On Saturday, 6 December 2025, Liao Shen Industrial Park in Kapeeka in central Uganda celebrated its 10th anniversary since its establishment in 2015.
The event was attended by government officials, dignitaries, investors, local leaders, workers, and students, among others. It also featured an expo highlighting the park’s decade of industrial growth, job creation, and economic impact.
From vision to reality
Liao Shen Industrial Park has grown to 34 factories and produces over 1,000 products, far surpassing its early expectations.
The park’s presence has sharply increased land values in Kapeeka, from an initial projection of between UGX500,000 and UGX2,000,000 per acre to now UGX150 million to UGX200 million per acre.
The park has also fostered remarkable economic transformation, with the once sleepy Kapeeka town now turning into a vibrant and bustling urban area, with rapidly increasing population and economic activity.
The products reflect a diversified manufacturing base for both the local market and exports, reducing imports, creating jobs, and improving infrastructure and community livelihoods.
Import substitution, job creation
The chief guest at the celebrations, Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho (aka Salim Saleh), commended the industrial park for expanding production to over 1,000 products and creating over 6,000 direct jobs and 30,000 indirect jobs.
Gen. Akandwanaho called on the government to urgently improve infrastructure, especially sewerage systems, electricity affordability, and road networks, to unlock the park’s full potential.
He said Kapeeka Industrial Park is proof of Uganda’s capacity to industrialize through local effort and strategic partnerships, adding that the model should be replicated across Uganda, particularly in regions with idle land.
He encouraged the park leadership to focus on improving the livelihoods of people in the neighbourhoods through corporate social responsibility.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi, emphasized the park’s role in advancing Uganda’s industrialization, noting its transformation from a farmland to a thriving manufacturing hub.
Dr Ggoobi reaffirmed the government’s plans to expand industrial parks, promote local content, equip young people with relevant skills, and ensure the creation of dignified, well-paying jobs.
Tangible results
The anniversary celebrations featured the display of diverse products, underscoring the park’s growing manufacturing capability.
The transformation from rural farmland into an industrial hub has brought jobs and infrastructure improvements to the community. Nationally, the park represents a major step toward industrial growth and lower import reliance.
Looking to the future
Mr. Zhang Hao, the Managing Director of Liao Shen Industrial Park, also Chairman of Zhang’s Group of Companies, promised to continue attracting investors to Uganda.
He reported that his group is setting up another industrial park – Liao Shen Mineral Industrial Park – in Manafwa District in eastern Uganda. This is aimed at the processing and manufacturing of different mineral products.
Leaders noted that although the industrial park has made significant progress, it has yet to reach its full capacity of 80 factories.
They emphasized the need for improved infrastructure and stronger industrial policies to attract more investors.
Government officials also pledged to replicate and expand the industrial park model nationwide as part of Uganda’s long-term industrialization plans.
Community support
Mr. Zhang announced that his group has set up a scholarship fund of UGX150,000,000 to help uplift the education standards of young people.
Role of UIA
The Uganda Investment Authority is implementing a project to improve infrastructure in the industrial park, as well as investor facilitation services.
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