Oyam: Rice processing machine lies idle for years due to inadequate power supply

OYAM, August 18, 2025 –– A rice processing machine worth Shs 150 million, installed for Aber Commercial Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited in Lwala village, Wirao parish, Aber Sub-county, Oyam district has remained idle for over four years due to the lack of sufficient electricity supply.

The rice huller, provided by the government in 2021 under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project [ACDP] with support from Sasakawa Africa Association [SAA] and the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda [DINU], was intended to boost local rice production and processing in Oyam district.

However, according to Hassan Ocen, Chairperson of the cooperative, the absence of a stable power connection has rendered the machine redundant, forcing members to sell unprocessed rice at lower prices or take it elsewhere for processing.

“Without electricity, farmers are left with no option but to sell their unprocessed rice to middlemen at cheap prices,” Ocen said. “Some members have even abandoned rice farming entirely, switching to crops like soybeans and maize that are easier to manage after harvest. We’re losing value, and the cooperative is incurring losses.”

Previously, the cooperative supplied up to 500 tonnes of rice to the National Agricultural Research Organisation [NARO] for seed multiplication. But today, its capacity has dwindled, along with members’ morale.

Geoffrey Onapa, the cooperative’s General Secretary, said they are unable to meet the cost of connecting to a three-phase power supply.

“It would cost us around Shs 60 million to connect the machine to power, which we simply cannot afford at the moment. We lack income-generating assets,” Onapa explained. “We are now lobbying for a power connection not only to enable value addition but also to ease the burden on farmers who are forced to seek processing services elsewhere.”

Onapa believes that access to reliable power would significantly improve the factory’s productivity and uplift the livelihoods of local farmers.

“With adequate electricity, we can process raw produce locally, create jobs, and strengthen our members’ economic resilience,” he added.

Joyce Akidi, a member of the cooperative who has since shifted to maize farming, said the lack of electricity has negatively impacted farming operations and income.

“This machine used to help us add value to our produce and sell at better prices. Now, we’re forced to sell our crops raw and cheaply,” she lamented.

Albino Cox Ogwal, Oyam District Production and Marketing Officer, acknowledged the challenge and said many cooperatives that once processed agricultural produce are now non-operational due to power supply issues.

“The lack of electricity has discouraged farmers, as unprocessed produce fetches low prices. If we can ensure value addition, we will attract more farmers and improve incomes,” Ogwal said.

He also noted that some operational agro-processing units in Iceme Town Council and Myene Sub-county, designed for cassava and maize flour respectively, rely on fuel-powered generators to stay functional.

Meanwhile, Jonan Kizza, Head of Corporate and Stakeholder Affairs at Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited [UEDCL], advised the cooperative to consider pursuing a private connection arrangement if government support is taking too long.

“If the cooperative feels delayed by the current government programme, they can write to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Ministry of Finance to request an opt-out, so they can pursue a private connection,” Kizza said. “This would allow them to begin operations sooner.”

Oyam district currently has seven agro-processing machines distributed across various sub-counties, many of which face similar challenges related to power connectivity.

https://thecooperator.news/youth-cooperative-in-lira-city-seeks-coffee-hulling-machine/

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