Minister for General Duties, Kasule Lumumba, has raised alarms over the sluggish adoption of palm oil cultivation in Mayuge, Bugiri, Bugweri, and Namayingo districts, despite evidence that the soil in these areas is suitable for the crop.
Launched in April 2024, the Busoga Palm Growing Hub in Buwaya, Mayuge District, was designed as an alternative to sugarcane farming, which has had limited economic impact on the region.
However, the expected interest from local farmers has not materialised.
At a fundraising drive for women’s empowerment and the procurement of land for Buyego Health Centre II in Bunya East, Lumumba, who represented Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, urged the Basoga people to embrace palm oil farming.
She emphasised that the initiative was part of the government’s strategy to boost household incomes in a region that has long struggled with poverty.
“The government has invested additional funds to make this venture practical,” Lumumba said, urging farmers to seize the opportunity.
She also called on local leaders to support farmers by helping them access loans to sustain the project until the harvesting season, which is set to begin in four years.
Bunya East MP James Kubeketerya echoed Lumumba's concerns, pointing out that significant efforts are needed to encourage farmers to transition to a more profitable crop.
He referenced the success of palm oil farming in Kalangala, where it has greatly improved livelihoods.
Kubeketerya also highlighted issues around healthcare access in the constituency, where residents face long travel distances to reach medical services.
He attributed the problem to the government's phase-out of Health Centre IIs and called for a comprehensive plan to upgrade all Health Centre IIs to Health Centre IIIs to improve healthcare access.