The Leader of Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi has expressed concern over the continued Government investment in the Atiak Sugar Factory based in Amuru district despite it being non-operational. 

In a statement to parliament, Ssenyonyi said the government has so far invested 553.7 billion Shillings in Atiak Sugar Factory but there is nothing so far to show of it.  

The factory is currently non-operational, not producing any sugar, and this raises concerns; given the Government’s intervention over the years.

The Factory’s Management intimated that the reason for non-production is because sugarcane is not readily available.

Ssenyonyi’s statement follows his and the shadow cabinet’s visit to the factory on October 7th.

Ssenyonyi also observed that the Management of the factory had abandoned the earlier model of planting 60,000 acres of sugarcane from Atiak across Lamwo district through farmer cooperatives and instead resorted to planting 25,000 acres of sugarcane in Atiak on the land owned by the factory.

He also noted that although the Uganda Development Corporation-UDC is supposed to be the overseer of the project on behalf of the Government, it has limited or no presence at all in the operations of the factory.

The Nakawa West MP also called for the Government to fast-track the conversion of its preferential shares into ordinary shares to increase its negotiating power, strong decision making and voting powers in the company.

By Our Reporter

23 Oct 2024

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