Until late 1960s, Busoga has been a major commercial and industrial
centre of Uganda, housing Jinja the industrial centre of Uganda
until the late 1970s when things made a u-turn in favour of
Kampala and other towns.
The abundant supply of raw materials steady, power supply
at Owen Falls dam and the ready markets, favoured Busoga.
During the period 1920-1975 - 6 Jinja with over 46 agro-factories
maintained Uganda’s commercial pride and became a
major shopping and transit town for my traders.
Since Amins’ region (1971-1979), which era saw the
general, break down of Uganda, Jinja stood at economic and
political disadvantage and today remains a giant in the
industrial grave yard. Several big companies like Nyanza
textile, Kakira Sugar works, Steel Rolling Co-operation,
Kilembe Copper Smelting Company, British Africa Tobacco
and many others all collapsed and died with the eventual
expulsion of the Asians of British origin, 1971.
Amin’s government economic policy of expelling Asians
worked against Jinja that based on their entrepreneurship
and until now little has emerged to push up Jinja from the
industrial shadow of the past. Although some progress is
slowly re-surfacing with the return of Asians and emergency
of new investors, the towns needs a big policy and moral
push to gain its past glories. Busoga shall not be the same
again. It continues to cry for the lost glory of Jinja,
its economic capital city.
Many people remain redundant as the industrial premises
stay in Shadows.Even those few employed in the civil service
or those doing business, remains conduits to the investor
flock who own big capital.
However, with the demise of Jinja a major economic town
of Busoga Kingdom, small trading centres have slowly emerged
the hard way to deliver services to the people. These include;
Kamuli, Iganga, Buwenge, Busembatia town councils, Mayuge
and Bugiri. Others include Kaliro town council in Kamuli
district, and trading centres like Namwendwa, Bulopa, Namutumba,
among others along the Busia - Kampala trade route like
Mbiko, Bugembe, Naluwerere and Idudi.
Iganga has also transformed itself into an upcoming commercial
town attracting business from the islands and the borders
trade through Funtula, (goods smuggling) from Kenya.
