A new sugar factory is expected to begin production in Amuru district in July 2017, the company owners said on Monday at a meeting with local leaders and the community at the factory site in Gem village in Attiak Sub County.
Dr. Amina Hersi Morghe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Horyal Investment Holding Company Limited which owns the factory told leaders from the Acholi region and the community in Attiak that the factory will produce 50,000 metric tons annually.
Horyal Investment Holding is a Kenyan based company. Dr Amina Hersi Morghe, a Kenyan of Somali origin said her company has its eyes set on the South Sudan market. The factory itself is located about 20 miles from the South Sudan border.
Dr Amina revealed that at full production, the company will employ 1,500 people and offer market for 5,000 out growers. The sugar from the factory will trade under the name ‘‘Attiak Sugar.’’
Local Leaders Hail Investor
Several of the local leaders at the Monday meeting hailed the Dr Amina Hersi Morghe for what they said was a right approach to acquire land for investment in Acholi.
Among the leaders who attended the meeting included Kilak County MP Gilbert Olanya and newly elected Amuru Chairman Michael Lakony. The duo have been in the frontline in their opposition to the Madhavani group’s desire to acquire land for another sugar factory in Lakang, also in Amuru district.
Also at the meeting was DP President Norbert Mao, Deputy Speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah, former leader of Opposition and MP-elect of Agago North Prof Ogenga Latigo and the Prime Minister of Ker Kwaro Acholi—the Acholi cultural institution—Ambrose Olaa, among other political and traditional leaders.
Horyal Investment Holding Company Limited acquired the 2,000 hectares of land from the family of Omaya John under an unspecified arrangement.
Currently, technicians are working on the main building of the factory with only a handful of equipment installed.
Jobs for Youth
Gem village, like many other villagers in Acholi during the conflict between the Lords Resistance Army and the Ugandan government was once a hot bed of conflict. But locals are hoping that the new factory will help turn around their fortunes and offer them jobs.
It is also hoped that the factory will spur growth by attracting other amenities like schools, hotels and roads.
Already the investors have said that besides the sugar factory, they intend to set up a university in the same area.
We Are Not Against Investors
Kilak County MP Gilbert Olanya dismissed claims that leaders from Acholi are against investors. Rather, he said, they are against unfair methods used to acquire land from communities.
Olanya said that only investors who acquire land by negotiating directly with the land owners and not through force and the use of third parties will be embraced.
Agago North MP elected, Prof Ogenga- Latigo urged the community to embrace investment on their land saying it is the only way they can benefit from it.
Prof Latigo cautioned politicians from the Acholi region against politicking on land matters.
In February 2012, while visiting the factory, the minister of trade, industries and cooperative, Amelia Kyambade said over the years, demand for sugar in Uganda has overwhelmed Kinyara, Scoul and Kakira—the three major sugar factories in the country– leading to shortages.
Minister Kyambade revealed that the three factories produce only 270 metric tons annually and yet the demand for consumption is 788 metric tons.
The new factory in Attiak will address local demands but also eye the foreign market, especially South Sudan that already enjoys good trade relations with Uganda.
A source told Acholi Times that completing the factory is expected to cost between 70-100 million US dollars. The source said 60 million US dollars has already been injected in for initial work on the factory and opening of land.
6 Comments
And what about the people of west Africa? Their lands were taken away by private investors too. This land thing Acoli people should be careful with it. Pingo pe Acoli guyubbe ci gutim gin ma kit man gin ki komgi?
Acholi themselves should organised and be the investors themselves
How much money do you think we are talking about here? Don’t imagine something in the region of a corner shop my friend. Acholi people are too poor for this kind of investment, a working partner such as this one is where we are today and in a foseeable future.
, that is if we want to face the truth.
Fred McKenna what world are you in? Are you saying that all Acoli people are too poor to raise the kind that meets up with this woman’s wealth? Do you know how many Acoli who own hotel businesses? Or do you think we are only capable of building one dukan? You research what has happened to the people in West Africa, South Africa, etc then come and write here that it is okay to do deals like this? Apwoyo omera.
Acoli will never learn and always crates problem to themselves. How rich so far Basoga region who started growing Sugarcane and Sugar production before ever we were born? Acoli can not organize and form up a group that can grow rice, wheat or any other cash crops and get market out side the country?
Have we done the feasibility study of waste management from these factories? How will it affect the soil and water in the surrounding area?
Acoli are dome, cramped up in densely populated city of Gulu, wasting time in betting shops, gambling in trading centers. How much money will be paid to cane cutters?
James thanks for that point. These leaders in Acoli should be investigated. Myero kitim gin mo pi oyot me jukko gin matye ka timme ni . The vast community are still emerging from the genocide, still in a traumatized state then one so called clever rich investor comes to use their lands before the people have recovered? How many Acoli children in Uganda and outside the country who have no lands?