BIDCO Plant Site Chosen

Oct 28, 2003

THE Government has completed compensation evaluation for former occupants of land in Masese, earmarked for Kenyan-based edible oil products firm, BIDCO.

By Jonathan Angura
in Jinja

THE Government has completed compensation evaluation for former occupants of land in Masese, earmarked for Kenyan-based edible oil products firm, BIDCO.
Jinja mayor, David Wakudumira (right) said, two occupants had been using the 20-hectare piece of land for dairy farming and would receive compensation by next month.
Wakudumira was on Saturday addressing a news conference at Sunset Hotel Jinja, on the latest business developments in the municipality.
“We are soon handing over the land to BIDCO to carry out its investment,” he said.
The Jinja municipal council allocated the land to BIDCO last year, but nothing had been finalised until now prompting widespread complaints that the bureaucracy would frustrate the investor.
BIDCO is also carrying out a palm oil production project in Kalangala district.
Wakudumira said the Ripon pier on Lake Victoria, south of Jinja town, was now operational and urged the business community to use it for shipping in and despatching their goods.
He said with the support of the World Bank, the port and its surrounding areas would be developed into an export promotion zone (EPZ).
“The pier and areas around it have a lot of potential to make the place an EPZ,” Wakudumira said.
Wakudumira said the Steel Rolling Mill of East Africa Limited in Masese, that has been undergoing refurbishment into a more automated complex, would soon re-open.
The plant is owned by the Madhvani Group.
Meanwhile, timber traders have asked the President's office to stop officials purportedly from State House from confiscating their products over 'illegal timber cutting, reports Charles Kakamwa.
The group allegedly under the Timber Monitoring Unit on Tuesday raided Spire road in Jinja. town and confiscated three trailers full of
timber worth Sh 14 million.

Ends

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