KAKIRA – Kakira Sugar Works has started manufacturing pharmaceutical sugar which will be mixed with various medicines and syrups.
According to Kakira Sugar Works Director for Corporate Affairs, Mr K.P Eswar, they will be producing between 35,000 and 50,000 metric tonnes of pharmaceutical sugar every year.
“Our production shall increase (production) depending on the demand,’’ he said.
Mr Eswar asked government for protection so that imported refined sugar doesn’t affect the local industry.
“We need strict guidelines to be put in place so that the local industry is protected. Some countries produce large quantities of products and the surplus is dumped in our market,’’ he said.
The State Minister for Investment and Privatization, Ms Evelyn Anite, who was touring the plant, said Uganda has been importing refined sugar even when it has the capacity of producing enough sugar.
“We don’t have pharmaceutical sugar and sugar to use in the soft drinks like soda. I visited Coca-Cola industry and their refined sugar was imported from Egypt. The country currently doesn’t have high grade refined sugar,’’ she said.
Ms Anite said the Coronavirus has opened up our eyes because Uganda has been importing most of its items.
“We are currently promoting Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) by manufacturing our products locally. Ugandans must be able to enjoy our locally made products other than depending on imported items.
As a country, we have a high dependency syndrome and depending more on imported goods,” she said.