By Barbra Muhindo,
The local residents in Kasese Municipality ask government to account for the investors entrusted with the development of the Kasese Industrial and Business Park.
Four years after its high profile commissioning by President Yoweri Museveni in 2021, the Kasese Industrial and Business Park sitting on a 275 acres of land procured at more than seven billion shillings, stands in stark contrast to the vision it once inspired.
The initiative was part of a broader national strategy to reduce unemployment and boost industrial productivity. But our inspection yesterday painted a bleak picture; save for a signpost and a few skeletal buildings, most which are covered in the bushes, and abandoned by the investors who were allocated plots.
Among the notable investors was Metu Africa Bus Industries which was allocated 100 acres with the ambitious promise of establishing an automobile manufacturing hub to produce buses locally but to date, no construction or groundwork has begun on the allocated land.
Mr. Semu Byaruhanga, Edmond Mate and Ms Edith Kabugho, all local residents of Kasese Municipality, said the industrial park had given them hope for employment and marketing their produce but like other public investments in Kasese, the funds seem to have been put to waste.
His Worship Chance Kahindo, the Kasese Municipal Mayor had earlier said the industrial park should be bustling with factories and workers but instead it is turning into a wilderness” now that many investors who once showed interest, have long since deserted the site.
Some locals interviewed later, were concerned that after government invested more resources to level the place, open roads, connect the investment with water and electricity, the investors assigned with the industrial park must be forced to account.
More details in our subsequent bulletins. END