The Executive Director of Horyal Investments Holdings Limited, Mohammed Abdi Mohamoud says they have opted for the longer route because the poor roads make it impossible for trucks to access the factory using the shorter routes.
The Poor roads in Amuru District are hindering the transportation of
sugarcanes.
In 2019, Horyal Investments Holding Company Limited, the
proprietors of the Atiak Sugar Works in partnership with Ayuu Alali Sugarcane
Out-growers Cooperatives Society embarked on the plantation of over 15,000
hectares of sugar cane in the areas of Adodi in Ayuu Alali Parish in Palabek
Kal Sub County, Lamwo district.
However, with the first harvest currently maturing, the company is
currently transporting raw sugar cane from Palabek Kal Sub County in Lamwo
through Kitgum, Pader, Gulu, Omoro, to Atiak in Amuru district approximately
295 kilometres.
The Executive Director of Horyal Investments Holdings Limited,
Mohammed Abdi Mohamoud says they have opted for the longer route because the
poor roads make it impossible for trucks to access the factory using the
shorter routes.
The two shortest routes from the plantation to the factory include
the one which connects Lamwo through Palaro in Gulu district to Atiak in Amuru
district approximately 184 kilometres and that which connects Lamwo to Atiak
through Bibia which is only 36 kilometres.
Mohamoud says they cannot use the Palaro route due to the sharp
bends, steep terrain, its deplorable state during the rainy season and mass
traffic while the route from Ngomoromo-Adodi through Bibia to Atiak lacks
bridges across the river Limur and Aswa.
//Cue in: “have you been…
Cue out: …thirty-six kilometres”//
Mohamoud says the high burden of the long distance between the
plantation and the factory is costing them fuel expenses, driver wages, tear
and wear of vehicles and time involved in the delivery process.
Dan Kidega the Chairperson Board of Directors of Atiak Sugar Works
says the company is in negotiations with the government that has pledged to
intervene in addressing the transportation challenges by constructing a bridge
along the Limur and Aswa rivers.
According to Kidega, once completed, the road will not only help
the company in reduction of costs in transporting the sugarcane from the farm
gate to the factory mills but it will be of a social benefit to the community.
The Spokesperson at Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Allan
Ssempebwa says the road and bridges on the Ngomoromo through Bibia to Atiak are
among those that have been planned for construction.
