UDC Spends Shs108bn To Mechanize Atiak Sugar Factory

The Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) which is the Investment arm of the Government has invested a total of shs 108bn in the Atiak sugar factory based in Amuru district Northern Uganda to make it one of the best sugar factories in Uganda and East Africa.

The Executive Director of UDC Dr Patrick Birungi while inspecting the new machinery and the factory at large says UDC intends to develop the Atiak Sugar factory to be one of the best in the region.

"We have imported new machines that are tractors, sino trucks, bulldozers, irrigation machines among others to improve on the production," he says adding that all the pieces of equipment were purchased directly from the Manufacturers in Holland and China respectively. "70% of the total equipment is here and 30% will be here by November," Says UDC boss.

He adds that the landscape is being upgraded to allow easy and smooth planting of the sugar cane. "We have widened the roads in the farms to allow fire trucks to access the plantation in case of fire.

" He says adding that fire has been the biggest challenge affecting sugar production. He further says Dams are also under construction to help the supply of water during irrigation.

" with new mechanization, we want to expand the land from 10000 hectares to 20000 and it increases sugar production from 4000 tonnes daily to at least 10000 tonnes," he reveals. He says in the next 11 months harvest will be done.