BY JOACKIM KULE
Residents in Kasese district have observed the need for the government to quickly open up the Kasese Industrial and Business Park, arguing that its delay denies job opportunities to both professional and unprofessional people.
In 2021, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officiated over at the groundbreaking ceremony of Kasese Industrial and Business Park and revealed that Metu Africa Bus Industries would begin assembling buses from the area.
The President said the proposed automobile manufacturing project in Kasese would create a new form of wealth and a better future for Ugandans.
Now, the residents complain that what could have come as relief to unemployment remains idle, leaving them without hope, asking themselves when the industrial park would start working to give jobs to the people as pledged.
Mr. Selevano Mbabugha, a resident of Mahango Sub-county, asks the government to come up with a statement about the progress of the works at the park so as to restore hope among the unhappy people.
According to Mbabugha, they believe that the NRM government could have established the park to drive her political motive of winning votes, calling for its functionality for the people to get jobs.
Mr. Jafari Kigutia, the Chairperson L.C I for Base Camp Lower in the Central Division of Kasese Municipality, explains that redundancy among the youth is alarming because they do not have jobs while others lack skills.
He appeals to the government to expedite the process of constructing the industrial area in order to save the youth from the challenge of unemployment.
Responding to the concerns, Ms. Cecilia Nakadama, the Western Regional Manager for the Industrial Parks at the Uganda Investment Authority, explained that the government was still committed to ensuring that the area becomes functional.
She told Messiah Radio that the activities taking place in the area signify that the park would at one time start working.
Nakadama indicated that other activities that the government wants to first put in place include tarmacking the area and extending utilities to the place.
However, Nakadama explained that some of the investors who had been given land in the park were cancelled due to their failure to show any sign of developing those particular pieces and were given to those that proved serious and able to utilize them as per contract. ENDS