President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged total government backing to Terra Industrial Development Company following the establishment of an iron ore processing plant in Ntungamo District.
The President made the commitment on Tuesday during a meeting at State Lodge Nakasero with company officials led by Managing Director Mr. Kong Dong Sheng. Located in Rwenanura, the facility operates as Uganda’s first pig iron processing factory. Company officials reported that the facility produces pig iron with a high purity level of 93 percent. This local capacity is a milestone in Uganda’s efforts to process mineral resources domestically.
During the diplomatic briefing, President Museveni reaffirmed the national policy banning raw mineral exports to drive job creation. He noted that processing materials within the country maximizes tax revenue and fosters domestic industrial growth.
“I will support you. Remember, we banned the export of unprocessed minerals,” President Museveni stated.
The investors detailed several infrastructure challenges currently affecting the operations of the state-of-the-art facility. They requested a stable electricity grid connection to power the heavy industrial machinery. The team also asked for the upgrading of a 4.2-kilometer road linking the Ntungamo–Mirama Hills road to the Kabale–Ntungamo highway. Additionally, the investors highlighted the Kategure Bridge as an infrastructure point requiring urgent rehabilitation to facilitate safe machinery transport.
President Museveni assured the delegation that relevant state ministries would eliminate these logistical bottlenecks promptly. He also commended the group's parallel investment in the health manufacturing sector through Sino-Africa Medical Devices. The sister company produces long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets pre-qualified by the World Health Organization to combat malaria.
The President pledged that the government would allocate funds to buy these mosquito nets locally to reduce medical import dependency. Hajjat Amina Mukalazi, the head of the State House Local Content Unit, attended the high-level meeting. Her department remains at the forefront of monitoring local investment partnerships to protect indigenous economic interests.
