Christopher Kiwawulo
16 February 2004
Kampala — UGANDA is targeting 250,000 metric tonnes of silk yarn annually from the recently built silk yarn processing factory at Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute.
The Uganda Export Promotion Board director, Florence Kata said, "The plant constructed by the American government needs Uganda to utilise it at 75% if we are to receive more US funds."
Kata said this recently while addressing exporters at Uganda Manufacturers Association conference hall.
The factory has a production capacity of 13.5 kilogrammes of silk yarn per hour from 108 kilogrammes of silk cocoons.
Kata said the factory was previously producing 25,000 metric tonnes annually, which was very low for the export market.
She said the US government provided $245,448(about sh433.2m) for a silk reeling machine, construction of the factory and some working capital.
North, Buganda, West and East (NOBWE) Silk Development Uganda, a limited liability firm set up in 1986, is in charge of producing, processing and exporting silk.
Kata said Uganda has many more new high potential exports like the pyrethrum plant in Kabale which is one of the six best operating plants in the world.
She said bee and bee products, livestock, arts and crafts are among the others.
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