LUWEERO: The Vice President Maj. (Rtd). Dr. Jessica Alupo has launched the Greater Luwero Investment Forum, a dynamic platform which brings together industrialists, investors, entrepreneurs, and key stakeholders to drive sustainable development in the region.
The platform was established in March 2025, to serve as a non-governmental and non-profit organization, dedicated to fostering inclusive and sustainable development across the Greater Luwero region. It comprises the three districts of Luwero, Nakaseke, and Nakasongola.
During the launch in Luweero district, the vice president Alupo urged investment in Uganda’s four key wealth and job creation sectors which include; Commercial Agriculture, Industry/Manufacturing, Services and Information and Communication Technology.
In essence, Alupo encouraged Ugandans to be producers and entrepreneurs within the above sectors to achieve economic independence and national growth, rather than relying solely on government jobs or subsistence living.
She made the remarks on behalf of president Museveni who is currently traversing the entire country ahead of the forthcoming general elections next week.
Alupo told the gathering that moving from subsistence to profitable enterprises, value addition, and utilizing infrastructure for wealth creation at the household level would help fight poverty and build a modern economy.
In light of Commercial Agriculture; Alupo explained that shifting from subsistence farming (growing only for food) to market-oriented production, including the president’s Four-Acre Model with high-value crops like coffee, fruits, vegetables, and livestock (piggery for Non-Muslims, poultry, fish) for wealth and job creation thus fighting household poverty.
Industry/Manufacturing; she urged adding value to raw materials, such as processing maize into flour or animal feed, creating more jobs than just farming.
On Services, she encouraged the developing of sectors like hotels, transport, retail, and professional services.
Regarding ICT; the vice president urged leveraging digital innovation for global opportunities, such as online auditing or remote professional work (BPO – Business Process Outsourcing).
She noted that currently, greater Luweero boasts of over 500 factories and industries scattered across the region and urged the populace, especially the youths to take full advantage of the factories to acquire jobs.
Alupo said the government would continue to improve on the existing roads another infrastructure to facilitate trade and economic activity to lower the cost of production.
She stressed that when NRM came to power in 1986, there were only 80 factories in the whole country for that reason, she urged the people of Luweero to vote for president Museveni in the coming general elections to protect the gains.
Uganda’s exact number of factories is fluid, but recent reports from late 2025 and 2024suggest it hosts between 7,000 and over 9,000 factories, with figures varying depending on the source and definition.
She congratulated the people of Luweero for the industrious achievements so far, adding that, “there’s every reason for them to thank God,”.
The VP said Uganda is now secure from across all border points adding that the government is currently doing everything possible to lower the cost of production by constructing roads, building of Railways and improving both water and Air transport to ensure that what’s produced in these factories is easily transported to the market.
“Government has done a lot in improving the country’s human resource. I ask everyone to support UPE, USE and skills competences in vocational education and training to we have enough skilled labour for factories and industries,”.
In light of providing cheap credit to Ugandans; Alupo said the government has lowered the Interstates on money specifically designed for wealth and job creation.
For example, she said GROW money can be accessed at an interest rate of (10 percent) annually, Agriculture Credit facility (10 percent), Small-scale Business Recovery Fund (10%), Sacco money under Emyooga (9 percent), Large Scale Investment (0 percent), PDM (6%) and Emyooga (8%) compared to the very high interest rates charged by Commercial Institutions.
She emphasized that the above interventions are meant to enable Ugandans acquire credit facilities conductively to create wealth and jobs across the country. “Most importantly, the government has been lowering power tariffs for factories and industries from13.8kWh to 8.6kWh. However, our target is to reduce it to 5kWh,” she revealed.
She further disclosed that currently, Large and Extra-Large factories are consuming power at 5kWh during off-peak hours and 5.7kWh during pick hours. “
As government, we are moving in a progressive way. We pledge to continue investing in policies which will support Ugandans in joining the money economy, “the vice president said.
The vice president also revealed that in the shortest time possible, the government shall start engaging all stakeholders on the issue of the Minimum Wage to protect Ugandans from being exploited.
“Government wants to ensure that workers earn enough for basic needs, reducing poverty and inequality, boosting consumer spending, and improving overall economic stability and well-being of workers,” the vice president said.
State Minister for Luweero Affairs, Alice Kaboyo congratulated the region upon the achievements so far registered and urged the government to deliberately come up with an affirmative action plan to ensure that people of Luweero triangle get jobs from all factories and industries within the region.
The NRM Deputy Secretary General, Rose Namayanja urged the people of Luweero triangle to vote President Museveni and all-party flag bearers in the general elections.
The launch of GLIF was marked with some of the key activities including an Annual Investment Expo, Thanksgiving Mass and a conference which served as a significant gathering for stakeholders to engage in discussions on development strategies, opportunities Corporate social responsibility as well as factory sales.
The above activities were organized by Maj. Herbert Ndiwalana, the Personal Assistant to Gen. Salim Saleh and the Born-Again fraternity led by Bishop Gabriel Kijjambu, the overseer of the National Fellowship of Born Again of Pentecostal Churches of Uganda.
The religious leaders applauded president Museveni for the able and visionary leadership characterized by continued peace and stability across the country.
