Celebrations broke out in Karamoja after President Museveni commissioned a new cement and clinker production factory in Moroto, a project expected to boost manufacturing, create jobs and transform the regional economy.
Joy and excitement filled Moroto as residents, leaders and investors gathered for the official launch of the facility, which will operate under the brand Yaobai Cement, a Chinese-owned company.
The factory is expected to produce about two million tonnes of cement annually.
Fan Xuecheng, Charge d’Affaires ad interim at the Chinese Embassy, said the project reflects the growing cooperation between Uganda and China.
“China continues to maintain a strategic partnership with Uganda to spur development, and the Moroto Cement Factory will go a long way in bringing development to the country,” he said.
The factory will also produce clinker, a key raw material in cement manufacturing, a move expected to reduce Uganda’s dependence on imports and strengthen domestic industrial capacity.
Leaders described the investment as a major milestone for Karamoja, saying it is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Esther Anyakun the State Minister Gender, Labor, & Social development said the project comes at the right time for the region.
“Previous governments forgot Karamoja, but President Museveni is working to ensure the region benefits. Unlike in the past when raw materials were ferried out of the region, this factory will ensure they are used here to create jobs and wealth,” she said.
Peter Lokeris praised the President’s commitment to the sub-region.
“The President has always meant well for Karamoja. We now have three different factories in the region, showing that industrialization is taking root,” Lokeris said.
President Museveni said government remains committed to attracting more investments to historically underserved regions as part of Uganda’s broader national development agenda.
“This factory will reduce clinker imports by 85 percent. I thank the government of China for partnering with Uganda in our development,” Museveni said.
For many in Karamoja, the commissioning of the Moroto Cement Factory represents more than an industrial project — it symbolizes a new chapter of economic inclusion, employment opportunities and regional transformation.