Kampala — Mukwano Group of Companies is in advanced stages of opening up an edible sunflower oil processing plant worth Shs33.4billion in Lira District.

The Operations Manager, Mr Robert Okello said the plant is in the trial stages and that production is set to begin next month. "We are hoping that by the beginning of November, we'll be through with the necessary trials on the plant," he said adding that the sunflower oil will be manufactured under the "sunseed" brand name.

Once complete, the Sunflower project will boost the company's production capacity from 200 tonnes per day to 500 tonnes.

At Shs350 per kilogramme, farmers are earning an estimated Shs12billion from the project per season.