A very good article indeed and quite enlightening, but the question is : must the factories and industries be put in Jinja only?
The government of Uganda should look at Rural Investment as a way to eradicate poverty and provide employment for its people. And to effectively carry out this programe of Rural Investment, yes, factories should move away from Jinja to the Rural areas - its possible and will in the long run help the nation from the great embarrassment of rural migrations to urban areas in search for employment and better amenities of life. If the public funds are used well without being eaten by corrupt politicians at different levels of govt, then Rural Development and Rural electrification is possible, yes it can bear fruit for uor nation tomorrow. but there must be the plan for it.
Look at the decentralisation program of OBOTE - I of 1962-69 ! I think that although Amin removed Obote's regime from power at that time, today we look back and cannot but see and realize that the Obote I regime , the post Independence regime had a good plan of decentralization e.g. the many hospitals that were put acroos the country and really upcountry at a time when those places were VILLAGE - KYALO proper. Iam now thinking of Hospital like Itojo, Kiboga, Kiryandongo and Kagadi. Am also looking at the factories that were put up in places like Kinyara Sugar Fatory in Masindi District, Bugambe Tea Estate - Hoima District, Kisaaru Tea Estate - Hoima District, Muziizi Tea Estate - Kibaale and Kyenjojo Districts. Although the economy virtually collapsed with the coming of Amin and his declaration of the famous Economisc War whereby he chased away the Asians and gave back the economy and businesses to the native Africans - his experiment was met with international economic embargo and lack of trade and businness skills (by the Natives) at that time , and the experiment became a failure.
But since the coming of the new (1986) and now old (2007) NRM government, there has been talk of decentralization of hydro-electricity power sites but not with much success. I think that if the World Bank approves the proposed hydro power sites that are spread in many areas of Uganda upcountry then the problem of electricity power will be given a big solution and thus enable the foreign investors to move upcountry and set up factories and industries thare where the new site are.Take the example of the water falls of many of our Ugandan rivers that have been considered possible p hydro- power site: River Wambabya Falls in Hoima District, River Nguse Falls and River Muziizi Falls in Kibaale district, these rivers with their falls can generate a good amount of power for use by the factories. I think it was 2005-6 when the business man called Mukwano wanted to buy the Muziizi Tea factory in Kibaale district. I dont know how far the negotiations have been made between Mukwano and the Tea Factory owners - the British. But for sure with the Muziizi Falls Hydro electiciry power (20 Mega watts) just some some 10 miles away from the factory, that would help a lot and thus employment be given to many people without concentrating all industries and factories in Jinja and Kampala only. The western Rift valley along Lake Albert has a lot of Water Falls that have been surveyed and could hep in providing power for industries and for home use instead of the whole of Uganda to wait for power from Jinja for the many factories and home use.
HYDRO ELECTRICITY POWER FOR ALL BY 2027 - SAYS THE NRM GOVT
- http://newvision.co.ug/D/8/17/559945