VP Alupo orders urgent action to save Teso’s orange farms

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Vice President Jessica Alupo has tasked the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to prioritise the control of pests and diseases affecting orange production in the Teso sub-region.

The directive followed complaints raised by orange growers during her visit to the Soroti Fruit Factory on January 10, 2026.

VP Alupo said oranges are one of the key commodities capable of transforming livelihoods in Teso and must be protected.

She added that government will ensure fruit farmers receive the necessary support to promote orange growing across the sub-region.

James Small Chemutai, the deputy resident city commissioner, said government’s commitment to supporting the Soroti Fruit Factory marks an important milestone in efforts to improve the livelihoods of the people.


Farmers said that if government helps them address the challenge of pests and diseases, they will earn a steady income from orange production.

Lawrance Emoit, the manager of Teso Tropical Fruit Cooperative Union (TEFCU), said the sub-region has 61 registered cooperatives that require government support through the fruit factory.


Felix Angeki, the quality assurance manager at the Soroti Fruit Factory, said the factory continues to struggle with limited market access.

He added that during the current season, the factory has purchased more than one million kilogrammes of oranges, although the target stands at two million kilogrammes.


Soroti Fruit Factory started commercial fruit processing in April 2019 and operates with a shareholding structure where the government holds 80 per cent through the Uganda Development Cooperation (UDC), while farmers, represented by TEFCU, own the remaining 20 per cent.

In June 2024, Chimaki Agro Ltd took charge of the factory's operations on behalf of government. With an impressive capacity to process six metric tonnes of fruit every hour, the facility transforms purchased fruits into puree, concentrate and ready-to-drink juice, marketed under the name “Teju Juice” (TEJU).

The Teso region stands out as Uganda's principal producer of citrus fruits, and this factory was specifically established to offer a reliable market for oranges and mangoes, while tackling the challenges posed by post-harvest losses.

Located in Arapai Industrial Park within the East Division of Soroti city, the factory sits approximately 299 kilometres northeast of Kampala.