President Museveni asks Teso farmers to utilize new fruit factory

By Moses Kidandi

President Yoweri Museveni has advised the people of Teso Sub-Region in Eastern Uganda to continue growing fruits because it is the medicine that will rid them of of household poverty and the venture commands global market as well.

The President was speaking at the launch of the commercial operations for Soroti Fruit Factory in Arapai Sub-County, Aloet village in Soroti District.

The factory that was financed by the Government of Uganda through the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) while the Korean National Cooperation Agency (KOICA) contributed US$7.4 million and employs about 150 people directly in the plant and about 1,000 farmers in the region.

President Museveni is now encouraging the people of Teso who had small land to stop growing cotton and go for fruits, dairy farming and fish farming because they are the products that can give money on a small scale piece of land.

Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Minister, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde, said that the launching of the fruit factory was a milestone in the revival of the economy. She added that the facility was the fulfillment of the NRM Manifesto of 2006. She thanked President Museveni for his support and political will.

The facility currently makes orange and mango juice and the future plans entail making a variety of fruit juices.

The Factory currently produces 96 metric tonnes of mango and orange juice per day but in its full operation, will employ 250 people directly in the factory and over two million in the production chain links in the Teso Sub-Region.