Kenyan company Devin Group has officially opened a $550 million steel mill in Tororo, eastern Uganda, according to media reports. This is the first major expansion of the Devki Group outside of Kenya. The plant represents one of the largest private industrial investments in East Africa in recent years.
The plant plans to produce up to one million tons of steel annually.
Regional impact: reduces imports, increases the number of jobs and production
Uganda, which has historically depended on steel imports, is expected to significantly reduce imports once the Tororo plant becomes operational.
At the time of launch, the plant already employs more than 400 people, but Devki predicts that the number of jobs will grow to about 20,000 by 2027. This surge in employment is expected to create economic multipliers throughout the region, supporting infrastructure, housing, and related industries.
In addition, the plant's products will not only meet Uganda's domestic demand, Devki also plans to export steel to the markets of neighboring East African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, strengthening regional industrial supply chains.
