UDB finalises plan to revive Katwe Salt Industry

KASESE. Uganda Development Bank (UDB) has finalised plans to redevelop Katwe Salt Industry, in Katwe, Kabatooro Town Council in Kasese District.

The redevelopment will be conducted under the Agri–led Presidential Initiative, which primarily focuses on agro-industrialisation.

Katwe Salt Industry, which was an industrial anchor for many industries in western Uganda, suffered in the early 1970s during Idi Amin’s regime.

Mr Mahamoud Andama, the UDB director for investment, made the announcement last week during a day-long stakeholders’ engagement in the Rwenzori sub-region in Kasese District.

“We used to take our own salt. But now we are taking salt from Kenya. We have finalised plans to revive the Katwe Salt Industry and cobalt factory, among others in Kasese,” he said.

Salt mining is the main activity around Lake Katwe and the industry has played a significant role in social and economic transformation.

Today, Uganda spends billions of shillings on salt imports - following decades of the Katwe Salt Industry collapse.

Other areas that will be supported in Kasese, Kabarole and Bunyangabu, according to Ms Patricia Ojangole, the UDB executive director, will include coffee, cotton, maize and banana farming and value addition, while farmers involved in tea, dairy, maize and cassava farming in Kamwenge, Kyenjojo and Kyegegwa districts will also be supported.

She noted that UDB had identified challenges, especially in the area of value addition such as unsustainable, poor quality production and limited access to financing as key areas to be supported.

OWNERSHIP
Katwe Salt Industry, according to Kasese Municipality Mayor Godfrey Kabbyanga, is owned by Uganda Development Corporation, government agency that seeks to promote industrialisation.