By Spy Uganda
The minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon Frank Tumwebaze has pledged to lobby for support from the government to help the Soroti Fruit factory and ensure mass production.
Tumwebaze made the comments while touring the factory located in Soroti city on Wednesday saying the government will support the factory to reach its full potential.
Chief Executive Officer of Soroti Fruits factory, Mr Douglas Kakyukyu Ndawula told Minister Tumwebaze that while they could have earned more revenue from selling fruit concentrates, soft drink companies are opting to use imported products.
“We have reached out to Coca-Cola, Riham Cola and other players in the industry but still they continue to import,” Ndawula revealed.
However, Tumwebaze, in response, asked for assurance from Mr Ndawula that they have to built enough capacity to feed the local demand.
“I want to know can you be competitive?” Hon Tumwebaze asked. “Because we have to work with our colleagues in the trade ministry and explore what measures can be put in place to promote local content. However, we need to be certain that you can compete favorably”
The factory, which was the brainchild of Teso Tropical Fruit Cooperative Union (TEFCU), was launched in April 2019, with main objective of tapping into the plentiful citrus fruits grown in Teso sub-region for profitable production of oranges and mangoes. Of the recent, the factory’s mango line, hasn’t been working but during Hon Tumwebaze’s visit he was assured by Mr Ndawula it’s being fixed and it will be operational soon.
“It’s only the orange line that has been functional but as you can see the mango line is being fixed,” Mr Ndawula said pointing at technicians fixing the line. Another challenge that would be addressed through additional funding, was the production line which he said is small thereby leaving them uncompetitive. “What we produce in 48 hours,” he said. “Our competitors do it in just a few minutes. We need to improve our production capabilities if we turn this it a big commercial entity.”
@GovUganda will support Soroti Fruit Factory to achieve its potential ~ .@FrankTumwebazek
The leadership at the factory said they had improved their product in response to feedback from the market #AgricultureUG https://t.co/LFCffZlneG pic.twitter.com/kFm96sHqrF— Charlotte Kemigyisha, MCIPR (@Charlie_Kemi) July 22, 2021
Hon Tumwebaze, who was accompanied by Hon Hellen Adoa, the state minister for fisheries advised Soroti Fruit Factory to leverage state-owned media houses to advertise their products.
In October 2019, Soroti Fruit Factory produced its first processed product, the Teso Juice christened ‘Teju’ and Ndawula told the minister that while they get mangoes from Kasese, the oranges are got from the districts that make up Teso sub-region.
