Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said that the correctness of privatizing government companies, such as the Uganda Clays Limited, was to empower the private sector and free up the government to concentrate on other work.
The Ugandan leader made the statement while commissioning a clay factory in eastern Uganda owned by the Uganda Clays limited.
“By providing building materials under the sector of mining and quarries, you are feeding the construction sector. Clay is being transformed into materials for building walls, roofs and floors which is very important. If other sectors would do the same, for example the hotel industry fed by Ugandans through agriculture, consumption would cause a boom in the tourism industry,” he said.
The President said building the private sector has enabled the country improve sectors like communication with the telephones increasing from 20,000 lines in 1986 to over 12 million today.
The President also warned against the destruction of swamps. He said swamps are rich natural resources that can be exploited like the use of clay for building materials. However, if not well planned, he added that they can lead to the destruction of the swamps.
“This factory is going to be here for over 100 years because of the richness of its clay ; we can’t just joke with such a rich resource. We must see how to protect it. He urged people to practice fish farming in the swamps and leave such activities as growing paddy rice and take on upland rice that is a suitable activity for the drier grounds.
The board chairman for Uganda Clays Limited, Professor John Senfuma, commended the President and the government for the enabling environment that made it possible for them to develop and expand their investments.
“Our factory here was targeting neighboring Kenya. Now with the road network of Soroti – Lira – Nimule being developed, we are also targeting the Southern Sudan market,” he said.
The Managing Director, John Wafula, announced a gift of 5,000 tiles to the President to donate to any building project of his choice as part of their support to community development. He also commended the President for launching the company’s HIV/AIDS policy.
Source African Press Agency
Related articles by Zemanta
- Uganda Plans to Hold Solo Trade Fair in Southern Sudan (netnewspublisher.com)
- Kenya And Uganda Reaffirm Commitment to East African Countries Integration (netnewspublisher.com)
