Summary:
- On August 18, 2021, Kisoro District allocated 620 acres of land in Kibaya, spanning Bunagana and Rukundo Town Councils, to the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) for the establishment of the industrial park.
KISORO: The Bufumbira North legislator, John Nizeyimana Kamara, has clashed with Kisoro District LCV Chairperson Abel Bizimana over the stalled construction of the Kisoro Industrial and Business Park in Kibaya, Rukundo Town Council.
On August 18, 2021, Kisoro District allocated 620 acres of land in Kibaya, spanning Bunagana and Rukundo Town Councils, to the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) for the establishment of the industrial park. On September 24, 2022, the UIA successfully held the Kigezi Investment Summit, during which Finance Minister Matia Kasaija launched the Kisoro Industrial and Business Park.
Strategically located along the Uganda-Rwanda-DR Congo border on the Mombasa-Kampala-Goma trade route and within an agricultural hub, the industrial park was envisioned to be a major economic driver for the region.
However, speaking at the Kisoro District 2024 end-of-year celebrations, sponsored by the UIA Executive Director General Dr. Robert Mukiza at Tourist Hotel in Kisoro Municipality on Monday, MP Kamara criticized the UIA for failing to expedite progress on the project.
Kamara urged the UIA to accelerate the development of the industrial park to enhance accessibility, spur development, and improve service delivery in the area. He also called on Kisoro leaders to unite in early 2025 to pressure the government to fulfill its commitment to the park’s development.
CUE IN KAMARA…..ON INDUSTRIAL PARK…..RR//
In response, LCV Chairperson Abel Bizimana dismissed Kamara’s criticism, advising him to address his concerns directly to Dr. Mukiza’s office in Kampala instead of disrupting the celebrations.
CUE IN BIZIMANA…..ON THE ISSUE……RR//
Meanwhile, Dr. Robert Mukiza, the UIA Executive Director General, revealed that the feasibility study for the industrial park has been completed, and funding for the next phase is underway.
CUE IN MUKIZA…..ON INDUSTRIALIZATION….. ENG//
