By LUWERO; President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday commissioned an ethanol and extra-neutral alcohol manufacturing plant built by PRO Industries Pte Limited in Ndibulungi Village, Luwero District.
Accompanied by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni, the president praised the project for advancing agro-industrialization, adding value to local crops and supporting cleaner energy solutions.
Museveni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare, lowering production costs including electricity and transport and boosting industrial growth to create jobs and transform the economy. He also urged Ugandans to support the National Resistance Movement in upcoming elections to sustain industrialization gains.
The Director of PRO Industries Pte Limited, Ms Riddhi Oswal, described the Luweero facility as the largest extra-neutral alcohol and ethanol plant in East Africa, with an installed capacity of 120,000 litres of ENA per day and 35,000 litres of ethanol per day.
Ms Oswal disclosed that the company has invested $100 million (Shs380 billion) in the state-of-the-art plant, which is already delivering strong linkages to the local economy.
She said PRO Industries works directly with more than 20,000 farmers in Luweero District and surrounding areas, who supply maize used as a key raw material in production.
Ms Oswal also highlighted Uganda’s leadership in renewable energy and biofuels, noting that the country will mandate ethanol blending in all petroleum products sold nationwide starting January 2026, in line with Vision 2040 and the Biofuels Act, 2020.
According to Ms Oswal, the ethanol blending policy is expected to significantly reduce Uganda’s annual petroleum import bill estimated at about $2 billion (Shs7.6 trillion), while lowering carbon emissions and promoting cleaner, more sustainable energy use.
She commended the government for providing a stable investment climate, citing peace, security and policy consistency as key factors that have enabled PRO Industries and other investors to thrive.
“The predictable policy environment has allowed us to make long-term investments that support farmers, create jobs and contribute to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation,” she said.
The commissioning of the PRO Industries ethanol plant positions Luweero as an emerging industrial hub and underscores Uganda’s growing momentum in agro-processing, renewable energy and value-added manufacturing.
The President also called on Ugandans to support the NRM in the forthcoming elections to consolidate gains made in industrialization and national development.
