National Defence College Students Visit Tororo Cement Factory

Course participants of the National Defence College – Uganda (NDC – U) led by the college Commandant Maj Gen Francis Okello have today been conducted on a guided tour of Tororo Cement Factory, in Tororo district.

 

The North Eastern tour, that has started with Tororo Cement Factory, aims at assessing the contribution of security and stability towards the social economic transformation of the country.

 

Maj Gen Francis Okello and also the team leader for the students’ North Eastern route applauded the management of the factory for their contribution towards economic growth, in terms of; developing infrastructure in country, availing jobs and payment of taxes, among other opportunities.

 

He urged students to freely share with management the identified challenges and opportunities that can be improved to better the government policy on industrialisation.

 

The factory manager, Mr. Morgan commended the Government of Uganda for its enormous support towards the growth of the industrial sector.

He thanked the joint security forces, most especially the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) for the existing and sustained peace, security and stability in the country and beyond, saying this has enabled them do business.

 

He however, decried government failure to allocate them more land for industrial expansion in Karamoja sub-region and the presence of cattle rustlers who disorganize the transport chain for raw materials (limestone) from Karamoja areas to Tororo.

 

Tororo Cement Factory produces 3 million tons of cement per year for both domestic and external consumption and employs about 1500 people.

 

NDC – U is the highest military institution of learning in the Uganda and produces graduates in strategic leadership, national and international defence, security and development matters.

 

Both delegations exchanged gifts in recognition of the each other’s strides in building a peaceful and modern country.

 

Later the team, visited SINO – Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, one of the 22 state-level industrial parks in Uganda, which were initiated by Ugandan President Museveni and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yu.

 

The park, strengthens the Uganda-China cooperation by supporting the enterprise in transfer of its preponderant business capacity in the new situation of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative in an effort to bring new opportunities for the development of the region; given its geographical location, broad development and high return on investment.

 

The park has attracted over 12 enterprises for investment and upon completion, it is expected to attract 60 enterprises with a total of 600million US dollars and will create 15000 jobs.

 

This is in line with Uganda’s path to economic development, according to Maj Gen Francis Okello.