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Go Cylinder Uganda Ltd. has opened an LPG gas cylinder factory in Luwero District. The government will distribute most of the cylinders for free to encourage clean energy use. The factory already employs over seventy people, with plans to double that number in the future.

Go Cylinder Uganda Ltd.  On Thursday 19th October 2023 officially opened an LPG-Gas-Cylinder-Factory in Luwero District.

The state minister for the Luwero-Rwenzori Triangle, Hon. Alice Kaboyo, and the minister of trade, industry, and cooperatives, Hon. Francis Mwebesa, officially opened the facility at Nyimbwa, Bombo.

In an attempt to encourage the use of LGP gas as an alternative to firewood and charcoal, the government is anticipated to purchase the majority of the cylinders that will be produced at this plant and provide them to citizens for free.

Private petroleum firms in Uganda and its neighbouring countries will purchase the remaining cylinders.

Speaking at the function, Minister Kaboyo expressed gratitude to the investors for selecting Luwero as the location of the facility.

“I am very happy to see that soon we shall have our own Ugandan Gas from Bunyoro in our own Ugandan-made gas cylinders. These cylinders are being manufactured from scratch here at the factory, “she said.

Hon. Kaboyo added that by removing the gas cylinder’s cost which is sometimes a deterrent to using clean energy the government’s free distribution of gas cylinders will greatly increase the usage of clean energy.

Once LPG extraction in the Albertine starts, the Ugandan government, along with the Ministry of Energy, intends to give over a million 13 kilogramme petrol cylinders to homes.

Minister Mwebesa repeated Hon. Kaboyo’s remarks, pointing out that petrol cylinders will work out to be far less expensive than biofuels like charcoal, which the government is already planning to outright outlaw.

The Go Cylinders Limited management was thanked by Francis Mwebesa, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, for selecting Uganda and for constantly keeping the Trade ministry team on their toes to make sure the Go Cylinders factory obtains the necessary licences, permits, and product certifications needed before beginning full-scale production.

Speaking to the assembly, Hon. Francis Mwebesa, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, said, “We expect this subsector to grow given the rising demand for your product and the growing oil and gas sector of the economy.” Currently, Uganda has two makers of gas cylinders. Added Minister Mwebesa.

However, Go Cylinder Managing Director Ali Tawfiq advised the Ministers of several obstacles they have encountered, including the dilapidated condition of the road leading to the factory

“We appreciate everything that the government has been doing for us, but we need some more support. The condition of the road is very challenging; so many containers got stuck there and it cost us a lot of money,” he said.

Tawfiq also revealed that the plant was suffering constant power cuts by Umeme, as well as delays to get tax breaks, as promised to them by President Museveni. Over seventy people from this area are already employed by the factory, according to Mr. Tawfiq.

On these matters, Minister Kaboyo promised to make follow-ups to ensure that they are ironed out.

“This should not be happening because we are the ones who seek you out to come and invest in our country, you should not be having to suffer like this, “she said.

The chairman of the Luwero district, Erastro Kibirango, stated that the crumbling road falls under the district’s jurisdiction, has already been budgeted for, and that construction is expected to start shortly.

He stated that once the government has resolved their current issues, they plan to double this amount as they expand their activities.

Assuring that Go Cylinder Products are of excellent quality, Denis Ainebyona, the Ministry of Trade’s Commissioner for Industry, stated that they have received the appropriate UNBS certification.

He also thanked the company for providing a conducive working environment for its employees by feeding them well and providing them with protective gear.