Yoweri Museveni is the President of Uganda
President Museveni is set to commission a Shs349 billion ($100 million) cassava processing plant in Kamuli District, aiming to transform the economic landscape of the Busoga sub-region ahead of the January 15, 2026, general elections.
On November 15, 2025, Museveni will launch his campaign trail in Busoga, which will conclude on November 21 in Jinja City.
During the tour, he is also scheduled to inaugurate the Kamuli starch processing facility, spearheaded by Dr Matthias Magoola of Dei BioPharma Ltd, which will provide a profitable market for local cassava farmers and create over 30,000 jobs.
The starch processing facility will require 500 metric tons of cassava daily, equivalent to 50 trucks, and is expected to directly create 40,000 high-paying jobs, officials said.
“We’re creating 40,000 high-paying jobs directly, especially in Busoga where poverty is high, not because people are lazy, but because they lack a market for their produce,” Dr Magoola said.
He added: “This factory is value addition, empowering locals and bridging the market gap.”
The facility will produce glucose, maltose, and fructose, marking the first large-scale production of these products in East Africa, and positioning Uganda to compete in global markets, including Europe, the United States, and China.
Dr Magoola said the initiative also aligns with President Museveni’s vision of empowering local manufacturers and generating tax revenue for the government.
“The biggest problem in Africa is that we lack technology. We grow cassava for food only, and we aren’t producing anything out of it. That’s why many farmers don’t have a market for cassava,” he said, noting plans to expand production to over 100 cassava-based products in the future.
Dr Michael Mugabira, Site Manager of the Busambu Village facility, urged farmers to focus on productivity and quality by adopting certified seeds and best agronomic practices.
“Our focus is now on productivity, as the market is secured,” he said.
Local residents welcomed the development. Mary Nabende, a Kamuli resident, said, “We’re happy to see this factory targeting cassava, our main crop. We’ve lacked a market, but this is an opportunity for us.”
Youth councillor Promise Viola Aliyinza said the plant would engage young people, channeling them into productive ventures.
“The youth were redundant, exploited, and into bad practices, but now they’ll be reconstructed, engaged, and earning,” she said.
Earlier this year, the Greater Busoga Sugarcane Growers Union (GBSGU) signed a memorandum of understanding with Dei BioPharma Ltd to supply cassava for pharmaceutical production.
Chairperson Godfrey Biriwali said cassava is faster-maturing and more profitable than sugarcane.
“An acre of cassava can yield Shs2.5m in 8 months, compared to sugarcane’s Shs3m in 18 months,” he said.
Kamuli district LCV Vice Chairperson, Sarah Sambya, called for farmers to embrace cassava as a sustainable commercial crop. “Cassava is more than just a crop – it’s a sustainable solution for food security and economic growth. Let’s shift from sugarcane, which has depleted our resources, to cassava, which offers a ready market and a greener future,” she said.
Dei BioPharma’s products have received certification from the USA Food Department for global use, further assuring farmers of a stable market and competitive prices.