Sino Uganda Mbale Industrial Park Opens Small Gate for workers 

The Sino Uganda Mbale Industrial park has bowed to the pressure of employees who for almost 4 years have been requesting for the reopening of the alternative entry to the Industrial park.

The small gate comes to the rescue of the majority of park workers from over ten villages in Industrial city Division in Mbale city who have complained of a long journey to the park and costly transport fares.
Thousands of workers hailing from Masanda,Marare,Bugema B, Zabanyanya,Musoto ,Wambewo ,Nabitiri, Khamoto,Maluku among others were cut off from accessing the park from the lower parts of the Industrial park after they paused a security threat according to the Industrial park management.
The completion of the new bridge road that connects the villages to park crossing a stream has barely two months after park workers reported the matter to the city leaders about the need for better working conditions among which was the access road.

On Saturday in the presence of the Mbale city local leaders ,security heads and residents the access bridge road was opened and was welcomed by residents who said some of their children and colleagues had left work because of the transport costs and long journey to the main gate on Tirinyi road.
Walyeku Musa, 60 year old from Masanda, welcomed the move by the Chinese to open the new entrance as an act of humanity and feeling for others.

“We are so happy that this gate has been opened since it was closed in 2020 and our children have been trekking almost 7 kilometres to the main entrance yet they are looking at where the are going from this end, wit the opening if this gate even the aged like me will go and get something to do inside the Industrial park” He told Daily Monitor.

He adds that workers are required to pay 3000 shillings to the main gate of the Mbale Sino Uganda Industrial park on Mbale -Tirinyi road.
The Mbale City Mayor Cassim Namugali said they had received numerous alarms from residents and leaders calling for the opening of the gate and have been pushing the investors to construct an alternative way into the park.

“Our work as leaders is to listen to our people and present their grievances to the responsible offices for handling and since his park started operations, our people have Been calling on us to ask the Chinese to open this gate which brings in thousands of workers from over 10 villages in Industrial city Division, they have been getting little pay and all is spent on transport ” Namugali said adding that they have been negotiating for the construction of the acces road which finally paid and are to push for the increase of workers’ salaries which is another concern amongst employees.

Asumin Nasike the Mbale Resident City Commissioner called on the residents and neighbours to the park to comply with the security measures of the park to enjoy using the access road.

“I was told this gate was closed because residents and neighbours to the park had started misbehaving and pausing security threats to the investors and asking you to be compliant with the demands of the employers so that you can continue using this gate or else it will be closed again” Nasike said.
Honourable Karim Masaba representing Industrial city Division during the opening revealed that there is a resolution by Uganda Investment Authority which is waiting for parliament approval to have infrastructure improved in the Kapeka and Mbale Industrial parks.

“I want to thank the investors for listening to our people’s concerns and as leaders we fully support the development of the park as it is now employing thousands of our people ,I want to inform you that we shall also support initiatives aimed at seeing this Industrial park grow,I am aware of the Uganda Investment Authority’s plan to align infrastructure in the major industrial parks in the country and on a serious note we want them to work on river nashibiso which is a major threat to this park and the neighbouring communities when it floods ” he said.

The Sino Uganda Industrial Park Administrator called on the public for a good working relationship as the development of the park is also aimed at developing the neighbouring communities.
“We want our people to use this gate well while coming to work here ,only workers will be allowed to get in and out of this gate, we want to work together and ensure that the Industrial park develops as our people neighbouring us also develop” He said.

By Derick Wenani