During a caravan of its own comprising young entrepreneurs, more than 20 young entrepreneurs make stopovers to interact with inspiring farmers along the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) route from its terminal in Hoima District through 10 districts to the Uganda-Tanzania frontier.
The delegation had a stopover between Nalweyo and Kakumiro town in Kakumiro district where a woman identified as Francina Kisembo, an employee of Mr Emmanuel Baguma explained that she was selling at least 50 pineapples on the roadsides every day. Each pineapple goes for Shs1,000 to Shs4,000.
Entrepreneurs including Catherine Tuhaise who deals in juice selling services on Hoima Main Street in Hoima city, said that she had identified an idea of keeping in touch with the pineapple seller instead of looking for such from distant areas which increases the costs.
Nasser Bbiira Kiwanuka, the Executive Director for Recreation for Peace and Development (RDP) Uganda, said that they had organised the trip in partnership with Centre for Innovation and Incubation of Ideas to help the young entrepreneurs appreciate the nexus between the infrastructure development induced by the oil sector in Bunyoro, the rural farmers and their businesses.
He emphasised the need for business people to appreciate the numerous opportunities presented by the oil sector rather than direct ones which he said are in most times too competitive and demanding huge casual labour.
At Kigoma village in Kitayigwa sub-county, Mubende district on the Kakumiro-Mubende Road, the caravan had the third stopover at an inspiring farmer, Dan Bwambale.
The farmer has established a key project for fruit, coffee and banana growing and cattle rearing on a small piece of land producing throughout the year.
He has established a water tank and solar panels to facilitate water supply all over the farm.
In Mubende, the delegation interacted with Counsel Joshua Akora, who said that as a member of the legal profession, they had benefited from the oil related developments through litigation.
“Some people got money for compensation and their ability to access legal services increased and the number of law firms stationed in Mubende district has increased in the recent past,” he said.
While in Masaka city, Fred Kayiiya, the businessman cum Country Director for Forever Foundation, welcomed the idea of facilitating interaction between the peers along the EACOP and those from other oil projects areas.
Didas Muhuumuza, a Professional Partnership Broker and Engagement Expert says, such drives help to establish beneficial partnerships and collaboration among local stakeholders in the oil and gas areas.
He said that in partnership, they emphasise exchange visits to share knowledge and show possibilities amid challenges.
RDP Uganda says, they intend to hold more trips where people along the EACOP corridor including Greater Masaka will also visit the Bunyoro region that hosts the EACOP terminal and other strategic projects of Tilenga and Kingfisher among others.
Good piece of work, some correction on Kayiira,that activist that talked to the group in Masaka. And May be the demonstration farm for EACOP was not reported, and lastly, The pictorial of all that was reported should have enriched the literature the more. Otherwise a good work done.