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The Ugandan government, through its investment arm the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), has made an investment in Atiak Sugar Factory located in Amuru district.
Shs 108 billion has been dedicated to purchasing brand-new equipment, aiming to fully mechanize the factory's vast sugarcane plantation and propel it to become a leading sugar producer in the region.
Dr. Patrick Birungi, UDC's Executive Director, reaffirmed the government's commitment during an inspection visit where he observed the newly arrived machinery and the overall state of the factory.
"To significantly boost production, we've imported a range of brand-new equipment," explained Dr. Birungi.
This extensive list includes tractors, trucks specifically designed for heavy-duty haulage, bulldozers to manage the land, and advanced irrigation systems for optimized water management.
Dr. Birungi revealed these machines were procured directly from manufacturers in Holland and China.
The project is progressing steadily
70% of the equipment has already arrived at the factory site, with the remaining 30% expected to be delivered by November. Dr. Birungi also elaborated on ongoing efforts to improve the plantation's landscape, facilitating smoother sugarcane planting and overall farm management.
"Our ultimate goal is to achieve complete mechanization from start to finish," Dr. Birungi said, emphasizing the project's scope. "This encompasses everything from the irrigation systems to the harvesting process – the entire operation will be mechanized."
He added that training programs are underway to ensure staff can operate and maintain the new equipment effectively.
Beyond improved planting and harvesting efficiency, the project addresses a critical challenge – fire prevention. Dr. Birungi explained the use of part of the allocated funds to purchase four fire trucks specifically designed to combat fire outbreaks. These fires have historically caused significant damage to the sugarcane plantation.
"To guarantee a consistent water supply for irrigation, we're also constructing dams on the property," Dr. Birungi noted.
"With this new mechanization, we plan to expand our landholding from 10,000 hectares to 20,000 hectares," Dr. Birungi revealed.
Additionally, the Atiak Sugar factory itself is set for an upgrade, aiming to increase its sugarcane crushing capacity from its current 1,600 tonnes per day to a staggering 4,000 tonnes.