Kampala — UNRELIABLE and interrupted electricity supply has hindered industrial growth, a minister said last week.

Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo, the industry state minister, explained that because of the unreliable electricity and high tariffs industrialists had been scared away from the country.

This, he added, had affected the industrialisation efforts.

"The unreliable power and high tariff structures have forced industrialists to run to other countries. Let us be hopeful that the Bujagali power project will help us curb the 'migration'," said Lokodo.

The minister was addressing industrialists and researchers at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) over the weekend.

This was during the commemoration of the Industrialisation Day.

Lokodo said in 2003, industrial coverage was projected to grow at 6% by 2007 but it had only realised a 2% increase. Lokodo was, however, hopeful that the development of a five-year thematic industrialisation paper and the championing of the One Village One Product strategy would boost the industrialisation process.

The One Village One product strategy was rolled out early this year to boost economic transformation and help local communities think-locally and act globally, by promoting the growth of common products within an area.

The strategy is being piloted in the Bushenyi, Masaka and Soroti districts.

Prof. Charles Kwesiga, the UIRI chief, said the Government should strengthen capacity building for technical schools as well as re-doubling the political will to industrialisation.

He added that line ministries should be streamlined to oversee science, industrial and technology innovation development.