However, to date, there is no single activity taking place in the area. While explaining the delay, the Kabarole district Assistant Chief Administrative Officer – ACAO, Michael Kisembo, said that the district lacks a master plan.
The construction of Kabarole district agro-industrial Park is behind schedule.
In September 2018, Gen Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation – OWC, launched the 500 acres of land in Kyembogo village in Busoro Sub County where the park will be constructed.
However, to date, there is no single activity taking place in the area. The Kabarole district Assistant Chief Administrative Officer – ACAO, Michael Kisembo, said that the district lacks a master plan.
Kisembo says that they were promised a consultant to handle the plan, who has since failed show up.
//Cue in: “The master plan…
Cue out… a master plan.”//
Khadija Nakakande, the Communications Officer NAADS Secretariat, says that the delay to put in place the plan is a result of a land dispute involving Kabarole district local government, Mountains of the Moon University – MMU, and National Agricultural Research Organization – NARO.
The Kabarole Agro-industrial Park is primarily meant to help add value to the agricultural produce in the district and surrounding areas.
At the time of its launch, Gen Saleh observed that many farmers in the district are not benefiting from their sweat because they sell low-value produce.
Robert Mwesige, a banana grower from Rweihamba village in Ruteete Sub County, who normally brings his produce to Fort Portal town for sale, agrees with Saleh. He says that banana prices are the most unstable and during bumper harvest, a big bunch can even go for as low as 4,000 shillings.
He says that there is a need to develop the industrial park so that they can start processing bananas to make juice and wine which are more profitable.
In 2016, the Uganda Investment Authority – UIA announced a plan to establish 22 industrial parks across the country to solve unemployment and boost investments. Some of these such as Namanve industrial park in Kampala are already functional.
Story by Christopher Tusiime
