Gomba, Uganda: President Museveni on Wednesday commissioned the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Meat and Beans Processing Factory in Kisozi, Gomba District, describing the facility as a major step towards value addition and agro-industrialisation.
The factory is a joint venture between the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and Kenyan investor Francis Ragwa.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, President Museveni congratulated Ragwa for conceptualising the investment and praised the partnership between the private sector and NEC.
“Today, I commissioned the NEC Meat and Beans Processing Factory in Kisozi, Gomba District, a joint venture between the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and Mr. Francis Ragwa of Kenya. I congratulate Mr. Ragwa for his vision and initiative. NEC provided the land, but the idea was his,” Museveni said.
The President assured the investors that Uganda has sufficient agricultural capacity to sustainably supply the factory with raw materials.
He said the country’s increasing production of coffee, milk and livestock demonstrates that Uganda can support value-addition industries through continued expansion of agricultural production.
“I assured the investors that Uganda has the capacity to supply the required raw materials. Our coffee, milk and livestock production continue to grow because of proper organisation, and we shall continue mobilising our farmers to produce even more,” he said.
Museveni urged government leaders to take a more proactive role in supporting private investment, saying every minister should become a champion for the growth of their respective sectors.
“In this Kisanja of No More Sleep, every minister must be omusumba (pastor) of their sector by ensuring that investors have the infrastructure they need to succeed,” the President added.
The commissioning of the processing plant forms part of Uganda’s broader strategy to promote industrialisation, increase value addition to agricultural products and create employment through agro-processing.
Government has consistently encouraged investment in processing industries as part of efforts to reduce the export of raw agricultural commodities and increase the country’s export earnings through value-added products.
The new facility is expected to support livestock farmers and bean producers by providing a reliable market while strengthening Uganda’s agro-industrial value chain.
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