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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 26768, member: 2262"] President Museveni has set a two-month deadline for Janet Museveni's education committee to complete plans for a steel factory project. The factory aims to process the large iron ore deposits found across the Ankole-Kigezi areas, especially those located in Bukimbiri County, Kisoro, and Rubanda districts. The government stopped allowing raw iron ore exports last year as part of its push to create more processing jobs within Uganda. This multi-billion project represents a major step toward building local industrial capacity. The President directed the committee to coordinate with potential investors when choosing the factory location. He described the initiative as a regional approach designed to turn local resources into economic growth opportunities. Museveni specifically named several officials to lead this work, including ICT Minister Chris Baryomunsi, Trade Minister Henry Mwebesa, and Deputy Trade Minister David Bahati. He expects them to deliver their complete findings by the end of May. Dr. Baryomunsi expressed support for the President's plan, noting how processing ore locally instead of exporting raw materials would create many new jobs. Minister Bahati suggested that Ntungamo might serve as an excellent location for the facility. He emphasized how the factory would help Uganda both reduce imports and increase exports of finished steel products. The committee will need to move quickly to meet the tight timeline Museveni established. The steel factory plan continues Uganda's broader industrial development strategy that began with the 2021 suspension of raw ore exports. Since that policy change, most mined iron ore has gone to Tororo National Cement Company before being shipped to Kenya's Devki Group. Current estimates show approximately 90% of Ugandan iron resources travel across the border to Kenyan processors. The newly formed committee, which includes Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa alongside Janet Museveni, Baryomunsi, and Bahati, must determine how to keep these valuable resources within Uganda. [/QUOTE]

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