Gen. Salim Saleh has called on commercial banks to actualise ‘Kyapa’ Loan, describing it as “the most liberating tool” that can unlock land productivity, solve land conflicts and propel Uganda’s industrial and household economic transition.
Speaking during the launch of the Presidential CEO Forum (PCF) Information Tour Program at the Kaapeeka LiaoShen Industrial Park, Gen. Saleh made an impassioned plea to banking executives present including Stanbic, Absa and DFCU to collaborate with government and scale up the land-title financing product.
Speaking to over 50 CEOs and private sector leaders touring the industrial park, Gen. Saleh said the Kyapa Loan could transform land ownership in Uganda, enabling ordinary citizens to acquire titles while compensating landlords over time.
“For me, this Kyapa Loan is the most liberating tool that you banks can help us achieve,” Saleh said. “Because of the contradictions of land governance here, you find landlords who have conflicted land, and then wanaichi who don’t have any possessions. If we develop a financial product for this, it can be a game-changer.”
Saleh outlined that since the fund’s inception, only 3,383 clients had accessed loans totaling Shs12.9 billion, a figure he said was far below potential.
He urged banks such as Stanbic, Absa, and DFCU to join hands in scaling up the initiative.
“The moment you give a citizen an inch, their title on a mile of land, the next day they start building a permanent house,” he explained. “We have deconflicted about 824 acres already. Development can take very quick shape.”
The General also addressed criticisms regarding his land dealings, emphasizing that he is not a land grabber but a land developer, skilled at converting conflicted or idle land into productive assets.
“For me, I am an evolving character. I am not a land grabber. I am a land developer. I’m an expert in land development. My job is to convert land from being a liability into an asset,” he said.
He recounted the development of Kapeeka Industrial Park, formerly Namunkekera Rural Industrial Center, which he transformed from a “small-scale peasant thinking” design into a thriving industrial hub.
He detailed how he allocated land for multiple factories and small-scale industries, ensuring growth and employment for local communities.
Saleh also took a swipe at critics accusing him of land grabbing whom he said are misplaced.
He expressed disappointment in NRM members, who he says should be defending him, as people label him a land grabber, while commending DP’s Nobert Mao for understanding his ideology.
Gen Saleh reflected on the importance of connecting science and agriculture to private sector investment.
He introduced experts in fisheries, livestock, coffee, forestry, and aquaculture, urging CEOs to embrace climate-smart solutions and commercialize scientific innovations to create wealth and employment.
Irene Birungi Mugisha, PCF President, said the tour is designed to showcase government efforts in industrialization while linking them to private sector growth.
“The Presidential CEO Forum brings together strategic corporate CEOs, beginners, and foreign investors to see what government is doing. This tour shows that industrialization is possible, export promotion is achievable, and value addition from raw materials can be done locally,” she said.
She praised General Salim Saleh and President Museveni for initiatives aimed at reducing Uganda’s reliance on imports and boosting exports of locally made products.
“What is happening at Kapeeka Industrial Park show that it is possible to produce locally, add value, and export, reducing our dependence on imported goods while creating jobs and skills for Ugandans,” she said.
Emmanuel Katongole, Quality Chemical Board Chairman, echoed the importance of the visit.
“Being here at Kapeeka is an eye-opener. It shows how Uganda can industrialize. We saw factories producing clay-based products like toilet pans, plates, and cups that can replace imports. This is a perfect example of import substitution and industrial growth,” Katongole said.
The PCF information tour continues to highlight Uganda’s industrialization journey, innovations, and investment opportunities, with Kapeeka Industrial Park serving as a model for planned industrial hubs across the country.
