President Museveni commends Harris International for their industrial contribution as the new plant officially opens
Drake Nyamugabwa
The President of Uganda Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has applauded the contribution of Harris International Uganda for their contribution to Uganda’s industrial policy through the creation of jobs, paying taxes, and creating wealth among others.
He applauded Harris management for utilizing the friendly atmosphere to invest in Uganda to support the private sector growth strategy for Uganda.
The President’s message was read by Vice President Jesca Alupo while officially opening the Harris International new plant in Tula Mpererwe on Thursday 20th Jul 2023.
“I commend Harris International for utilizing this friendly atmosphere to create jobs for Ugandans. Uganda is accelerating towards industrialization, and eliminating subsistence production into commercialization. Congratulations to the management and staff of Harris International for the milestone of opening the new plant” he said
The President highlighted that the major two players in the economy including producers and consumers have been supported by the enabling environments provided by the government including peace, security, infrastructure, and policies among others to reduce the cost of production.
“The first step of NRM government was the restoration of peace, security of people and property to enable the production of goods and services. UPDF transformed Uganda from anarchy and lawlessness into peace and security, provided a private growth strategy to put in place favorable policies, and infrastructure to support the private sector to develop the country” he said
While touring the new plant in Tula Mpererwe
The Chairman, Board, Harris International Yasser Ahmed while giving his remarks at the opening of the new plant said that through their expansion plan, they fulfilled it by establishing the new plant at Tula Mpererwe as the main production facility and distribution center.
He said that the plant has installed modern equipment to produce quality varieties of products including fruit juices, carbonated drinks, and candies like biscuits, chocolates, and sweets among others., with a laboratory for quality assurance, and contribution to other local factories like agriculture producers.
“This facility is home to our main plant and distribution center. We expressed our expansion plan and we have fulfilled what we promised. We are ready to invest further and grow” he said
The Chairman added that the company's contribution ranges from tax revenue mobilization to job creation, and high-quality production for the local and regional markets among others urging the government to intensify research on more fruit variety to grow foreign fruits locally.
He however expressed concern about the lack of incentives especially land and tax holidays despite the heavy investment the company is committing to Uganda.
“In 2017, we had 1,380 staff, and now in 2023 we have 2,000 direct employees and 5,000 indirect staff including youth, women, and local people in the district. In 2017 we contributed a tax revenue of $4 Billion and in the report 2022, we contributed $10 Billion” he said
A range of products at the plant
Harris International Uganda started way back in 2006 with biscuits to beverages, 2012 according to Managing Director Simon Harvey moved to a bigger facility in Kawempe “as the industrial leader in carbonated soft drinks in preparation for the next phase” In 2013 moved into carbonated drinks including Rock boom, Oner juice, Tamaran, Skyview soda among others. In 2019 a decision was made to expand. The company export to DRC, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya among others.
Can access the video on: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1YqKDooBgBNxV
