15,000 Jobs on the horizon in Tororo as Devki beaks ground on East Africa’s USD 500m steel project
Upon commencement, it is projected to employ 15,000 Ugandans in Tororo and Mbarara, with Dr. Raval pledging that 90% of these jobs will be allocated to the Tororo community and its surroundings.
Presidents Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and William Samoei Ruto of Kenya on Sunday presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the USD 500 million Devki Mega Steel Plant in Kayoro Village, Tororo District, marking a monumental step towards East Africa’s industrial self-reliance and economic liberation.
The vertically integrated steel facility, developed by Kenyan industrialist Dr. Narendra Raval (Guru) of the Devki Group, is touted as one of East Africa’s most ambitious industrial investments. Upon commencement, it is projected to employ 15,000 Ugandans in Tororo and Mbarara, with Dr. Raval pledging that 90% of these jobs will be allocated to the Tororo community and its surroundings.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Museveni positioned the project within Africa’s long struggle against exploitation, stating that the continent has endured centuries of economic injustice. “For over 500 years, Africa has been losing value through the slave trade, colonial systems, and modern economic practices that extract raw materials without adding value,” he remarked.
“Today, with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Devki Mega Steel project in Tororo, alongside H.E President William Ruto of Kenya, we are in the process of liberating Africa,” President Museveni declared, emphasizing that this liberation involves halting the long-standing trend of exporting African minerals and jobs. “At full operationalization, we shall be one step closer to reversing the squandering of Africa’s resources—human, mineral, jobs, and foreign exchange.”
President Museveni extended his gratitude to President Ruto for encouraging Dr. Raval to invest in Uganda, acknowledging Kenya’s recognition of Uganda as a natural source of key raw materials and the imperative of regional collaboration for collective prosperity.
He also congratulated Dr. Raval for his significant investment and urged full local production of steel sheets and other intermediate products to retain value within Uganda’s borders. The Ugandan leader further revealed that Dr. Raval is set to embark on another major iron ore project in Kabale, which will create more than 16,000 additional jobs.
Cautioning Ugandans against frustrating investors with compensation disputes, President Museveni assured that the government would manage all necessary payments. “The man is going to invest USD 500 million here, so please don’t bother him about money for compensation. The government will handle that,” he stated.
He highlighted that Uganda loses an estimated USD 5 billion annually through imports that could be manufactured domestically, describing the present road-based cargo system as “irrational” and welcoming the expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) towards Tororo to support large industries and reduce transport costs.
President Ruto echoed his counterpart’s sentiments, describing the ceremony as more than just the start of a factory. “We convene here not just to commission a factory, but to usher in a new, audacious chapter in Africa’s industrialization ambitions,” he said. He lauded President Museveni’s unwavering commitment to industrial development and praised the regional cooperation that facilitated the investment.
The Kenyan President underscored that the steel plant will generate employment for youth, bolster regional supply chains, and fortify East Africa’s self-sufficiency. He commended President Museveni for championing regional integration within the East African Community (EAC), noting that such cooperation is vital for the success of projects like Devki Steel.
He projected the Tororo plant to grow to 20,000 employees across East Africa by 2027, citing Africa’s rising steel demand, expected to increase from 39.5 million tonnes in 2024 to 52 million tonnes by 2034. President Ruto also announced Kenya’s plan to launch the next phase of the SGR from Mombasa to Naivasha and from Rironi to Malaba in January, with eventual extension to Tororo to support large-scale manufacturing.
Dr. Narendra Raval, Chairman of Devki Group, thanked President Museveni for guiding the project and insisting on its location in Tororo to ensure job creation for the local community. “At this juncture, I would like to promise the Tororo community that whatever employment will be in the factory, 90% of the jobs will be allocated to Tororo and the surrounding communities only,” he affirmed.
He stressed that industrialization is the only reliable path to prosperity, proclaiming, “Importing steel is importing poverty. We must produce here, create jobs here, and empower the youth.” Dr. Raval also praised President Ruto for stabilizing Kenya’s economy and curbing inflation, deeming such reforms conducive for regional investors.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, hailed the Mega Steel Project as an important milestone for East Africa and concrete evidence of deepening regional industrial integration.
Energy Minister Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa described the groundbreaking as a landmark and historic event for Uganda’s industrialization journey, emphasizing that the factory must deliver tangible social and economic benefits for communities across the region upon completion.
