Dutch firm to construct a $1.5 Million Shipyard in Jinja

President Museveni's visit to the Netherlands a few months begins to pay off - Receives Dutch ship-builders whose 1.5 million dollar investment to construct a shipyard in Jinja and build vessels to ferry cargo across Lake Victoria is in advanced stages -more employment opportunities for youth, Government to build marine school

President Yoweri Museveni has today received the Director of Europe's renowned ship building company, Veka group, who is in charge of Africa, Captain Peter Huizinga who called on him at State House, Nakasero.Captain Huizinga was accompanied by the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda, Ambassador Hans Peter Van der Woude.

Veka group, Europe's largest builder of water vessels, are involved in a partnership with Ronbag Real Estates Limited, represented at the meeting with President Museveni by the company's' local Director Roy Baguma. The group is to establish a ship-yard at Masese in Jinja Municipality as well as a modern maintenance and repair facility for all the vessels plying Lake Victoria from all countries bordering the water body. The US$1.5 million project that is supported by the government of the Netherlands, will improve the water transport infrastructure and lower costs for both imports and exports across countries in East Africa. It will also promote trade in the Great Lakes countries and beyond.The first vessel to be constructed at Masese in Jinja will be 2,200 tons and will ferry cargo between Mwanza and Port Bell.

President Museveni welcomed the investors to Uganda and informed them that their project will not only serve Uganda but also all countries in the Great Lakes region. He told them of government's intention to build a marine school in Namasagali at the confluence of the River Nile and Lake Kyoga. The President called on the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to assist in this regard.

State Minister for Transport, Mr. Steven Chebrot, attended the meeting