President Commissions Multibillion Sugar factory in Amuru

Friday, October 23, 2020

ATIAK, AMURU DISTRICT: President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned the multi billion shillings Atiak Sugar Factory in Atiak sub county, Kilak county, Amuru district, 85 Km from Gulu City on Gulu-Nimule road.

The colourful ceremony yesterday October 22, was witnessed by both Uganda and Somali top government officials including the First Lady of the Republic of Somalia, Saynab Abdi Moallim.

The President said that countries that have fully achieved their economic growth built their base on the principle factors of productions inlcuding land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship adding that the forth factor incorporated entrepreneurship with knowledge into production to accumulate their wealth.  

“Uganda as a developing country is still lacking three elements; capital, knowledge added to entrepreneurship skills to develop further. My people in Uganda, if you want Uganda to develop, you must have these factors. Ensure that the natural resources; land, minerals, forests, rivers among others are exploited,” he said. 

It was established after a feasibility study, that sugarcane can grow in the area way back in 2016 under the initiative of Ms Amina Morghe Hersi, a Somali entrepreneur, who together invested with Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) that possesses 40% of total investment.

In May 2018, the government of Uganda, through the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), took a 10.1 percent ownership in Atiak Sugar Factory, for an investment of USh20 billion (approximately US$5.5 million).

“It’s true Uganda has some entrepreneurship capacity but it is not enough, therefore, capital, entrepreneurship and knowledge should be adopted to add on what is available to develop like other countries,” he said. 

President Museveni cautioned Ugandans against claiming that  foreign investments belong to foreignors and not Ugandans. 

“Investments on Ugandan land belong to Ugandans not the investors because the citizens are the prime beneficiaries through employment opportunities, taxation that promotes national economic growth, etc ,” he said.

He saluted Ms Amina for her vision of starting sugarcane growing in northern Uganda, hence the Atiak sugar factory. 

“It has added sugar capacity as a commodity for internal consumption and export alongside Kakira, Kinyara and Lugazi factories. Amina is a freedom fighter like Museveni because she does not give up,” he said.

He thanked the people of Atiak for embracing the investment and called on those who were agiant the investment to join them. 

“Let those who have been confusing us come and join us. We respect them. We shall receive them,” he said.

Prior to the commissioning ceremony, President Museveni was taken on guided tour of the factory covering 15.1 KM across the sugar cane plantation to the banks of River Aswa where a bridge will be built across the river to ease transportation of sugar cane to the factory from across the neighboring districts.

Mr. Abid Mohamud, an official of Atiak Sugar Factory informed the President that when the sugar cane growing had just kicked off, the production of canes was 20 tonnes, but with the application of chemicals and fertilizers the production has increased to 45 tonnes.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah referred to President Museveni as a great hunter whose idea has taken shapesuccessfully. 

“Mr. President, you had a vision, knowing what works and what does not work. This is a success of an idea that has taken shape and transformed the area,” he said.

The Minister for Trade Michael Werikhe Kafabusa said they are committed to work with Atiak Sugar Factory and UDC management to ensure economic transformation.

Ms Amina the proprietor said that this is a clear testimony of economic transformation in Africa. 

“The war times in the minds of the people in the area will be put in the archives. Over 5000 women are today beneficiaries of the factory by affirmative action.  A wealthy woman is a wealthy society and a wealthy nation,” she said.

She thanked the president for his support to the investment saying that his dream has been achieved.

#ENDS….

President Museveni some years ago had vice president whose middle name was Balibasekka, a proverb from Uganda, those people who where laughing at me let them come and see me now.

When we were fighting Bashir in Sudan would come to Ngomoromo to see whether our guns working now I saw a huge plantation. I had slept abit on Chopper then thought am I in kakila or what.

This is a great victory for the people with eyes against the blind, but now only blind but selfish parasites. Because some who where opposing project are members of parliament and they get good money. I have never seen them opposing my money. They oppose other things nut not money. Get their salaires- check how much. Theire is a plan to bring some money to people here and they are fighting that they are fighting NRM. There reasoning is isf no progress after some years NRM will be blamed.

What ever plan for the people NRM brings they must fight it.

In 1960s up to 1970, I was a member of DP in my area, but government in power was UPC, I could not say my people can stay without progressing because waiting for elections by UPC

I worked with UPC, as long as I didn’t threaten their power, they even helped develop my area. That area now is now big producer of milk but that programme started and VP John Babiiha. Although I was not a member but when I went to him to change people from traditional cows to milk, he was vry happy.

Because what we do we do for the people. All those people long gone but the people and their children have moved forward.

These projects like Kakira where strated by Europeans. Europeans went long time ago but projects going on. I congratulate you for resisting satan here. 

This is a big gain for you people, how? 

1. Even if you didn’t own shares in project, the near your home. Your children will get jobs in plantation, and in factory.

