President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that government is in its final stages of developing Uganda’s own steel industry, an attribute that will help the country to start manufacturing rails used in the construction of railway lines.
The Industry according to the President will not only produce that type of steel that is needed by the railway system here in Uganda but also in other parts of East Africa.
“We also need the rails themselves for the Standard Gauge Railway. We may not do it immediately because the rails need very good steel but that we shall also work on because we are developing our steel industry in Kabale.” he highlighted.
The President made these remarks while commissioning Uganda’s first ever railway concrete sleeper Factory in Kawolo, Lugazi, Buikwe district on Friday.
While here, Museveni also applauded the proprietors of the factory Imathia Construction, headed by the company’s Chairman for helping Uganda achieve part of its vision of building an economy which is integrated, independent and self-sustaining.
“I want to thank the Spanish Group, Imathia for helping us, in implementing part of this effort because Uganda needs the railway system which needs a number of things like sleepers and rails. Now, if they are all not made here what does it mean? It means that you must buy them from outside and if you buy them from outside, transport alone is too high, what will happen?” he explained.
In his remarks, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala the Minister of Works and Transport noted that this idea of a concrete sleeper was conceptualized following a feasibility study undertaken between 2017 and 2018 and thanked the President for creating a conducive environment where investors like Imathia can thrive.
“The study was one of the many studies undertaken in preparation to rehabilitate and revamp the railway infrastructure in Uganda, which had deteriorated due to the many years of neglect. The study results were clear on the need to explore complete sleepers on the railway line to replace the steel sleepers that are more prone to vandalism, rust and the high expenses to replace them in case need arises. And having our factory in the country means that the cost of doing business would also be reduced.” Katumba highlighted.
On his part, the chairman of Imathia Construction Mr. Julian Garcia Velverde commended the President, the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Board and Management of Uganda Railways Corporation for the wonderful hospitality and support they have given to them since making the decision to invest in Uganda.
“As you have seen during your tour of the Plant Sir, this concrete plant has a 90% local staff component. The young Ugandan men and women have learnt how to operate this plant and I am in no doubt that one day we shall be 100% Ugandan Operated,” he said.
Mr. Garcia further informed the President that these concrete sleepers are the most suitable technology in modern railways for meter gauge and also SGR railway option that is on the country’s transformational agenda.
“The concrete sleepers increase safety, increase comfort, speed as well as decrease the maintenance cost of the track and there’s less vandalism associated costs.”
The factory whose workforce is over 90 percent made of Ugandans, has a daily production of 208 concrete sleepers of meter gauge sleepers for the Refurbishment Kampala-Namanve-Mukono.
Imathia was also contracted to renovate the ongoing works of Kampala- Mukono line.
The commissioning ceremony was also attended by the Minister of State for Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President of Uganda who is also the Woman Member of Parliament for Buikwe district, Hon. Diana Mutasingwa, among other officials.