Kampala — Uganda plans to be a leading producer of bio-diesel next year.

A local company Africa Power Initiative (API) is in the advanced stages of producing 60,000 litters a day from locally grown jatropha and other oil seeds in Uganda's north-eastern region of Karamoja.

The project, the only one of its kind in Africa that fully integrates the local community, was kick-started in April this year, and is the brainchild of a API in partnership with American and local investors.

The farm located in Karamoja's southern most district of Nakapiripit district, employs over 500 people on 2,000 acres of land.

Jatropha yields more than four times as much fuel per hectare than soy bean and 10 times than maize. An acre of jatropha produces 4,675 litres of fuel.

Oil seeds will be crushed at the farm and the oil transported to Kampala for refining. Jatropha seeds are crushed, to gives jatropha oil that is processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel that can be used in a standard diesel car or engine.

API's research department in Kampala is the advanced stages of using the residue to process biomass for electicity, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers and industrial chemicals.

API chief operating officer, Engineer George Kodet, a Manchester University educated engineer and a partner in the project says, "This is a dream come true."

The Namalu farm where the API project is located, is along a former cattle raiding route at the centre of some of the former worst raiding areas on the continent.

That has changed now with the API initiative.

"The workers on these farms were former raiders and unemployed youth and women who are now happy to earn and live peacefully. As a result of this project, there are no more raids in this area," says Mr. Marcos Bitew, API Group CEO.

The same is echoed by the army Division Commander, Brigadier Patrick Kankiriho.

"We are working very closely with these communities. But really credit goes to API. Because these people are benefiting in this development venture, we have zero cases of raiding." The brigadier believes it is such initiatives that will put a lasting stop to cattle raiding in the East African region. Raiding is common in neighboring Kenya districts of the Turkana, Pokot, Jie and Kalenjin.

The project has attracted both local and international attention. Last week, top local and foreign government officials and investors from the Gulf States toured the project. They were led on this tour by the minister of state for Karamoja, Mr. Aston Kajara and API's Mr. John Baptist Kisembo.

"These foreign visitors have come to learn from Karamoja. This shows that this region has a lot to teach the outside world that cattle rustling can stop if development issues are addressed," Kajara said.

"I am impressed by this project and now believe that areas in my country that are marginalized and semi-arid can be made productive. I have learnt this from Karamoja," a top foreign dignitary said.

When the East African Business Week visited the farm recently, a large group of women were at work, men tilling away on tractors churning out billows of smoke as they planted rows of jatropha, donkeys being cursed with whip as they ferried jerrycans of water to prepare food for the army of workers in what is arguably Africa's last kept energy secret.

The air around Namalu village is one of expectation hope and to borrow Obama's election catch phrase, 'Yes we can' spirit.

Why is this so? Karamoja occupies close to 10% of Uganda's land area. It borders Kenya to the east and Southern Sudan to the north. This region is East Africa's most backward area characterized by traditional centuries' old practices of cattle raiding and fighting.

Further still, API has designed an energy saving stove which uses brickets made from the husks from all the farm's weeds and waste. The eco-friendly brickets, burn without producing smoke, are three times cheaper and burn three times faster than ordinary charcoal.

API is looking to expand these projects in other disadvantaged and conflict wreaked areas of the country. Already they are looking out to start in Uganda's western districts of Kasese and Bundibugyo.

As part of their corporate social responsibility, API has assisted a primary school on the farm with over 300 pupils by providing them with mosquito nets and stationery.

The API Foundation plans to build a 100-bed hospital in Namalu. The company in May fixed 13km of murram road and built two bridges.