{UAH} Best PLE student wins state house scholarship as...

President commissions fruit factory in Luwero
February 19, 2014

President Yoweri Museveni has awarded an impromptu state house
scholarship to Master Kawuta John Baptist who emerged best student
from Luwero district in the primary leaving examination for his hard
work. Kawuta has been admitted to Kings College Buddo.

The President who was on a tour of various projects in Luwero had just
laid a foundation stone for the Africa Tropical Organic Fruit
Processors and Exporters Ltd (ATOPE) in Kasiiso, Luweero District
where he pledged to empower farmers directly.

The President said he was disappointed that agencies such as the
National Agricultural Advisory Services' (NAADS) performance has been
poor despite the heavy funding from government for the last ten years.

"We have used about 800 billion shillings in the NAADS programs in the
last ten years but with no visible results. So a fresh program is
going to be launched to help farmers but not through NAADS because
coordinators were using the funds to pay themselves salaries and not
for the benefit of farmers," he explained.

Invoking a Luganda proverb "ekittatta muyima tekimumalako ente nze,"
literally meaning life is more important to a herdsman because he can
always have more ows, the President assured farmers that a lot is
going to be done to empower them in their activities.

The ATOPE factory processes fruits such as oranges, pineapples, jack
fruits, carrots, green paper and pumpkins into natural fruit and
vegetable juice and nectar blend. The factory operates under the
guidance of food science and technology experts from Makerere and
Kyambogo Universities.

The President also commended the factory director Edith Wamala for
bringing the factory home to empower the local people and pledged to
link her with other investors that can help her improve the factory
and ensure availability of the required fruits.

The President urged Ugandans to work towards shifting from using
manual labour to that of industrial system because it has proved more
efficient, cleaner and of greater impact, thus the way to go not only
in Uganda but universally.

He donated Shs 50 million towards development activities of Tukolere
Wamu Women's Group of Kasaana Piida in Luweero. He challenged the
chairperson Mbabazi Joyce to double their efforts if they are to
benefit more.

The area Member of Parliament Hon. Abraham Byandala commended the
President for the support towards the factory which he says helped
significantly in keeping it in shape. He also commended the director
Ms. Wamala for the initiative which is symbolic of the women's
contribution towards the fight against poverty.

He used the opportunity to express the people of Luweero's gratitude
for the resolution passed in kyankwanzi that endorsed the President
for another term in office, adding that it represents the interest of
all Ugandans. He also commended the President for agreeing to sign the
controversial homosexuality bill.

The President later paid a courtesy visit to the late Wamala
Seraphinos home in Kasaala. The late Wamala is the father to the Fr.
Henry Wamala Mukasa of the Catholic Church of Kasana Luweero dioceses
Kiwoko Parish and is the Presidents' strong supporter.

END.