By John Okello Lapok
Maj. Jessica Alupo, the Vice President of Uganda, has hailed the China-Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park describing it as a key driver of the country’s agricultural transformation through agro-processing.
Alupo also called for faster transformation of Uganda’s agriculture from subsistence farming to commercial, high-value agribusiness, saying the shift is critical to achieving the country’s target of growing the economy to US$500 billion by 2030.
“Under the leadership Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, our strategic goal is clear: we must transition our agricultural sector from traditional subsistence practices to commercialized, high-value, modern agribusiness. This transformation is vital as we push aggressively toward our national target of expanding Uganda’s economy to USD 500 Billion by 2030,” she said.
Alupo made the remarks while leading a delegation of senior government officials on an assessment tour of the industrial park in the central Ugandan district of Luweero.
“Today’s visit is a concrete demonstration of Uganda’s commitment to transforming our economy through targeted agro-industrialization. This Industrial Park represents the fruits of strategic vision and international cooperation. When the Office of the Vice President, alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and the leadership of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), actively engaged to attract this investment to Uganda, our goal was to build a modern nexus for value addition,” she said.
According to the Vice President, these three major facilities are proof of what South-South cooperation, backed by the support of partners like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, can deliver in-terms of Value Addition, Import Substitution and Exports, as well as Wealth creation and Job creation.
Alupo however, noted that while the country celebrates this progress, industrial growth requires a fully responsive public sector.
“An industrial park cannot thrive in isolation; it requires seamless infrastructure, reliable utilities, access to capital, and favorable policy environments,” she said.
She commended the FAO-China-Uganda South-South Cooperation initiative, under which the Chinese private sector-led industrial park was established, saying that it has enabled Uganda to process agricultural products for export to the world.
She pledged government’s continued improvements and support to infrastructure and policy measures to facilitate the park’s development and create a more enabling environment for agro-industrial investment.
The industrial park, marking its 10th anniversary this year, includes a pineapple canning factory, a chili processing plant that supplies dried chilies to China, and a poultry farm supplying eggs to domestic and regional markets.
Uganda stands to benefit further from China’s continued high-standard opening-up and its zero-tariff policy for eligible exports, said Alupo. “We look forward to having more related exports by taking advantage of the 100 percent zero tariff policy.”
Luo Heng, Chairman of Kehong Uganda Industrial Development Limited, the Chinese company managing the industrial park, said the first phase of development, launched in 2016, has been completed, covering major projects including commercial layer farming, contract chili cultivation, pineapple processing, and the promotion of improved rice varieties.
Luo said the park plans to invest 500 million U.S. dollars over the next five years as part of its second phase of development.
FAO Country Representative Ezana Kassa said Uganda’s partnership with China under the South-South Cooperation programme is driving technology transfer, skills development, and investment in agribusiness.
He added that stronger farmer organisations, market linkages, and extension services are needed to maximise opportunities for farmers and processors.
