Uganda’s Silk Industry Faces Unprecedented Threat Amid Minister Musenero’s Alleged Sabotage of TRIDI Sericulture Project
The Tropical Institute of Development Innovations (TRIDI) has raised alarms over alleged sabotage by the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero, in relation to Uganda’s Sericulture Project. TRIDI, which has championed the national silk production initiative, claims that Minister Musenero’s interference is undermining years of progress and could damage Uganda’s burgeoning silk industry, which has already garnered international recognition.
TRIDI has pointed to a series of troubling actions by Minister Musenero, including violations of court orders and legal directives, as well as her attempts to undermine the project’s progress. The Minister’s most recent interference took the form of an unauthorized visit to Kween, where she made public statements that TRIDI claims were misleading and damaging to the project’s reputation.
The Sericulture Project, which aims to make Uganda a global player in silk production, has been one of the country’s most promising initiatives. However, Minister Musenero’s actions—including withholding crucial funds and making false claims about financial mismanagement—have stifled the growth of the project. The funds in question had been approved by Parliament for the fiscal year 2022/2023, but the Minister’s refusal to release them violated both the Public Finance Management Act and an active High Court injunction prohibiting interference.
In response, TRIDI has accused Musenero of attempting to take control of the Sericulture Project’s assets and infrastructure, including land and facilities. This alleged attempt to hijack the project has further escalated tensions and risks derailing the nation’s efforts to grow its silk industry.
One of the most devastating consequences of the Minister’s actions, according to TRIDI, has been the destruction of vital project assets. TRIDI reports that arson attacks on mulberry gardens, worth over 20 billion shillings, have caused irreparable damage to the project’s infrastructure. Mulberry gardens are a key component of silk production, and their loss represents a severe financial blow.
The attacks followed Musenero’s controversial visit and public statements in Kween. The alleged link between her remarks and the subsequent destruction of critical project assets raises serious concerns about her role in inciting community unrest and stoking hostility toward the project.
Before Musenero’s interference, the Sericulture Project had made substantial progress. The project was lauded for its transparency, receiving four consecutive clean audits from the Auditor General, and its operations had been fully approved by the Inspectorate of Government. With a total investment exceeding UGX 85 billion from both the government and TRIDI, the project had already created thousands of jobs and demonstrated considerable promise for the national economy.
To date, the Sericulture Project has established over 34 operational stations, developed mulberry gardens in 22 districts, and attracted international attention from countries eager to replicate Uganda’s success in silk production. Additionally, TRIDI has established a silk reeling factory and trained over 200 Ugandans in various aspects of the sericulture value chain.
Despite these impressive achievements, Musenero’s actions have put the future of Uganda’s silk industry in jeopardy, particularly after funds meant for further development were withheld and employment targets were stunted.
TRIDI has called for an immediate investigation into Minister Musenero’s role in the destruction of the project’s assets and the ongoing interference that has stifled its growth. The organization is urging authorities to hold the Minister accountable for her actions and ensure the release of the withheld funds, which would help stabilize the project and facilitate job creation for thousands of Ugandans.
“We call on the relevant authorities to take swift action to protect this critical national project,” said Emma Walimbwa, Director of Partnerships and Capacity Building at TRIDI. “The Sericulture Project has the potential to transform Uganda’s economy, and it is imperative that we protect it from deliberate sabotage.”
With Uganda’s silk dreams hanging in the balance, the future of the Sericulture Project remains uncertain, and all eyes are on the authorities to resolve the growing conflict between TRIDI and Minister Musenero.
As Uganda continues to make strides toward industrialization and economic development, the TRIDI Sericulture Project stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through public-private collaboration. However, with key investments at risk and a potential setback for thousands of Ugandans involved in the project, the nation’s silk dreams now face an uncertain future.
