The Government has moved to tackle flooding, power and other infrastructure problems affecting Steel and Tube Industries Ltd at the Kampala Industrial and Business Park in Namanve.
Finance State Minister Henry Musasizi visited the factory with State Minister for Privatisation and Investment Aminah Mukalazi, Uganda Investment Authority Director General Robert Mukiza and officials from the Finance ministry.
The team met company officials to identify measures that could ease production constraints and support planned investments.
Musasizi said Steel and Tube Industries occupies 50 acres allocated by the Government but faces serious flooding because of the terrain.
He said the Government would assess available resources to support backfilling and other works before the September rains.
The Government is also working on roads, water supply and electricity infrastructure across the Namanve industrial park.
Musasizi said closer engagement with investors would help the Government identify problems before they disrupt production.
“Gone are the days when government was too hierarchical. We want to bring investment to the people we serve,” he said.
He said manufacturers play an important role in job creation, tax revenue and reducing Uganda’s dependence on imports.
Musasizi also said the Government would reclaim undeveloped industrial land held by speculators.
He said land allocated to investors can revert to the Government if beneficiaries fail to develop it within the required period.
The move, he said, would make more industrial land available to investors who are ready to establish factories and create jobs.
Steel and Tube Industries chairman Joseph Yiga also raised concern over a Shs14.6 billion income tax refund that he said Uganda Revenue Authority has delayed.
Yiga said the delay was affecting the company’s proposed $255 million integrated steel project at Nshaara Ranch.
The project is expected to expand steel production and support more local value addition.
Yiga also raised concerns about restrictions on stainless-steel scrap exports and called for harmonised tariffs on trailer assembly kits to support local manufacturing.
Musasizi said the Government would work with the relevant agencies to address the concerns.
Mukiza said UIA had identified several infrastructure projects to reduce flooding and improve access to the factory.
These include works on River Namanve, construction of box culverts leading to Steel and Tube Industries and improvements along Road B5.
He said the contractor received the employer’s no-objection to its technical and financial proposal on August 10, 2026.
However, urgent works on River Namanve have not started.
Mukiza advised Steel and Tube Industries to raise its infrastructure platforms above the Lake Victoria invert level to reduce the risk of flooding.
He also reported progress on the company’s electricity supply.
He said the contractor had received designs and specifications approved by Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited for a hybrid power system, including an additional feeder for the factory.
“Procurement of materials is in progress,” Mukiza said.
The Government expects the interventions to improve conditions for manufacturers at Namanve, support investment and create more jobs.
