By David Rupiny & Babra Nambuya
Staring out as a basic bakery in 1986, Ntake is now transforming into one of the biggest edible oil refineries in Uganda and the East African region.
The multi-billion-shilling Ntake Edible Oil Refinery is nearing completion in Namanve Industrial Park, thanks to Uganda Investment Authority that offered land for its construction.
Fully Ugandan-owned by renowned businessman, Dr. Gaster Lule, the edible oil refinery, in addition to processing cooking oil, will also make soap, industrial fat, margarine, as well as their packaging materials.
At leat 471 workers are involved in the construction stage. On completion, the refinery will employ 300 workers directly, and over 1,000 indirectly. Ntake Group of Companies, which dabbles in other products like confectionaries, flour and serviettes, among others, already employs 1,426 people directly.
According to the Project Manager, Nicholas Seruyange, the refinery is expected to go on line in May, with full production starting in June, of this year. He says the refinery will have a capacity of 200 cubic metres (20,000 litres) of edible oil per day.
Seruyange says Ntake is exploiting the gap in Uganda’s and the region’s edible oil sector, hence the mega refinery. According to State Minster of Finance (Privatisation and Investment), Hon. Evelyn Anite, Uganda’s edible oil import bill alone stands at over one billion dollars per year.
Seruyange says initially they will import the raw material – palm oil – but will progressively reduce the imports by creating local supply lines.
He adds that the Ntake Edible Oil refinery is testament to efforts by the Government of Uganda to create an enabling environment for investment and business, as well as support domestic investors to thrive.
He says more and more investors should set up shop in Uganda because it pays!
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