LAUNCHED: Construction Of Moroto Cement Plant Kicks Off In Karamoja

BY PATRICK JARAMOGI

MOROTO, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA| Another new player in the cement manufacturing is set to launch in Uganda soon. Moroto Cement under the Moroto Ateker Cement plant in Uganda is set to begin construction soon.

this will bring to five the number of cement industries in Uganda. Old players include Hima Cement under the Group Bamburi Cement Limited, based in Kasese and their newest plant in Tororo.

Others are National Cement Company Limited under the Devki Group, the makers of Simba Cement in Tororo, Kampala Cement based in Namataba in Mukono and Tororo Cement Limited (UCI) based in Tororo.

According to Moroto Ateker Cement Company Ltd (MACCL), a Special Purpose vehicle has already been set up to implement the project. A lot of land clearing and erecting of the fence has already been completed paving way for the construction of the mega plant in Karamoja.

Upon completion, in about 18 months from the date of commencement of the construction works, the Ateker Cement plant will be integrated with the Karamoja Marble complex. The former will have a processing capacity of 1,250 tons of cement per day while the latter will have a processing capacity of 300 tons of lime per day and 11,000 square meters of marble per month.

The Karamoja marble plant was recently commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni. once complete, both plants will utilize 80% of local raw materials in the production process.

The project is expected to boost physical and social infrastructure development in Karamoja such as road network, power and water connectivity, health, education, housing, and recreational facilities as well as create job opportunities.

According to David Ekanya, a senior engineer at Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) which holds 45% shares in the Moroto Ateker Cement Company Ltd, approximately 600 local people will be directly employed in the plant’s operations.

Furthermore, the Ateker Cement plant is also expected to boost the housing and real estate sector in the region with the necessary infrastructure in place, coupled with the availability of locally manufactured cement.

Savannah Mines Ltd and Saboo Engineers PVT Ltd have 40% and 15% shareholding in Moroto Ateker Co. Ltd respectively.