Finance Minister Matia Kasaija has inspected progress of construction works at the Yumbe Mango processing factory in Yumbe District, where he called upon the leaders and farmers to harmoniously work with other Partners to ensure that the project is operationalised in the short term.
Government through NAADS has so far invested 11.9 billion shillings for civil works, procurement and installation of the factory equipment. The factory now in its final phase of construction has procured a contractor to undertake all external works including the fruit receiving shade.
Kasaija who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Defence in charge of Veteran Affairs, Huda Abason Oleru said the people of Yumbe should know that this factory is owned by Government, Scientists and the Farmers, adding leaders should at this point encourage farmers to establish kagogwa mango gardens to be able to effectively supply the factory with the required raw materials.
“You should be charged and angry to move things in the right direction. We should leave here when we are resolute to ensure that this work is completed,” said the Finance Minister.
The Director and Project Manager, Prof. William Kyamuhangire, a Scientist from Makerere University Department of Food Science and Technology said the project which began in 2013 in the laboratory was aimed at addressing industrialisation in the agriculture sector.
He said suitability analysis of the fruits found that the pulp yield was as high as 50% and the threads were less even 4%, with desirable sugar content and appetising flavour. He said construction of the factory which started in 2015 had delayed to be operationalised due to Partners failing to agree on the modalities for the joint venture with functional management and Board of Directors through which government can channel the required working capital to do the final touches on the factory.
He said the project requires about 9 billion shillings to be fully functional. He said through their company FONUS, they spearheaded acquisition of land and well as all the consultancy and management services including the architectural plan valued at Uganda shillings 9 billion.
Prof. Kyamuhangire said the original Memorandum of Understanding by the three Parties had allocated 41% shares to the company (FONUS), 39% to Government (UDC) and 20% to the Farmers’ Cooperative Society.
He said the above position is being contested by some leaders in the District with a view of increasing on the shares of farmers and reducing on the shares of FONUS, adding that this issue should be well managed so that there is no further delay in the operations of the factory.
“This experience has taught us that working between scientists, government and the local people is a new concept that government can take up to increase production in the country,” said Prof Kyamuhangire.
Yumbe District Chairman Asiku Abdu Mutalib thanked President Museveni for fulfilling the pledge of the fruit factory, adding that they mobilising farmers to prepare them to deliver the required mangos to the factory once it becomes operational.
“Rural producer cooperatives and an Apex Aringa Fruit Farmers’ Cooperative society Limited have been forms, said the District Chairman adding that a special purpose vehicle, Nile Zila Limited has been also secured.
The factory with capacity to produce 70 metric tonnes of juice daily from 140 metric tonnes of mangoes is expected to become operational before June 2022 and the targeted market for the pulp include Coca-Cola,Britania and Riham, processors of fresh juice in the country.
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