A Four million dollars mushroom growing farm has been opened in Nakaseke amidst protests from the residents and chairman Local leaders over lack of wetland permit from national environment management Authority.
A Four million dollars mushroom farm has opened in a wetland in Nakaseke district amidst protests from the residents and the Local leaders.
Hanhe (Uganda) farm is part of a multipurpose project of Hanhe International Company owned by a Habei province member of parliament in China Honorable Qui Li Jun.
The Hanhe (Uganda) Farm which deals in mushroom cultivation has started its operations at River Lugogo which is a tributary to Lake Kyoga at Kasambya village in Kasangombe Sub County in Nakaseke district and was opened on Thursday.
The public relations officer of Hanhe Uganda branch Muhamadi Bagonza, says that the company will produce 30 tons of mushrooms per day and will be sold in local restaurants and in London, United Kingdom where they are on high demand.
Bagonza says the company is training 39 out growers to boost a steady supply.
However the opening of the farm has sparked off mixed feelings from local leaders and residents.
Samson Lutwama a resident says the farm with multiple activities has been erected in a wetland which is a tributary to Lugogo River that flows to Lake Kyoga that and it may lead to environmental degradation in the area.
He adds that farm is diverting water flow of the river Lugogo without any regulation and the tributary that has existed for long time may be depleted and the community runs short of water and natural resource
The Chairman of Nakaseke district Ignatius Koomu Kiwanuka says that he was surprised of the company’s opening without a wetland usage permit. He claimed that the company has no wetland usage permit and there numerous activities could pollute the environment of the district.
Residents and chairman petitioned the National Environment Management Authority to intervene and regulate the operation of the farm on the wetland and the river.
But the public relation officer Muhamadi Bagonza says that they have written to NEMA seeking for the permit though his NEMA counterpart Naomi Karekaho denied receiving any application of the permit and vowed that the Authority will prevail on the matter.
However in the message delivered through the state minister for finance and planning Matia Kasaija on the opening of the farm, the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni applauded the project and says that it will lead to value addition of residents’ produce and create employment in the youth.
According to statisticts from Uganda Export Promotion board,Uganda earns over $1000 and ranked as the 83rd exporter globally.
