of President Yoweri Museveni’s long-term vision for Uganda.
Bukenya, who also serves as a senior presidential adviser on environment, said during a recent visit that the park exemplifies successful industrialization efforts. He noted finding more than 2,000 young Ugandans working in just one factory, many of whom had only completed primary education.
“When I visited only the Mbale Industrial Park, they had almost over 4,000 young Ugandans employed. Four thousand in a small park! I thought, ‘Oh my God, I wish we had about 20 industrial parks doing exactly the same thing. We should not have any problem with youth unemployment or their capacity to work,” Bukenya said.
He emphasized that industrialization and value addition are crucial for Uganda’s future and expressed concern about negative public discourse, advocating for a more positive national outlook.
“The future of this country is industrialization, particularly value addition to our raw materials. If we don’t embrace this, our youth will face significant problems,” Bukenya warned.
He pointed to the park’s textile industry as an example of value addition, where raw cotton is transformed into finished products like shirts and bed sheets. “What I’m talking about is jobs, jobs, jobs!” he stated.
Luke Wang, director Tian Tang Group and CEO of Uhome Holding Uganda Ltd., echoed Bukenya’s sentiments, drawing parallels between Uganda’s current development and China’s economic transformation. Wang credited China’s growth to its leaders’ “big vision” and infrastructure focus, a strategy he sees reflected in Uganda.
Wang also highlighted the role of Uganda’s free primary education system in boosting English proficiency among the workforce, which he said benefits foreign investors. He added that the park transfers technology from China, Korea and Japan, training Ugandans to be engineers and managers. The park’s jeans factory, for instance, employs over 2,500 Ugandans with minimal Chinese staff.
Wang expressed an ambitious goal for “Made in Uganda” products to achieve global recognition, aspiring for them to become “another ‘Made in China’ symbol in the future.” He predicted Uganda could become East Africa’s manufacturing hub within five to 10 years due to its vision and diligent workforce.