Kampala — THE Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, recently launched a brick-making machine at his home in Kakiri.

The machine was developed by Pioneer Engineering Works, a firm located at Ntinda Industrial Area.

Bukenya said the machine would revolutionalise rural housing.

"This is the future. Fabrication is the way forward for countries like Uganda. China and India are ahead because they can make their own equipment. This proves that we can make other machines," he said after churning out bricks.

One of the pioneers of the machine, Ranjit Sagoo, said the gadget uses a 5-horse-power single cylinder engine for compressing bricks out of murram.

Sagoo said it consumes an average of six litres of diesel every eight hours, and churns out about 65 bricks an hour.

"We can modify it according to your recommendations so that the bricks are suitable to Ugandan circumstances. Within weeks, we shall have finished the recommended modifications," Sagoo said.

Also present were the pioneer chairman, Ajit Sagoo, and another partner, Gurpreet Sagoo.

Bukenya said he was looking forward to launching a house built out of the fabricated bricks.

"If the bricks are light, it will be possible to transport a pack to a location and build a house almost immediately. Pioneer has made the lives of over 18 million people easier," he said, adding that the machine would improve the people's well being.