Government boosts trade in Buvuma with bigger ferry

By Doreen Musingo

The Government has embarked on boosting business in the islands of Buvuma district by providing the business community with a new ferry. The Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi said the Government had finalised the process of acquiring a ferry.

Mbabazi explained that the ferry that plies the Kirongo- Kiyindi route limits traders on the amount of goods they transport to the mainland markets.

“I am reliably informed about the new ferry but you should use it to access the outside market. Most people here are farmers and with the new and bigger ferry you will not be limited on the amount of produce you transport, ”Mbabazi said. He made the remarks recently while addressing the Buvuma district business community.

The Buvuma Resident District Commissioner, Apollo Bwebale, said the current ferry was small. Bwebale explained that Buvuma has vast economic activities which include fishing, timber, charcoal, upland rice and Matooke which communities depend on. He added that according to engineers who operate the two engine ferry, it has a capacity of 60 tonnes.

Mbabazi said with the new road unit in place, his ministry expects the district leadership to open up more roads that would be used by farmers to access markets for their produce. “Open up more access roads so that people can be able to reach the market  catchment areas both on the islands and the outside market,” he urged. He asked the district authorities to put the road unit to its proper use and avoid selfish interests.