Musasizi Orders Faster Infrastructure Development in Industrial Parks

What the report says

Nile Post reported that Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has instructed the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to speed up delivery of key infrastructure in industrial parks, with priority on roads, water and electricity. The directive was issued on Friday during a meeting at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development with UIA managers led by Director General Robert Mukiza.

According to the report, Musasizi said industrial parks should be licensed only when essential utilities and amenities are available to support companies operating there. He framed investment promotion and facilitation as a core role of the ministry, linking better park infrastructure to Uganda’s wider industrialisation goals and efforts to attract investors.

Mukiza told the meeting that UIA has advanced development of industrial and agricultural business parks, with 14 of a planned 25 parks described as fully operational. He said those operating parks host 463 companies, have attracted investment valued at US$5.881 billion, and have generated 164,230 direct and indirect jobs, mainly in manufacturing. He also asked for more funding for park development and maintenance, regional One Stop Centres, competitive electricity tariffs and dedicated substations to improve power reliability.

The Minister of State for Finance in charge of Privatisation and Investment, Aminah Mukalazi, called for a faster and more responsive investor licensing system. Nile Post reported that she urged clearer communication of investor incentives and proposed reviewing land arrangements so plots left undeveloped for long periods can return to government for allocation to investors ready to use them productively. The meeting centred on improving Uganda’s investment climate through infrastructure, service delivery and related reforms.