Hon. Grace Kwiyucwiny, the State Minister for Northern Uganda commissioned gem Farm Bridge located in Atiak Sub-County, Amuru district on the 3rd of March, 2022.
In 2018, an investor by the names Horyal Investment Holdings Company Ltd. made a proposal to the government for land to be given in Atiak, Amuru District for the firm to commence growing of sugarcane with the primary objective of setting up a factory to produce sugar.
In line with the NDP III, one of the ways in which employment is sought to be created is through industrialization. Accordingly, Government was very receptive when M/s Horyal Investment Holdings Company Ltd. proposed a partnership to build a sugar factory in Amuru; availability of sizeable arable land being seen as a key factor that could contribute towards success of the venture.
According to the Permanent Secretary’s Project report read by the Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Eng. Steven Kitonsa, the perceived benefits of the project were multi-fold. Employment would be created for those directly working in the factory; sugarcane out growers would have a steady market; there would be sugar for export leading to the country earning foreign currency and the livelihood of the people in this Northern region would be improved.
Once the land was secured, the Ministry was requested to urgently assist in providing a bridge across River Unyama in the vicinity of the factory at Pacilo. The bridge would reduce the distance that out growers would have to transport their sugarcane to the factory by about 35km.
The Ministry contracted M/S marvel Contractors and Road Maintenance Ltd, a local firm to construct a bailey bridge. The works commenced in September, 2018 and were complete by august 2019; with a defects liability period that ended in July 202. The contractor carried out the works at a sum of UGX 1,918,313,620.
The 30m span Gem Farm Bridge seats across River Unyama providing a direct link to about 15,000acres of sugarcane out growers from the Districts of Lamwo, Gulu and Adjumani.
While commissioning the bridge, Hon. Kwiyucwiny noted that the land under suger cane cultivation is relatively large allowing for diversification.
“This project undoubtedly has the potential to contribute significantly towards the socio-economic transformation of this region; and make for hastening the country’s attainment of the middle income status,” she said.
“I would like, therefore, to call upon M/s Horyal Investment Holdings Co. Ltd. to manage this enterprise very well. This should include good quality products, good marketing skills and strategies, fair prices given to farmers, support with seed and other inputs at fair prices where possible, and diversification of products from only producing sugar,” the Minister added.