President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Kenyan President William Ruto launched construction of the USD 500 million Devki Mega Steel Plant in Tororo, a project government says will create more than 15,000 jobs and boost Uganda’s drive for large-scale industrialisation.
Museveni said the project is a turning point in Africa’s struggle to reclaim value lost through centuries of exporting raw materials without processing. “For over 500 years, we have been losing value through slavery, colonialism, and the export of raw materials,” he said.
The plant, developed by industrialist Dr. Narendra Raval, will be one of the region’s largest integrated steel operations. According to Museveni, the facility is expected to employ more than 15,000 Ugandans once fully operational. He described it as a crucial step toward “ending the haemorrhage of our minerals, our jobs, and our foreign exchange.”
The President said the investment aligns with Uganda’s industrialisation agenda and the NRM’s long-standing push for value addition on all strategic resources.
President Ruto, who joined Museveni at the event, reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to supporting regional industrial growth through shared investments and strengthened economic cooperation.
Dr. Raval said he is committed to expanding industrial capacity in East Africa and thanked both leaders for backing the project, which he said will boost regional competitiveness in steel production.
