For so long, residents of Kassanda and neighbouring districts have been known for maize growing.
When Kenya banned Uganda’s maize recently, many of them were worried, wondering whether they would continue to earn from their sweat.
However, as these fears go on, the residents have a reason to smile after getting a new sugar factory, Kassanda Sugar, in Bukoba village, Nalutuntu sub-county.
Kassanda Sugar is expected to employ thousands of casual labourers and out-growers.
“We are left with a few months to start producing sugar, but we need a lot of sugarcane. We are encouraging residents to register so that they can work with us as out-growers.
“They will be growing sugarcane which we shall buy from them,” Ronald Baraza, the Kassanda Sugar agricultural manager, said.
Baraza was on Saturday, March 13, speaking during the luncheon for the company’s workers as they celebrated starting the last phase of the completion of the factory.
He estimated that they would need over 10,000 out-growers, each with at least four acres of sugarcane.
Although the factory is still under construction, the company is currently employing over 500 casual labourers.
Ismail Nassif, the operations manager, said they are targeting to have the biggest number of workers from Kassanda and other parts of the country.
When the Kassanda Sugar project kicks off, it will be expected to produce over 1650 tonnes of sugar per day.
This will help to stabilise or reduce the prices of sugar in the country.
Nassif said the company will employ over 3,000 workers when it starts operations.
Reaping big
The residents in the neighbouring villages of Kyakatebe, Kakungube, Kyanamugera, Kisaana, Kanamukwiri, Bukompe, Bukoba, and others are already reaping from the fruits of the company as the road from Kakungube trading centre to the factory has been constructed.
Electricity has also been extended from Kakungube through these villages to the farm at Bukoba.
“We are happy with what we are seeing even before the company starts producing sugar,” Julius Lutaisire, one of the local leaders, said.
-New Vision