ALEBTONG, March 25, 2026 — Government has constructed an oilseed processing factory in Apala Subcounty, Alebtong district, as part of a broader national initiative to enhance agricultural value chain, boost local economic growth, and reduce the importation of edible oils.
The project, launched in 2022, was officially commissioned and handed over to the Apala Area Cooperative Society Limited on Tuesday. It was funded through a loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development [IFAD] and the OPEC Fund for International Development [OFID] under the seven-year [2021–2027] National Oil Seeds Project [NOSP].
The facility located at Okalapany village aims to support smallholder farmers by providing a ready market for crops such as sunflower and simsim, thereby boosting production and increasing household incomes.
The Chairperson of the cooperative, Christopher Acar, expressed appreciation to the government for establishing the Shs 570 million facility, noting that it is the only processing factory in the district.
He said it would encourage sunflower production, promote the use of quality edible oil, and enhance the sale of processed agricultural products.
Acar revealed that the cooperative currently has 328 members and plans to recruit more to ensure sustainability.
“We are planning to expand our membership and strengthen business along the sunflower value chain,” he said.
He added that byproducts from sunflower processing would be sold to farmers as animal and poultry feed to generate additional income and support the facility’s sustainability.
“We are encouraging farmers to engage in poultry keeping and livestock rearing to diversify income sources,” he added.
Acar also appealed to the government to provide a tractor to boost production.
“The factory processes 10 tonnes of sunflower daily, and without a tractor, meeting this capacity will be difficult,” he said, adding that they aim to become a leading oil producer in northern Uganda.
The facility includes two large storage units, each capable of holding about 10 tonnes of sunflower for bulking purposes.
Grace Abalo, a councillor, said the factory would enable farmers to add value to crops such as sunflower, simsim, and groundnuts.
She noted that although the area produces significant quantities of sunflower, farmers previously sold at low prices due to the lack of a processing facility.
“With this factory, farmers will no longer incur transport costs to Lira City. They can process their sunflower locally and return home with finished cooking oil,” she said.
She added that the cooperative would help farmers bulk their produce and secure better market prices. The facility will also handle maize milling and oil processing.
The Alebtong Resident District Commissioner, Geoffrey Okiswa, who represented the Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, congratulated the district upon acquiring the factory, noting its potential to create employment opportunities for the locals.
He urged farmers to take advantage of the fertile land by increasing the production of oilseed crops such as sunflower, soybean, simsim, and groundnuts to supply the factory.
Okiswa also advised communities to avoid land disputes and instead secure their land by titling it.
He further encouraged farmers to utilize government wealth-creation programs such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and the Youth Livelihood Programme.
“Use these initiatives to improve your livelihoods and achieve economic empowerment,” he said.
Assumpta Ikiriza Tibamwenda, Technical Adviser for Programme Support at the Ministry of Local Government, said Alebtong was selected due to its history of resettling formerly displaced persons returning to their ancestral homes.
She noted that although the current Local Economic Growth Support [LEGS] programme that funded the factory is nearing completion, the district is set to benefit from a new initiative focused on watershed development.
She urged the cooperative to maintain high standards and prioritize branding of their cooking oil to remain competitive in the market.
The Alebtong District LCV Chairperson David Kennedy Odongo expressed gratitude for the facility, reaffirming the district’s commitment to agricultural transformation.
“We are very happy as a district. Our vision is to improve agriculture, and this factory is a key part of that. I urge farmers to increase production to ensure the factory operates at full capacity,” he said.
https://thecooperator.news/alebtong-district-boss-lauds-isdb-for-financing-community-projects/
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
