President Yoweri Museveni has allocated land for industrial development in Uganda’s Ankole sub-region, with Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa saying the planned facilities will create thousands of jobs and boost economic activity.

Tayebwa made the announcement on Tuesday while representing President Museveni at the burial of the late Mrs Edna Kentaro Baryaruha in Bushenyi District.

According to Tayebwa, Bushenyi District has provided 70 acres of land in Kyeizoba for an industrial hub.

“As people of Ankole, the President has given us an industrial hub. It will be set up in Kyeizoba. The district has given us 70 acres. We shall start working on it very soon,” Tayebwa said.

The Deputy Speaker also announced plans for two industrial parks in Isingiro District, saying President Museveni had allocated five square miles of land at Ruhengyere and another five square miles at Nakivale.

Tayebwa said the proposed Ruhengyere industrial park would focus on the processing of foodstuffs, while the two developments are expected to support value addition and industrial activity in the region.

“The President has given us two industrial parks. He wrote to me. He has given me five square miles of land for an industrial park in Ruhengyere, which will deal with the processing of foodstuffs. He has also given me five square miles in Nakivale, Isingiro. All these are in writing,” he said.

Tayebwa said the planned industrial facilities would provide employment opportunities for young people, particularly graduates entering the labour market.

“These will spur meaningful development in Ankole and generate thousands of jobs for our youth graduating from universities,” he said.

The proposed projects are also expected to encourage the processing of locally produced raw materials instead of exporting them in unprocessed form.

This would support value addition, create opportunities for manufacturers and potentially expand markets for agricultural producers in the region.

Uganda's government has continued to promote industrial parks as part of its wider strategy for industrialisation, manufacturing, investment, value addition and job creation. The Office of the Prime Minister has described industrial parks as important to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

The Kyeizoba project in Bushenyi is expected to occupy 70 acres provided by the district.

Tayebwa said work on the industrial hub would begin soon, although details on the specific companies, investment value, construction timeline and number of jobs to be created at the facility have not yet been announced.

The project is expected to strengthen industrial activity in Bushenyi and provide a platform for businesses involved in processing and manufacturing.

In Isingiro District, Tayebwa said five square miles had been allocated for an industrial park in Ruhengyere and another five square miles in Nakivale.

The Ruhengyere facility is expected to have a strong focus on food processing, potentially linking the industrial park to agricultural production in the wider Ankole region.

The Nakivale industrial park is also expected to contribute to industrialisation and value addition in Isingiro, although further details about its planned industries and implementation timetable are yet to be released.

Tayebwa's announcement comes as Uganda continues to pursue industrialisation as a means of increasing manufacturing capacity, promoting value addition and expanding employment opportunities.

The Deputy Speaker’s latest remarks also reinforce the importance placed on industrial development in western Uganda, where agriculture remains a major source of livelihoods.