AMURU – Amuru district local government has offered a total of 500 acres of land for the establishment of an industrial park.
The land, located in Lakang Sub-county was identified by the government and Madhvani for the establishment of a sugar factory. The land yet to be acquired by the government for the sugar project has not yet been verified and documented.
Currently, the government is in the final stages of completing payment to landowners who offered over 10,000 hectares.
Amuru district Speaker Jane Naku says that they are negotiating with the government so that the remaining pieces of land in the area earmarked for the sugar project are bought off so that landowners relocate for the project to eventually kick off.
According to Naku, the industrial park will not only serve Amuru and the Acholi sub-region but also West Nile districts from Alur, Lugbara and Madi sub regions since it will be situated around the banks of River Nile.
Michael Lakony, the Amuru district LCV Chairperson says that plan is for the business people to tap in and set up smaller industries alongside that of Madhvani.
Lakony says that with the anticipated surplus electricity that will be produced by biogas from the sugar factory that would possibly be sold to the national grid, smaller industries can benefit from such electricity supply for their business.
According to Lakony, the district is already in the process of planning Lakang Sub County which will host the factory to ensure that infrastructural development is guided and not scattered as is the case in other districts.
Change in position.
In a previous interview with our reporter, Lakony said the district was reluctant to give out land to the government for the establishment of industrial parks based on the fact that most of the land the government is interested in is free with minimal benefit to the initial landowners.
Now, Lakony says that the 500 acres they have earmarked and proposed to the government is to be bought by the government and not for free. He says if UIA is not willing to acquire the 500 acres, they will ask the owners to continue using their land until a willing buyer shows up.
Robert Okwera, a former landowner whose land has already been bought off by the government, observes that for industrialization and infrastructural development to take place in Lakang, especially with the sugar project, there will be the need for proper planning as the district pushes for the establishment of an industrial park.
Okwera notes that if not acquired by the government, chances are high that the locals will either be cheated or duped by fraudulent land dealers.
Pader and Nwoya districts are among the districts that have recently offered land to UIA for the establishment of industrial parks.
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