President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today afternoon commissioned the Yaobai Clinker Cement Factory in Moroto, Karamoja. He thanked Chairman Paul Zhang of the West 7 China companies and the Chinese government for encouraging investment in Uganda. Yaobai Cement is producing 85 percent clinker.
Speaking at the launch, the President said that previously Uganda was spending a lot of money importing clinker, but this investment will save the country those costs and reduce “kushaka”.
He further said Clinker is an intermediate product which should not be taxed and promised to follow up on reports of such taxation.
He also thanked and welcomed former Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn for joining me in Moroto today. I welcome him,” M7 said at the commissioning.
The commissioning of the Moroto-based plant is expected to enhance Uganda’s self-sufficiency in cement production, lower construction costs, and spur economic activity in the Karamoja sub-region, which has historically lagged behind in industrial development.
This also marks a significant step in Uganda’s efforts to strengthen local industrial capacity and reduce reliance on imports.
Mr. Ambrose Byona, Managing Director and local partner of West International Holding, said the factory has totally changed Karamoja Region in terms of economic gains.
Speaking about the project, Byona said those who thought Karamoja will remain behind is a thing of the past.
He said the factory, is the biggest cement factory in Uganda and produces a clinker which is a cement made from 85% of Karamoja stones. He assured the public that the factory you see is only in Karamoja not anywhere else in Uganda. In the first phase, the factory will be producing 6000 tonnes and second phase 6000 tonnes which is totalling to 12000 tonnes daily. He assured the public that Karamoja has totally changed and these are some of the gains that should be protected as the NRM Government said in their recently concluded campaign trail.
