By Shamim Saad
The State Minister for Finance in Charge of Privatization and Investment, Hon. Hajjat Aminah Mukalazi, has embarked on a nationwide tour of Uganda’s industrial parks to engage investors, assess operational challenges and identify practical interventions to strengthen the country’s investment climate.
The exercise, which commenced on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Picfare Nytil Industrial Park in Jinja, is being undertaken in collaboration with the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), led by Director General Robert Mukiza and his team.
The tour brings together government leaders, local authorities and industry stakeholders to provide a platform for investors to directly present challenges affecting their businesses and explore solutions with relevant government agencies.
Also participating in the Jinja engagements were the State Minister in the Vice President’s Office and Area Woman Member of Parliament for Buikwe, Hon. Diana Mutasingwa; Njeru Member of Parliament, Hon. Lukanga; and Buikwe District Local Council V Chairperson, Mr. Wasswa George.
Minister Mukalazi said the tour is intended to enable Government to obtain first-hand information on the challenges confronting manufacturers, including infrastructure gaps, access to utilities, financing constraints, land issues and regulatory bottlenecks.
“We want to listen directly to investors and understand the realities they face on the ground so that we can come up with practical interventions and solutions to their queries,” she said.
She emphasized that strengthening industrial parks remains central to Uganda’s industrialization agenda, particularly in driving job creation, export growth, local production and value addition.
During the visit to Southern Range Nyanza Limited (NYTIL), the Minister assured the company of Government’s commitment to addressing challenges affecting its planned expansion and investment operations.
She welcomed the company’s plans to establish a state-of-the-art spinning unit with a capacity of 30,000 spindles, an investment estimated at $40 million more than (Shs148 billion).
The proposed facility is expected to consume at least 30 percent of Uganda’s cotton lint, providing a significant market for locally produced cotton while strengthening the country’s textile value chain and promoting value addition.
However, during a dialogue with Government officials following a tour of the facility, NYTIL management raised concerns over land-related challenges which they said were slowing down the implementation of the company’s planned investments.
According to management, alleged land grabbing and the creation of titles and a road on land belonging to NYTIL have created uncertainty around the company’s landholding and delayed its expansion plans.
Minister Mukalazi acknowledged the concerns and committed to engaging the relevant stakeholders to ensure the matter is investigated and resolved.
“I have noted this with great concern. The issue will be investigated and resolved within two weeks, in consultation with all the stakeholders involved,” she said.
The commitment was welcomed by NYTIL management, who noted that resolving the land dispute would be critical to unlocking the company’s planned investments and accelerating its expansion.
Speaking during the engagements, UIA Director General Robert Mukiza reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to working closely with investors to improve industrial park services, address operational challenges and attract both domestic and foreign investment.
He emphasized that regular engagement with manufacturers is essential to identifying bottlenecks early, improving productivity and strengthening the competitiveness of Uganda’s industrial sector.
Industry stakeholders welcomed the initiative, describing the direct engagement with the Minister, UIA and other government officials as an important platform for investors to raise concerns, propose solutions and contribute to strengthening Uganda’s manufacturing sector.
The Jinja engagements are expected to be followed by similar visits to other industrial parks across the country as Government intensifies efforts to create a more conducive environment for industrial growth and private sector investment.
ENDS
