Steven Ariong, Moroto – A section of elders in Moroto District has cautioned media houses against negative reporting on development projects in Karamoja.
The elders’ caution to the media follows an article published on Wednesday, 19th June, in the Daily Monitor, claiming the factory being set up by West International Holding Limited, a subsidiary of China West Cement Limited (Stock Code 2233.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company, was under fire for poor worker conditions.
The factory, whose groundbreaking was led by President Museveni himself earlier this year, is now under construction.
When completed in 2025, it will employ more than 2,000 people, the majority of whom will be Karimojong locals.
The factory, which is sitting on 200 acres of land in Nadunget Sub-county in Moroto District, will be producing about 6,000 to 7,000 tonnes per day of clinker and cement. This will help to reduce the importation of raw materials for cement factories in other parts of Uganda and also save the newly constructed factory significant costs.
Raymond Mudong, one of the elders, protested against the report, saying it could be sponsored by other investors who have been exploiting Karamoja minerals without setting up factories that would employ thousands of Ugandans, including the Karimojong.
“This is the factory that has greatly increased land value in Moroto. Initially, plots in Moroto used to be sold cheaply at UGX 400,000, but ever since this factory was set up, the price of plots next to it has risen to UGX 40 million to 80 million. Is that not important to the people of Karamoja?” the furious elder said.
According to Mr. Mudong, they are aware of the so-called investors who are now feeling uneasy since the President carried out the groundbreaking of the factory.
It should be noted that the Karamoja region has a total of 150 mining companies extracting minerals and transporting them for processing outside Karamoja without considering constructing factories in the region.
Raphael Lokol, another elder, urged President Museveni to ignore media reports on the factory, saying the people of Karamoja are very excited about the factory, describing it as the first baby for Karamoja’s development.
“This is the first cement and clinker factory the entire Karamoja is getting since colonial times, so those who are not happy with it should back off,” he said.
According to Lokol, some of the companies fighting the current factory are the same people who have been plundering Karamoja and they can’t wait for Karamoja to develop.
“Now we are in high gear of development under the NRM government, and they are again fighting our development projects. Please, media, if you can’t report good things about Karamoja, please back off and leave us alone,” he said.
When this publication visited the site where the factory is being constructed, we found jolly workers carrying out their business as usual.
Many safety warnings were placed in every corner, with workers wearing full uniforms.
The factory establishment has also widened the beauty of Moroto, which is now being earmarked to be a city in 2025.
It’s the first beautiful structure receiving visitors to Moroto town.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mr. Peter Lokeris Aimat, said the government will not sit and tolerate saboteurs of development in Karamoja.
