By David Muwanga

UGANDA Investment Authority (UIA) has signed a Ushs9.7b contract with Spencon Services Limited to construct the road network in the Kampala Business and Industrial Park in Namanve near Kampala.

The park would be occupied by light-clean industries. It has been zoned, with the commercial area close to Jinja Road.

It will have exhibition areas, shopping malls, petrol stations and supermarkets.

Tom Buringuriza, the UIA deputy executive director, signed on behalf of the authority, while K.S.V Kumar signed for Spencon at a function at the authority's offices on Lumumba Avenue, Kampala.

Arthur Tukahirwa, the director of the industrial parks development division, explained that phase one of the construction starts in three weeks with the 124 hectare South A Estate, where 12 kilometres of roads will be built. Other areas include the 192 hectare South B Estate and South C with 360 hectares.

We shall carry out work on the 2.6km stretch on Jinja Road to ease access to the park, Tukahirwa said.

The money is part of the $30m given by the World Bank. The Government contributed $3m of the $30m fund.

The $30m will also be used to establish power supply, the water network, drainage and street lighting.

Tukahirwa said the incentives for the park developers include the Free Zones Bill that Cabinet has already forwarded to Parliament for approval. He said the Free Port law would develop Uganda as a regional warehouse for distribution and marketing.

Namanve and Luzira industrial parks are some of the 25 parks established by the Government to reduce barriers to investment.

Source: New Vision