Established in 2022, CN sugar factory has encountered alot of challenges that have hindered its construction to take shape.
The company filed an application to establish a sugar mill in Namayingo district on September 30, 2022 and a letter of No objection was established from the ministry of Trade on November 08th 2022, however this was short-lived as the same ministry under the stewardship of Hon Francis Mwebesa on the 17th June 2014 revoked the same citing failure of the company to establish a nucleus estate of cane totaling to 500 hectares.
Such created anxiety within the community of Namayingo. Led by the district chaiperson Ronald Sanya among other leaders, petitioned the 1st deputy prime Minister Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Office of the president, the minister of Trade, Industry and cooperatives protesting the stoppage of their only investor who had commenced developing a sugar mill.
In a petition signed by over 5000 locals and leaders, they urged that CN sugar was the only hope of employment to the many people that had been chased out of Lake, the district was eyeing it as a source of local revenue, hopes for infrastructure development through the social cooperate responsibility among others.
The process also saw some angry youths storm the streets of Namayingo to demonstrate aganist the closure of CN sugar that had already employed close to 600 people.
However, on 05th July 2024, the minister of Trade Hon Francis Mwebesa okayed CN sugar to go on with their activities as they look forward to pursue an operational license.
On 09th August 2024, the vice president of the republic of Uganda Rt Maj Jessica Alupo laid a stone for the construction of CN sugar factory the first ever mega investment in Namayingo district. The colorful ceremony at the site of CN sugar Mill was graced by a series of dignitaries ranging from political leaders, religious leaders, cultural leaders and the locals.
Namayingo district leaders; Ronald Sanya the district chairperson, Hon Margret Makoha the district Woman member of Parliament and Hon Odwori Micheal Odwori the Namayingo South County legislator commended government for finally accepting CN sugar mill to take shape in Namayingo.
“Our dear Vice President we are too joyous today, its a remarkable day to us the people of Namayingo, it has been a journey full of huddles to have CN sugar factory here, the people you see around are now ready to vote for president museveni in the forth coming general election as they now have an alternative source of employment having been chased from the lake, we are so excited” said Ronald Sanya in his address.
The district Resident commissioner Mr David Kulaba Isabirye said as he addressed the vice president that there’s a sigh of relief in Namayingo as the battle to have CN sugar factory constructed wasn’t an easy one.
” Madam Vice president, I was deployed here by president Museveni to promote development not to suffocate it, however, I was about to ask for a transfer as I saw some people who would have been promoters of development fighting CN sugar, so unfortunate !!, never the less I am extremely happy today that we have had the construction launched. Namayingo people, i am one of those who want to see you employed because when you have jobs the burden of criminality detoriates ” said Kulaba.
Namit Patel the proprietor of CN sugar factory commended the president of Uganda Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for allowing them invest in Uganda. He said, they have so far invested close to 35 US million dollars and ought to employ over 2000 local people.
Namit however asked government to expedite the process of issuing them an operational license such that they embark on production as soon as possible.
In her speech delivered by the 3rd deputy prime Minister Hajjat Rukia Isanga Nakadama, the Vice president congratulated the district of Namayingo of having their first ever mega investor.
The Vice president however cautioned those fighting and defrauding investors to stop it as they are enemies of development.
She asked CN sugar to also explore other opportunities in Namayingo as the district is endowed with a series of minerals like the white lake sand that is used in the production of glasses.
The Vice president also asked people with small portions of land not to go in for sugarcane farming but rather leave it for those with big chunks of land.
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