President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissions a US 300 million dollar Klinker Cement Factory at Nadunget Sub-county in Moroto District in Karamoja Sub-region where he announced a ban on tax on industrial raw materials including klincker used for cement production.
The commissioned Yaobai Cement Factory produces 6,000 tones of Klincker Cement daily at its first phase of operation producing composite and ordinary Portland Cement that is widely used for construction infrastructural projects like bridges, highways, railway and residential projects among other forms of construction.
President Museveni noted that the launch of a Ugandan Klinker Cement Factory will save Uganda’s US 260 million dollars importation budget for Klincker as a major raw material in cement production.
He commended Chinese Investors for their continued reliable investment option for Uganda that he said is aiding the scaleup Uganda’s domestic mineral refinery and industrialisation strides.
The President emphasized the ten year tax exemption provision for foreign investors and warned tax enforcement officers against breach of that tax provision saying that he anticipates Karamoja Sub-region’s lead in mineral and economic development as efforts to expand Mineral exploration in the area takes shape.
He also highlighted unxploited different mineral deposits in Karamoja Sub region including hundreds of millions of tones of limestone upon which a another cement factory is planned to be setup in Karamoja and guided on sustainable mineral development approaches in the region to directly benefit the area for socioeconomic transformation.
President Museveni confirmed key development targets for Karamoja Sub-region as he confirmed the area’s readiness to the move forward saying major key road infrastructure interventions are due for commissioning that include among others Moroto – Kotido road, Kotido – Kabong road and Mbale – Namale road that is nearing completion.
The President assured the people of Karamoja Sub-region of government’s steady commitment to the sub region’s development agenda as historically anchored in the NRM Ten point program of 1986.
The former Ethiopia Premier Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe who is the Africa regional ambassador of West China Cement a conglomerate of Yaobai International holding Cement factory in Uganda who attended the event, guided on the mutual benefit for China – Africa investment that he says is capable of aiding development and real economic transformation.
Meanwhile, the Vice President Major Jesca Alupo Epel has rallied the people of Karamoja Sub-region to incline towards development oriented approaches and thrive further citing several development initiatives in the area.
While speaking at the commissioning of a state of the art Yaobai Cement Factory in Naduget Sub-county, Vice President Alupo said that Karamoja has benefited in developmental initatives ranging from roads infrastructure, wealth creation initiatives, health, education among others that she has asked the people of Karamoja to preserve and protect.
While speaking at the same event, the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa said that Uganda has significantly developed its per capita cement production capacity through the 5 existing cement processing factories in the country including the just commissioned one.
Minister Nankabirwa noted that the scaled up cement production in Uganda is lowering Uganda’s deficit for cement and reducing the country’s Balance of Payment for cement and assured the country of Uganda’s steady fast efforts to increase investments and employment opportunities through the mineral development sector.
Minister Nankabirwa noted how government intentionally addressed the issue of sustainable power supply for production in Karamoja Sub-region on which the ongoing industrialisation efforts are being scaled on.
She asked the people of Karamoja to maintain the prevailing peace and stability in their area to harness more transformative development as already tasted through the massive factories established in the area.
The Minister for Karamoja Affairs Hon Peter Lokeris said that the NRM strategy prioritizing Karamoja development is yielding results through massive industrialisation and the electrification of Karamoja with dedicated industrial power supply has made the area’s development visible.
Minister Lokeris noted that the electrification of Karamoja with dedicated industrial power supply has made the area’s development visible and has rallied the people of Karamoja to continue embracing the developments into their area for socioeconomic transformation as seen with the commissioning of Yaobai Cement factory in Karamoja Sub region that’s granting job opportunities and development to Karamoja.
Minister Lokeris said that the industrialisation span in Karamoja Sub-region is greatly contributing to Uganda’s Balance of Payment deficit through local manufacture of quality products yet on regional and global demand.
The Board Chairperson of China West Cement a conglomerate of Yaobai International holding Cement in Karamoja, Zang Jiewen confirmed Uganda’s high quality cement inputs capable of high end production of quality cement and committed to Yaobai Cement factory’s ability to build synergies and technologies to transform the construction industry and aid growth in compliance to the national legal framework.
The Interim Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Fan Xuecheng said that two countries strategic development plan is yield transactive mutual gains and callled for strengthening of the similar efforts and congratulated President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on his victory in the just concluded 2026 presidential elections and committed to furthering China – Uganda ties.
The Ugandan partner in Yaobai Cement factory in Karamoja Ambrose Byoona elaborated on the factory’s bussiness prospects saying that its a viable venture.
Karamoja Sub-region local government leaders affirm to the region’s industrialisation revolution manifested in the massive manufacturing plants accross the entire Karamoja Sub region.
The Motoro District Chairperson Koryang David who represented the local leaders said the transformation on Karamoja Sub region aided by government through industrialisation in a clear game changer and has commended President Museveni from the strategic guidance and integration of Karamoja Sub region into the National Development Agenda.