2. If you have got agriculture products, food etc, the project has gathered for you big consumers for you to feed them. I produce milk in Rwakitura but my milk in Rwakitura I sell it 600shillings a litre. In Kampala a litre is 1200/= Milk in Rwakitura better than milk near Kampala. In Kampala add water. But farmers near kampala getting more than me with better milk. What is the difference? Those near Kampala have big consumers. To get a project that gathers many people is big market, price goes up.

People have told me Gulu town has grown a lot because of Gulu University. When we created that university, it created a big market, houses to rent etc

3. the sugar produced. Instead of importing, it will be made here and we shall be exporting. But with sugar cane not only sugar, we produce ethanol which is like petro. You have two factories of sugar and ethanol means more jobs bigger market.

The residue of sugar cane for animal feeds. That is another factory.

When you chew sugar cane and remove juice, spit what is a resource it is from that that is burnt and get electricity. Those factories in jinja produce electricity to power themselves and sell to government.

I thought the factory belongs only to the investor, improved arrangement that much of the sugar cane grown by local farmers assisted by government and investors. Each family get five acres for sugarcane for sell to factory.

For somebody to fight this is a witch.

It is shameful to even spend a week defending this. Atiak sugar has now taken off. Sugar plantation is here and am going to open factory.

Firefighters in Nakasongola. In the dry season will deploy them

 

The President awarded certificates which guarantee ownership to cooperators

Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Vincent Ssempijja said this is the biggest public private investment in northern Uganda. Under your leadership, peace returned to Uganda which laid firm foundation for investments like this.

The districts of household beneficiaries Adjumani, Amuru, Lamwo, Gulu will be allocated five acreas of already planted sugar cane fillits. 

Each Household will earn Shs 3.6 million shillings peracre after deductions, 18 million per farmer from the five acres.

 

 

 

 

Minister of disaster preparedness and refugees, minister of state for environment

 

Dan Kidega on behalf of board of directors Horyal Investments Holding Limited holding thanked him and his government for providing a condusive climate environment for investment in this country

“Specificall thank him for providing condicinve envormn in Acholiland. Several years ago this particular beautiful land was infested with wrong elements of bandits and nothing would be done here. but with your hard work and resilience of our gallant soldiers, today we are here in heaven on earth

His Highness Rwot Ayuu alali, host chiefdom provided 15000 acres of land for sugar production sugarcane, out of the many Chiefdoms chiefdom standout strongly in welcoming investoment and supporting rural transformation and agriculture roduction

 

Rwot Billi Richard Onyach 11,Onyat Richard Billy of Ayuu Alali community devoted and accepted this project through attitude and vision very interested in the project he has brought.

Among 42 chiefdoms of Acholi, community developed plan of how to productivel and economincally utilize their land and other resources, tree planting with view of improving incomes , leasing land for investment and community embrace commercing transform from subsistence to commercial 

Community agreed to sugar cane production, allocated 15000 

Grateful for what has been done, Ayu alai Sugarcane outgrowers  cooperative society limited

Thanked the President for Comprehensive poverty eradication plan with focus on increased household income, first of its king in Uganda history. Welcome more govt projects that improve welbing of our people

Regretted that some political actors whose interest was to sabotage a multi billion project. Had a lot of interference from political leaders

Odonga Otto, Gilbert Olanya who incited the people to protest against the investment challenging the legality of the project forgetting that they

Called for maximum cooperation from all stakehiolders to ensure successful project.

The farmers atiak sugar outgrowers cooperative society, ayuu alali cooperative society, gem panyiro cooperative society

Hon. Hillary Onek Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees and MP for Lamwo, we are proud of this development, I was insulted by political opponents who don’t see beyong what they eat. we must make sure we chase away poverty. We have to develop Acholiland. Let them abuse but we shall be counting money. This project has brought money economy to the grassroots.

Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar Acholi if land of opportunities, ready for development. Commited to provide treeseedlings to the chiefdom to protect the environment.

The headquarters of the company and the main factory of the company are located in Gem Village, Pachilo Parish, Atiak sub-county, Kilak County, in Amuru District, in the Northern Region of Uganda.

The new sugar factory, has a capacity to crush 1,650 tonnes (1,650,000 kg) of raw cane daily, producing 66,000 tonnes (66,000,000 kg) of powder sugar annually.[5] Commissioning of the factory was expected in May 2016, with first distribution of sugar planned for June 2017. The factory will employ over 1,500 people and has contracted with over 5,000 out-growers. The owners of the company have established a working relationship with Gulu Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (GWEAL), whose objective is to develop Northern Uganda

President was on tour of Atyak Sugar plantation health facilities in Adodi Ayuu Alali village, Lukung subcount in Lamwa District. This plantation is under Horyal investment holding company.

President was on tour of Atyak Sugar plantation health facilities in Ayuu Alali village, Lukung subcount in Lamwa District. This plantation is under Horyal investment holding company.