MOROTO – Karamoja region has started preparing to enjoy the benefits of the minerals in their land after an investor established a marble crashing plant in Moroto.
The crashing plant built in Rwata village, Rupa Sub County Moroto district is established by MultiTask Services Limited and is owned by Mr. Mahad Kiwanuka a prominent businessman in Uganda was on Thursday commissioned in Moroto and tested after installation.
Calcium carbonate is got from white marble stones which are plenty in Karamoja region; it decomposes to form carbon dioxide and lime, an important material in making steel, glass, and paper. Because of its antacid properties, calcium carbonate is used in industrial settings to neutralize acidic conditions in both soil and water
It’s also used for making mattresses and in agriculture; calcium carbonate under the name lime is used as a soil improver.
PML Daily has learnt that this is the first factory of it’s kind to be constructed in Karamoja that will not transport raw materials outside Karamoja for processing.
Mr. Arnold Ananura projects manager speaking to PML Daily on Thursday, September 6, last week that the plan to construct a crashing plant in Moroto follows directive from President Museveni to all investors discouraging transportation of raw materials from Karamoja and process in other districts.
He said the plant in the initial stages will generate 800bags of 50 kg of calcium carbonate per day.
“Right now the plant will be making 800 bags per day because we are using generators but when power comes we shall go beyond 7,000 bags per day.
Currently, the government is constructing 132 high voltage power line from Jinja to Moroto for industrialization.
Mr. Mahad Kiwanuka the chairman of the company said he intends to employee not more than 400 children from Karamoja region.
“This plant will be managed by the sons and the daughters of Karamoja we shall train them on how to operate it we don’t need to bring other people outside Karamoja to work in this factory,” he said.
He promised that his company will also give scholarship to interested students to study engineering so that they can be in position to get engineering jobs.
Mr. Andrew Keem Napaja the district LCV chairperson Moroto said Karamoja can only change and develop through industrialization.
“Its only industrialization that cans our milestone towards development sort of that Karamoja will remain the same despite having a lot of minerals,” he said.
He hailed Mr. Kiwanuka describing his as serious investors compare to others who are briefcase investors moving with mining licenses without being on the ground.
Mr. Peter Ken Lochap, the Resident District Commissioner, Moroto said Karamoja was very peaceful and ready for development.
