State Minister for Finance, Investment, and Privatization, Evelyn Anite, has ordered all investors operating in the wetlands of Wakiso District to vacate immediately. During her tour of the district on July 4, 2024, Anite emphasized that the ongoing industrial revolution has led to significant encroachment on wetlands, particularly in Nkoowe Village, Mende Sub-county.
| Location | Issue | Minister’s Directive |
|---|---|---|
| Nkoowe Village, Mende Sub-county | Wetland encroachment | Investors must relocate to dry land |
Call for Relocation to Industrial Parks
Anite urged the investors to move their operations to established industrial parks on dry land. She highlighted that there are over 25 industrial parks across Uganda, many of which are underutilized and ready for occupancy. Notably, apart from the Namanve and Jinja industrial parks, other parks remain vacant and can be used at no cost to promote investment and tackle unemployment.
| Industrial Parks for Relocation |
|---|
| Nebbi |
| Pader |
| Jinja |
| Karamoja |
| Yumbe |
| Gulu |
| Kisoro |
NEMA’s Crackdown on Wetland Encroachment
Anite’s directive aligns with the ongoing efforts of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to eliminate encroachment on wetlands. The government’s crackdown aims to preserve these vital ecosystems by removing unauthorized activities.
Local Investors’ Concerns
Dennis Ngabirano, a local investor from Psalms Food Processing Factory, called for the establishment of a dedicated sector to support collapsing local firms. He pointed out that many companies face issues such as unpaid taxes and large liabilities, leading to closures that could be prevented with government intervention.
Power and Taxation Issues
Ricky Tumwesiga, an administrator from Skypipes Company Limited, emphasized the need for an upgrade in electricity supply. He requested that the government increase their electricity capacity from 11KVA to 33KVA to boost production and minimize downtime. Tumwesiga also highlighted the high cost of running generators and the challenges local investors face with taxation and lack of incentives.
| Issues Raised by Investors | Details |
|---|---|
| Power supply | Upgrade needed from 11KVA to 33KVA |
| Cost of generators | High fuel costs when machines are down |
| Taxation and incentives | Challenges affecting local investors’ operations |
Government’s Response to Industrial Challenges
In response, Anite pledged that her office would address disruptions in industrialization, including those related to power supply. She mentioned that the government plans to upgrade power substations to meet both domestic and industrial demands, thereby improving the business environment for local investors.
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