Museveni commissions East Africa’s largest ethanol plant

President Yoweri Museveni has inaugurated PRO Industries, the largest ethanol plant in East Africa, highlighting the $100-million investment as a significant advancement for Uganda’s agro-industrialization, clean energy production, and job creation.

Located in Luwero District in central Uganda, the plant is anticipated to enhance value addition, decrease fuel imports, and support Uganda’s transition towards industrial growth.

The facility specializes in maize-based products, including ethanol and extra neutral alcohol (ENA), aligning with government initiatives to transition from exporting raw materials to local processing for increased economic benefits.

“This is the right direction for Uganda—processing what we grow, creating jobs for our people, and reducing unnecessary imports,” President Museveni stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and reducing production costs such as electricity, transport, and financing.

Museveni emphasized that industrialization is crucial for Uganda’s transformation, noting that manufacturing and agro-processing offer sustainable employment and stable markets for farmers.

PRO Industries Director Vasundhara Oswal noted that the plant is the largest ENA and ethanol facility in East Africa, with an installed capacity of 120,000 liters of ENA per day and 35,000 liters of ethanol per day.

She added that the company collaborates directly with over 20,000 farmers in Luwero District and surrounding areas, who supply maize as the primary raw material. Oswal explained that the decision to invest in Uganda was driven by government policy permitting ethanol blending with petroleum products starting in 2026, following the Biofuels Act of 2020.

The policy allows an initial five per cent ethanol blend in petrol, with plans to increase it to 20 per cent, a move expected to reduce Uganda’s $2 billion annual petroleum import bill while lowering carbon emissions. She commended the government for maintaining a stable and predictable environment, citing peace, security and policy consistency as key drivers of the project’s success.

“The predictable policy environment has allowed us to make long term investments that support farmers, create jobs and contribute to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation,” Oswal said.

PRO Industries produces several products and by-products including DDGS animal feed, extra-neutral alcohol, carbon dioxide, pharmaceutical-grade ethanol, denatured alcohol, among others, supporting multiple industrial and commercial applications. The plant was launched in the presence of the First Lady, Janet Museveni.