President Yoweri Museveni has called on the youth to stand up and fight unemployment by isolating people who fight industrialization in Uganda.

“I have brought the youth because I want them to know who is killing their jobs. Am tired of fighting their wars, they have to do it themselves,” the President who was chairing an NRM CEC meeting broke off to witness the signing of the Mineral Agreement between the government of Uganda and the Guangzhou Dongsong Energy Group of China for the development of the Osukuru Phosphate and Steel Project. He said he had deliberately invited the youth to show them why the country needs industries and who is frustrating them.

“Somebody was trying to kill Tororo-Osukuru project that is why I had to come in. I told the youth to come and fight their wars. They are the ones who don’t have jobs but am fighting as if am looking for a job,” the President told members of CEC, the NRM Youth League and the National Youth Council who witnessed the signing ceremony that took place yesterday at State House Entebbe. The Minister of Energy and Minerals Development Hon. Irene Muloni signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Uganda while Mr. Mao Jie, who is the Chief Executive Officer signed on behalf of Guangzhou Dongsong Energy Group Co. Ltd.

President Museveni launched the US$620 million Osukuru Phosphate project construction phase in August this year. He commended the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development and officials from the Ministry of Finance for the good work done in the formulation of a Mineral Development Agreement.

“I am happy that you took interest in value addition to the minerals. It is good to note that the agreement provides that the non-primary minerals should be semi-processed into concentrates and stockpiled until Government has satisfied itself with the updated feasibility study and taken a decision on the issue of value addition to non-primary minerals,” he said.

Mr. Museveni was pleased with Government assurances to the investor that the 2014 changes in the Income Tax Law did not affect the mining sector adding that the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, has undertaken to clarify this issue to all the concerned authorities.

Samuel Kavuma, the Chairperson of the Youth Council hailed government for the exposure tours to appreciate the value of industrialization for job creation and vowed to confront individuals or opposition politicians who fight factories.

Dennis Namara the NRM Youth League Chairman called for more exposure for the youth through sensitization tours and pledged to support government efforts to attract investments.

No country has developed without industries. Anybody fighting industrialization is not only your enemy but an enemy of the youth,” he said.

The Minister of Energy and Minerals Development, Hon. Irene Muloni, reported that when completed, the project would include a phosphate fertilizer plant with a production capacity of at least 300,000 tons per annum, a Steel mill with a capacity of not less than 300,000 tons per year, a power plant of 12 megawatts and a sulphuric acid plant, with a capacity of 400,000 tons per year.