Gov’t team visits Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, commits to fast-tracking key infrastructure

MBALE CITY, November 17, 2025 — A high-level government delegation led by the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury [PSST], Ramathan Ggoobi, yesterday visited the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park to address a number of outstanding challenges affecting operations at the facility.

The visit followed a directive from President Yoweri Museveni to resolve long-standing issues hindering the park’s full potential.

The PSST was accompanied by Lynette Bagonza, the Ministry of Trade Permanent Secretary; Moses Kaggwa, Director for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance; and several other commissioners.

Upon arrival, the delegation was received by Paul Zhang, Chairman of Tian Tang Group, alongside the company’s senior management team.

Key infrastructure bottlenecks identified

During the meeting, the PSST highlighted three critical concerns the government is working to resolve: Construction of a drainage channel to combat recurrent flooding within the industrial park; deployment of a mobile power substation to ensure stable and reliable electricity supply for industries; and improvement of internal park infrastructure, particularly access and service roads.

“We are going to support you fully to address the infrastructure challenges in the industrial park,” the PSST assured, emphasising that industrialisation remains central to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation through strong forward and backward linkages.

Focus on skills, exports, and local input use

The discussions also explored ways of strengthening the park’s contribution to national development, including: Establishing skilling centres within industrial parks to enhance the local workforce; increasing the use of locally sourced raw materials; expanding the volume and diversity of exports; and opening up new regional and international markets for products manufactured in the park.

Industrial park employs 12,000 workers

Tian Tang Group Chairman Paul Zhang expressed appreciation for the government’s support, noting that the industrial park currently provides employment to over 12,000 people.

He added that the group has diversified into sectors such as real estate and tourism, underscoring its long-term commitment to investing in Uganda.

Zhang also stressed the urgency of completing the drainage channel, saying it is crucial for permanently resolving flooding and protecting the park’s investments.

The government’s renewed commitment signals a significant step toward strengthening the Mbale Industrial Park’s role as a hub for manufacturing, exports, and job creation in eastern Uganda.

Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park is one of 22 state-level industrial parks in Uganda, which were proposed by President Museveni, and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, approved by Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, organised and constructed by the Tian Tang Group. Since its launch, the project has won great attention and support from the governments of China and Uganda.

https://thecooperator.news/mbale-industrial-park-to-create-more-10000-jobs/

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