By Okumu Livingstone Langol
Eng. Okot Akena Ogik, the person who leased out land to Horyal Investments Holdings Company Ltd. (HIHCL) Welcomed Atyak Chief Rwot Richard Santo Apire, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, and Dr. Amina Moghe Hersi of HIHCL to Atiak Sugar Works, noting that a lot of activities have since been executed at the sugar works.
For starters, Eng. Okot Akena Ogik earlier transformed the land located at Gem Village, Pacilo Parish, Atiak Subcounty, Amuru District that he leased out to HIHCL from a customary land to a freehold prior to the lease offer for 49 years amidst contestation from his siblings, Peter Okee Ogik and Emmanuel Ogik.
Eng. Okot Akena Ogik noted of Dr. Amina thus, “she (Dr. Amina) is the only one black African to come up with a sugarcane factory South of Sahara Africa, she came here during the time of war, we are proud of her because she put Pacilo people on the map of the world. “Today, I am one of the people who are just very happy, I am praying to God to let our people be happy. “I thank Rwot Richard Santo Apire for coming here,” he said.
Dr. Amina Moghe Hersi, in her welcome remarks to Rwot Richard Santo Apire was candid. She said, “first of all, I thank God and I thank Rwot Richard Santo Apire for his coming here.
“If anything, God has made history here in Atiak, I started business when I was 9 years old, because I grew up in the area where sugar cane plantation began, when the Kenya government started to empower the community, which is when I learned how to be involved in sugar cane plantation,” Dr. Amina informed.
She said for sugar cane plantation to succeed requires risk takers. “When I installed the sugar factory, I thought my problems would be solved, and that the Atiak Sugar factory would translate into a food basket for Northern Uganda, and for Atiak in particular.”
Norbert Mao, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs first welcomed and thanked Rwot Santo Richard Apire for the goodwill, gracing the occasion and later praised the family of the late John Omaya who was the father of the leasee for their land offer.
“We have been asking when Rwot Santo Apire is coming here to visit Atiak Sugar Works,” he said. He noted that the sugar works establishment was not free of conflicts and family disagreements. “Development is not easy, conflicts are always there,” he noted.
Turning to Dr. Amina, Mr. Mao said, she should know that she is now part and parcel of the Acholi people. “The light that she has shone here, she must know that she has become an Acholi,” Mao said.
“This is a new chapter in Acholi, we must guard this project jealously,” Mao said. He said any success story undergoes some tests, sometimes disenchanting ones. He said way back in 1991, after graduating from Makerere University Law School, he applied to be enrolled in the Uganda judiciary, but was rejected.
“When I asked my uncle, Justice Ralph Ochan, who was one of the penalists during the interview, he told me that I had passed very highly, but they could not give me that job, because I had a led rebellion at the University. “But now who is the head of that Ministry?” Mao triumphantly boasted.
“When we talk about disagreement, you can agree to disagree, that does not mean you are enemies. “When I was the Chairman Gulu District, Dr. Amina came and wanted to developed a plot here, I chased her away, but when I wanted the sugarcane project in Atiak, I went to her,” Mao informed.
“Today should be a milestone, pe waloko gang wa me Acholi odok gang me kisirani, (we should not turn our motherland into one full of bad things) “We have huge percentage of arable land in Acholi Sub-region. “This land is a food basket for Uganda,” Norbert Mao said.
Rwot Richard Santo Apire said he had come with an olive branch, “there has been a turbulence, I took time to come here in Atiak Sugar Factory. “Although I disagreed with in the manner of how the land was given away and the issue of compensation to the Pacilo people, I now believe in it” the chief said.
“I look at this sugar factory as a development in Uganda. “This project comes with 100 percent project responsibility like accommodation, health care sectors, education sectors and hospitality that will be a cornerstone for the Atiak community,” the chief noted.
“I have brought projects like Bamboo trees which should have been planted in Okidi areas, but the documents are still with company registry. It is from a German sponsor worth US$700 million that can employ 1,000 people. “But I have already taken it elsewhere in Acholi areas where I have been moving to mobilize the people,” Chief Santo Apire informed.
Rwot Santo Apire, reassured Dr. Amina Moghe Hersi of his support to settle any disputes that arises concerning the sugar project.
He said he was appalled by the heavily mechanized and smart agriculture that has come to his chiefdom, that seems at par with sister factories at Lugazi and Kakira in Buikwe and Jinja districts respectively.
Rwot Santo Apire was accompanied by Rwot John Ogenga Obita of Labongo Amida, Rwot Peko Lugai of Pajule, and Rwot Opobo of Pabbo. They were taken to Atiak Sugar cane tour, where they saw overhead irrigation dam, and expressed appreciation. (See photos below)
Rwot Richard Santo Apire (4th from right), Dr. Amina Morghe Hersi (3rd right)and other Acholi chiefs during the Atiak Sugar Works visit on September 6, 2024 (Photo by Chowoo Willy).
Rwot Richard Santo Apire (5th right) and other Acholi chiefs during the visit to Atiak Sugar Wprks, September 6, 2024. (Photo by Chowoo Willy).
