BUSHENYI – The board of directors at the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development, now operating as the Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre, has announced plans to construct a mega warehouse to store matooke during bumper harvests.
The move comes in response to persistent complaints from farmers, particularly during dry seasons, when excess matooke ripens in plantations and is wasted due to lack of storage or processing capacity.
“We are very much aware of this challenge. Many farmers want to supply more bananas, but we’re limited by our processing capacity,” said Prof Florence Isabirye Muranga, executive director of the centre, while addressing journalists at the Bushenyi factory.
She explained that the decision followed a dialogue with farmer cooperatives, during which consensus was reached on the need for large-scale storage to manage seasonal gluts.
“I am happy to report that government has agreed to support the construction of a mega warehouse, and we hope it will be completed within the next two years,” Muranga added.
However, some farmers from Isingiro, Kiruhura, and Ibanda districts have expressed concern about the high cost of transporting matooke to Bushenyi for processing.
In response, the government is planning to construct another industrial technology park in Nshara Ranch, Kiruhura District, to serve those areas.
“Government has already secured 450 acres of land along the Mbarara–Masaka road where the new technology park will be built,” Muranga noted.
“It will scale up our capacity through automation. You’ll feed in the matooke at one end and get flour at the other—with minimal human handling.”
The banana processing factory, established 20 years ago, has so far received over Shs200 billion in government investment.
It has secured product certifications that will allow Tooke products to enter international markets.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the board has put in place systems that could support operations even in the event of reduced government funding, though they do not expect such support to cease any time soon.
“We are grateful to government and Parliament for the continued support. This entire initiative is a brainchild of President Museveni and our scientists,” said Dr Frank Mabirizi, chairperson of the Board of Directors.
“This factory already generates Shs4.5 billion annually, and this figure will double or triple once the Kiruhura facility is operational.”
As the factory prepares to mark 20 years of existence, the board also noted that extreme climatic changes remain a significant challenge, particularly in matooke production and supply stability.