President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday 25th January 2025, presided over the commissioning of a new Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant at Tembo Steels in Kasolo Village, Iganga District, a move officials say will bolster Uganda\u2019s industrial sector and reduce reliance on imported steel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The facility, the latest expansion by Tembo Steels, marks a significant milestone in Uganda\u2019s effort to build a self-sufficient manufacturing base. Established in 2004, the company has grown into one of the country\u2019s largest steel producers, manufacturing oxygen cylinders and nitrogen alongside its core steel products. By sourcing raw materials locally, it has positioned itself as a key driver of industrialization, creating employment for more than a million Ugandans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at the event, Museveni praised the company\u2019s leadership for its role in strengthening Uganda\u2019s economy. He reiterated his longstanding call for self-reliance in industrial production, warning that continued dependence on imports was draining national resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe haemorrhage of resources must stop,\u201d he said, referencing Uganda\u2019s iron ore deposits, particularly in Kabale, as an untapped asset that could power the country\u2019s steel industry. \u201cWe are committed to ensuring manufacturers access affordable electricity at five cents per unit to boost productivity and competitiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government officials framed the plant\u2019s opening as a broader commitment to economic development, particularly in the Busoga sub-region, where the facility is located. Hon. Lukia Nakadama, Uganda\u2019s Third Deputy Prime Minister, described the investment as a \u201cbeacon of hope\u201d for the region, long plagued by economic stagnation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Manish, General Manager of Tembo Steels, called the plant\u2019s launch a defining moment for the company and Uganda\u2019s industrial landscape. \u201cThis milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to growing the economy. With this plant, we expect a significant boost in industrial output,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event drew a high-profile audience, including government ministers, members of parliament, religious leaders, and investors, all bearing witness to what the administration has touted as a step toward economic transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For President Museveni, who has long championed industrialization as a path to economic independence, the plant\u2019s commissioning signals another push toward reducing Uganda\u2019s reliance on foreign steel. But questions remain over whether the government\u2019s promise of cheap electricity\u2014a longstanding grievance among manufacturers\u2014will materialize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the machines roar to life and workers celebrate, the plant\u2019s success will ultimately be measured not just by the steel it produces, but by whether it truly reshapes Uganda\u2019s industrial trajectory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday 25th January 2025, presided over the commissioning of a new Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant at Tembo Steels in Kasolo Village, Iganga District, a move officials say will bolster Uganda\u2019s industrial sector and reduce reliance on imported steel. The facility, the latest expansion by Tembo Steels, marks a significant […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-economy"],"yoast_head":"\n