Business
Minister rejects site for Luwero fruit factory
“We cannot construct in a wetland," said Bahati, who was in company of the state minister for finance (general duties), Cissy Mulondo. The two ministers had earlier visited pineapple farmers in Nakasongola.
Bahati said he would engage NEMA to assess the wetland before a final decision. (Credit: Frederick Kiwanuka)
By: Frederick Kiwanuka, Journalist @New Vision
LUWERO - The state minister for trade, David Bahati, has rejected a ten-acre site the government acquired to build a Sh20b fruit factory in Luwero, saying it is a wetland.
The government, through the Uganda Development Cooperation (UDC), plans to build a Sh20b fruit factory in Kagoye village, near Luwero town, targeting large fruit harvests in the region.
The proposed site at Kagoye village near Luwero town was provided by the Luwero district local government; however, during inspection earlier this week, Bahati said it was unsuitable because of being located in a wetland.
“We cannot construct in a wetland," said Bahati, who was in company of the state minister for finance (general duties), Cissy Mulondo. The two ministers had earlier visited pineapple farmers in Nakasongola.
Bahati said he would engage NEMA to assess the wetland before a final decision.
The new development has poured cold water on the hopes of pineapple farmers who are eager to realise the long-awaited implementation of the project, which has been in the pipeline for two decades.
Bahati said he would engage NEMA to assess the wetland before a final decision.
The new development has poured cold water on the hopes of pineapple farmers who are eager to realise the long-awaited implementation of the project, which has been in the pipeline for two decades.
The factory, which the Government promised to construct in the late 1990s, is meant to process the locally abundant pineapples and mango fruits into concentrates and ready-to-drink juice.
President Yoweri Museveni in 2012 directed UDC to undertake the project in a move to provide a stable market for the abundant pineapples that are grown in the area.
This was followed by the 2013 feasibility study which UDC undertook i to promote value addition to the locally abundant pineapples.
Luweero District Local Government responded promptly by availing 10 acres of free land at Kyevunze village near Luweero town, which UDC has failed to utilise for over 10 years.
During the site visit, Minister Mulondo revealed that the Government has included sh20b in this financial year's budget to cater for the implementation of the project.
President Yoweri Museveni in 2012 directed UDC to undertake the project in a move to provide a stable market for the abundant pineapples that are grown in the area.
This was followed by the 2013 feasibility study which UDC undertook i to promote value addition to the locally abundant pineapples.
Luweero District Local Government responded promptly by availing 10 acres of free land at Kyevunze village near Luweero town, which UDC has failed to utilise for over 10 years.
During the site visit, Minister Mulondo revealed that the Government has included sh20b in this financial year's budget to cater for the implementation of the project.