Uganda has been given a Shs 109 billion grant by China to construct an industrial skills and production centre in Namanve industrial park.
At the ground breaking ceremony on Thursday Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda requested the Chinese contractors to complete the centre as soon as possible.
“The country badly needs these industrial skills and the production facility to be able to fill the gap of skilled labour that the country needs," Rugunda said.
Elioda Tumwesigye, the state minister for Science and Technology, noted that the facility will provide hands-on training for engineering and technical students in the country.
Currently Namanve industrial park has over 27 factories many of which employ foreigners because Ugandans lack technical skills.
The facility that will sit on 15 acres shall see Ugandans trained in the manufacture of vehicle spare parts, electronic devices, and automotive parts.
"This is going to be the first of its kind and as Uganda prepares to start assembling cars in Jinja, the facility shall be in position to feed the plant with all the required spared parts to ensure consistence in production," Tumwesigye said.
Zheng Zhuqiang the ambassador of China to Uganda said Beijing shall equip tjhe centre with all the necessary machinery needed for techincal training.
