Luwero — President Museveni has officially commissioned two major industrial projects in Luwero District, underscoring the government’s commitment to agro-industrialisation, value addition, and job creation.
The President was joined by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataha Museveni, during both events.
The first stop was PRO Industries Pte Limited, an ethanol and extra-neutral alcohol (ENA) manufacturing plant in Ndibulungi Village. President Museveni praised the company for promoting cleaner energy solutions and creating linkages with local farmers.
The Managing Director of PRO Industries, Ms Ridhi Always, described the facility as the largest ENA and ethanol plant in East Africa, producing 120,000 litres of ENA and 35,000 litres of ethanol daily.
She highlighted the company’s USD 100 million investment and its partnerships with more than 2,000 farmers supplying maize to the plant.
Ms Always also emphasised Uganda’s upcoming mandate for ethanol blending in petroleum products starting January 2026, in line with Vision 2040 and the Biofuels Act, 2020.
She noted that ethanol blending is expected to reduce Uganda’s USD 2 billion annual petroleum import bill and promote environmental sustainability. She thanked the government for the stable investment climate that enables such projects to thrive.
President Museveni reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare, lowering production costs such as electricity and transport, and strengthening industrial growth as a pathway to economic transformation.
He also encouraged Ugandans to support the NRM in the upcoming elections to consolidate the gains made in national development.
Later, the President commissioned Victoria Sugar Limited in Luwero, commending the company for its contribution to industrial growth and wealth creation.
Addressing leaders, workers, and residents, President Museveni assured that the government is addressing workers’ welfare and the minimum wage. “I am aware of the issue of the minimum wage, and I am going to fix it. You cannot milk a cow before cleaning the kraal,” he said.
Victoria Sugar Managing Director, Mr Jiyani Alpesh, welcomed the President and noted that the Victoria Group operates across multiple sectors, including sugar production, clean energy co-generation, distilleries, plastics, tiles, steel, and recycled products.
The company directly employs over 8,000 Ugandans and indirectly supports more than 9,000 livelihoods through outgrowers and suppliers.
Mr Alpesh highlighted Victoria Sugar’s contribution to Uganda’s energy security, generating 15 MW of clean energy, with 10 MW supplied to the national grid and an additional 3 MW of biogas power in development. He also revealed that the group has invested over USD 150 million and contributed UGX 225 billion in taxes between 2018 and 2024.
President Museveni encouraged continued investment in Uganda’s industrial sector and reiterated that lowering electricity, transport, and water costs remains a priority to enhance competitiveness and improve livelihoods.
With these two major facilities now operational, Luwero District is set to play an increasingly significant role in Uganda’s industrial and economic transformation, providing jobs, promoting cleaner energy, and supporting local farmers.
