Museveni launches construction of cement factory in Moroto with big promise to Karamoja

Factories making clinker in Karamoja sub region will save the country a hefty $380 import bill, create jobs and pay taxes, President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday said during the groundbreaking ceremony of a clinker and cement production plant in Moroto District.

“So the people working in the factories will benefit, the government will benefit by taxes but I also want all the Karimojongs to benefit from the ongoing industrial development in the area in all the other ways,” Museveni said.

The President made the remarks today during the groundbreaking ceremony of a clinker and cement production plant in Moroto District.

The factory is being set up by West International Holding Limited, a subsidiary of China West Cement Limited, a Hong Kong listed company.

The firm is an international group enterprise integrating cement production and marketing, corporate management and industrial investment.

Founded in September 2019, West International Holding Limited, is committed to the investment, operation and management of cement enterprises in African and Central Asian countries and regions, specializing in the operation and management of the cement sector.

President Museveni however noted that since all the people of Karamoja cannot work in the cement factory, they can create business streams that can help them to also make money from the factory indirectly.

“These factories, which are beginning to come, will gather a big population that will need to be fed so you will share the money of the factory through selling food to them.

Are you willing to take that money, or do you want it to be taken by others? These factories which are coming in to bring more people are very good for the area. Now produce food, build big hotels, build shops so that they can buy from you,” he added.

President Museveni further pledged that the government will tarmac the roads from Moroto to Kotido and Kaabong and that from Kitgum to Kidepo.

About the electricity cost, the President told the investors that the government is working towards stabilizing the cost to 5 cents per unit.

The Minister of State for Minerals, Hon. Peter Lokeris said in order to promote the sustainable exploitation of Uganda’s minerals , the strategic objective of the government is to promote value addition for employment creation, industrialization and local content development.

“The project will produce approximately 6000 tonnes per day of clinker. Uganda has a present cement production capacity of over 4.5 million tonnes per annum and the demand is projected to increase by 15 percent annually on the background of the booming oil and gas sector and infrastructure development,” he added.

The Minister further noted that currently, Uganda imports over 50 percent of the clinker (the backbone of cement production) it uses in the production of cement and this project will greatly support the government’s import substitution initiative by locally manufacturing clinker within Uganda.

The President of West International Holding Limited, Wang Fayin said upon completion, the project will play a positive role in the economic development of Uganda.

The Vice General Manager of China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation, Chen Lei promised that their firm will work hand in hand with West International Holding Limited to ensure that the project is a success.

The China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation is the company responsible for the construction works of the cement factory.

West International Holding limited- Uganda Representative, Hannington Karuhanga said the clinker and cement project in Moroto is a testament of the possibilities that Uganda can offer when local communities are united, purposeful and organised to attract serious investors.