Summary:
Ugandan President Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has rallied leaders and communities in the Acholi Sub-region to support Atiak Sugar Factory, explaining the investment is a useful growth stimulus for the region.
President Museveni has rallied leaders and communities in the Acholi Sub-region to support Atiak Sugar Factory, explaining the investment is a useful growth stimulus for the region.
The President made the remarks on Saturday, April 13, 2024, while touring Horyal Investment Holding Company in Gem Pacilo village, Atiak Sub-County, Amuru District.
The company is owned by businesswoman, Dr. Amina Hersi Moghe.
“These MPs know how much Gulu University stimulated growth in Gulu Town when we built it. The students need where to stay and what to buy from shops,” the President noted.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni listens to Abdi Mahamud Mohammed (right) one of the directors of Atiak Sugar Factory in the presence of Amina Ahersi Morghe a director of Atiak Sugar Factory when the President was touring the gardens on the occasion of the president’s visit to assess the status of implementation of Atiak Sugar Project in Amuru district on the 13th April 2024. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.
“The land for this factory here is about 25,000 acres. The whole of Acholi is 27,000 square kilometres. Now what is 25,000 acres out of the 27,000 square kilometres? Now those people who are pushing that line of confusion are really enemies of Acholi but also enemies of Uganda and Africa,” he added.
Mr. Museveni said any person who is against urbanisation, especially through industrialization is an enemy of Uganda.
“Urbanisation especially through industrialization is very important for the area and anybody who really opposes that is either blind or an enemy of the people,” he said.
According to President Museveni, the people disagreeing over the land being used by Atiak Sugar Factory are opportunists whose aim is to divide the people of Acholi.
“We shall not allow any distortions created by any group like those Balaalo who were coming from the South. Why are you going to the North? To do what? Many of them don’t have good reasons because they misused their own land or underutilised it and then came to create confusion here. But there could be some who come for good reasons. Therefore, on one hand we don’t encourage those people who squander their land in other parts of the country and then come to do the same here but again in some cases, some want to do some good work,” he said.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni receiving a sculpture from the Atiak Sugar Factory director Amina Ahersi Morghe and her daughter during his visit to assess the status of implementation of Atiak Sugar Project in Amuru district on the 13th April 2024. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.
“If there’s anybody causing distortion, we shall oppose you, we are all here. I wrote my document, I want everybody to come back and we will discuss it and the other committee which we set up will move around, we shall get a solution,” he added.
Museveni lauds Dr. Amina over Atiak Sugar Factory
President Museveni commended the proprietor of Atiak Sugar Factory Dr. Amina for setting up the project and tasked leaders such as Members of Parliament to support the investment so that it can achieve its goal.
“I really want to thank Amina for starting this project. I’m glad, what is happening is good, we can build on it,” he emphasized.
“The strategic vision is that by producing sugar, we stop imports. Suppose we were importing sugar; how much money would be spent per year? If you are producing sugar and exporting it, there’s no way you can say you are making a mistake. If you start even if you don’t succeed in the first round, continue. I attacked Kabamba two times failing, but the third time I succeeded, that is why you see me here.”
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni listens to Abdi Mahamud Mohammed (left) one of the directors of Atiak Sugar Factory in the presence of Amina Ahersi Morghe a director of Atiak Sugar Factory and her daughter during his visit to assess the status of implementation of Atiak Sugar Project in Amuru district on the 13th April 2024. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.
Atiak Sugar Factory had in the past years temporarily stopped manufacturing sugar due to the shortage of sugarcane in the area.
President Museveni said he would meet Ataik Sugar Factory proprietors and Area Members of Parliament among other leaders to discuss a sustainable sugar production model.
Museveni urged smallholders to embrace the four-acre model type of farming
President Museveni advised smallholder farmers to adopt the four-acre model type of farming instead of growing crops like sugarcane and cotton if they want to make more money.
“When you read my books, I recommend products that have got national, regional, and international demand,” he said.
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa thanked President Museveni for his commitment towards prioritising industrialization as a pathway of wealth creation, employment and community transformation.
“I call upon our partners and stakeholders, other government agencies and Civil societies to support Uganda Development Corporation and Horyal in the success of the factory,” he said.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni delivering his speech during his visit to assess the status of implementation of Atiak Sugar Project in Amuru district on the 13th April 2024. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao said the project is based on President Museveni’s pronouncement when he unilaterally signed the Juba Peace Agreement.
“In your speech, you said you will industrialise Northern Uganda so that people can have jobs. We took that promise very seriously and based on that promise, we knew that as the guns were falling silent and peace was returning, it was important that Northern Uganda stopped being a burden on the economy of Uganda and also start contributing and to contribute you must use your greatest asset. Here we have land, that is how the family of John Omaya gave out land to Maama Amina to develop it.”
(Left -right)The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General Richard Todwong having a moment with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao during the occasion of the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s visit to assess the status of implementation of Atiak Sugar Project in Amuru district on the 13th April 2024. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.
On her part, Dr. Amina thanked the government of Uganda under the stewardship of President Museveni for the support towards her company that has enabled them to register progress.
She also assured the President that her company is ready to work with farmers and get a market for their produce.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija, Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Beatrice Akello, Members of Parliament, among others.
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Museveni: Atiak Sugar Factory to Benefit Acholi, Neighboring Areas
