Alebtong, Uganda — There was Joy and optimism that filled the air in Apala Sub-county on Monday, March 17, 2026, as the Apala Oilseed Processing Factory was officially commissioned by the Ministry of Local Government, marking a major milestone in the economic transformation of Alebtong District.
The grand commissioning ceremony was graced by a delegation from the central government, with the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magezi, represented by a senior government official, Resident District commissioner ( RDC) Okiswa Geoffrey, who served as Guest of Honor. The factory, whose construction began in August 2022, finally became operational after overcoming delays, primarily due to late connection of electricity.
Constructed by Afro Clearing and Forwarding Co. at a cost of approximately UGX 577 million, the facility is expected to become a game-changer in the region’s agricultural value chain. It is designed to process key oilseed crops such as sunflower, soya beans, simsim (sesame), and groundnuts (gnuts), providing local farmers with a reliable market and spurring agro-industrial development.
In his remarks, RDC Okiswa praised the people of Alebtong for their overwhelming support for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the January 2026 general elections, citing the district’s impressive 82.02% vote in his favor. “Your loyalty is being rewarded through development,” he said, linking democratic participation with tangible economic progress.
He further highlighted the factory’s potential to create direct and indirect employment opportunities, boost household incomes, and transform subsistence farming into commercial agriculture. “This factory is not just a building—it is a pathway to prosperity, empowerment, and wealth creation,” he declared.
He urged local farmers to take full advantage of the region’s vast fertile land to scale up cultivation of oilseed crops to supply the factory with raw materials. He emphasized the importance of land ownership security, advising farmers to acquire Certificates of Customary Ownership to protect their investments and enable access to credit.
To enhance agricultural productivity, he encouraged the use of seed capital and support from various National Resistance Movement (NRM)-led empowerment programs, including: Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Youth, Livelihood Program (YLP), Uganda Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP), Grow Uganda and Agriculture Credit Facility
“These programs are designed to put resources directly into the hands of the people. Use them wisely to multiply your harvests and build sustainable businesses,” the official added.
Farmers in attendance welcomed the factory with enthusiasm but raised practical concerns, requesting a tractor and a lorry truck to improve transportation and post-harvest handling. They also appealed for an improved road network leading to the factory, currently hampered by poor tarmac and seasonal impassability.
Acknowledging these concerns, the government delegation pledged to lobby relevant ministries and development partners to address the infrastructure needs. “We hear you, and we commit to advocating for these critical inputs and services,” the Guest of Honor assured.
The event was attended by top district leadership, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Chairperson of the Local Council 5 (LC5), Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), District Resident District Commissioner (DRDC), and Acting Resident District Commissioner (ARDC), among other dignitaries.
Local leaders hailed the factory as a long-overdue investment in rural industrialization. “This is the dawn of a new era for Alebtong. No more will our farmers sell their sunflower and groundnuts at throwaway prices. We now have value addition right here at home,” said the Alebtong LC5 Chairperson.
The factory is one of the four projects Alebtong benefited from under Local Economic Growth Support LEGs program 1 of MoLG
Others are
1. Alanyi Gravity Water project, 1.2billion
2. Alebtong to Ajuri Market road to be named Magezi Road
3. Alebtong Market Shade
The district has been enlisted to benefit from LEGs 2.
As celebrations continued into the evening with cultural performances and community feasting, the people of Apala looked ahead with hope, confident that this oilseed factory would be the engine that drives their journey from poverty to prosperity.
