Don't Frustrate Atiak Sugar Factory- M7 Warns Residents

President Museveni has said any person who is against urbanisation especially through industrialization is an enemy of Uganda.

Museveni made the remarks while touring Horyal Investment Holding Company in Gem Pacilo village, Atiak Sub-County, Amuru District.

“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.

The company is owned by businesswoman, Dr. Amina Hersi Moghe.

The president made the visit to assess the progress of the enterprise which runs Atiak Sugar Factory.

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 come 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 there are those who want to do some good work,” he said.

President Museveni explained that Atiak Sugar Factory was a useful growth stimulus, saying that the project will benefit all the people in Acholi and neighbouring areas.

“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.

Museveni further commended 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.

During the same event, President Museveni promised to reward the family of the late John Omaya for their strategic move of giving land to Dr. Amina to set up the facility. On the other hand, President Museveni advised smallholders 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.

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.

The minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs,  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,” Mao said.

On her part, Dr. Amina thanked the government for the support towards her company that has enabled them to register progress.