By Jaspher Ouni
Lira– Newly appointed Ugandan Ambassadors have been urged to connect local farmers and industrialists to foreign markets.
The call was made by Bosco Ogwang Edola, the Director Chamber of Commerce for North and Eastern region during a visit of the Ambassodors to Lira City on Saturday.
Ogwang notes that Lira has over 250 small and medium scale industries covering all sectors of the economy.
These, he says, are supported by the availability of raw materials which are produced in abundancy within the Lango Sub region.
Ogwang however, noted the challenge of lack of machinery for post harvest handling.
“Lira is rich in almost all the required basic infrastructure thus making it able to sustain any form of industry set up in the city.” Said Ogwang citing availability of electricity, water, land and good road network as well as railway line among others.
Deo Kibirige, the Mt. Meru Millers Ltd spokesperson said they are on truck of getting good markets for their farmers.
“We have 300 workers, 500 farmers’ groups and over a hundred village agents.” Said Kibirige during a tour of the Ambassodors to the factory in Lira City on Saturday
However, he notes challenges of poor infrastructure, high cost of power/fuel and need to support farmers to increase production of grains.
Kibirige asked government to regulate and direct financial institutions to put in place affordable agricultural loans to boost production.
Lira Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Egole told the ambassadors that Lira is one of the peaceful cities in Uganda.
He notes that Lango still has opportunities for investments in the tourism sector among others.
Meanwhile, at the invitation of their Colleague Paul Amoru Omiat, the Ambassodors made a brief stopover at Adwoki Technical Institute on their way to Lira City.
They were warmly welcomed by the Executive Director of the school Sam Omiat.
The school which offers a variety of technical courses has some 1,000 students, out of whom 400 are females.
The school appealed for technical equipment to help in the impartation of skills.
The Ambassadors gave inspirational messages to the students.
The gathering was treated to cultural performances in which the Ambassadors participated.
Some of the Ambassadors on the guided tour by the Foreign Affairs Ministry include Paul Amoru (South Africa), Doreen Amule ( France), Col Fred Mwesigye (Tanzania) Lt. Gen Charles Angina (Deputy Ambassador to Egypt) and Alfred Nam (Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria).
The tour comes ahead of the Ambassodors’ retreat scheduled for Monday 14th – Friday 18th March 2022 at National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi.
