By Santo Ojok

Otuke

The government of Uganda has commissioned a multimillion business and governance center in Otuke District to boost trade. The Shs 1.59 billion project was funded by Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU), United Nations Capital Development Fund, (UNCDF), Ministry of Local Government and Otuke District Local Government.

DINU and UNCDF contributed Shs 1.203 billion, Ministry of Local Government contributed Shs 334 million and Otuke District Local Government injected Shs 60 million.

The Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Grace Freedom Kwicwiny while commissioning the project on behalf of the government on Friday called upon the people of Otuke District to use the facility to grow the economy in their area. “This business centre should help us, should give us data of what we can grow meaningfully, of what can benefits us economically and of defining us so that when we talk about Otuke, we know that Otuke supplies Shea butter, maize is there, rice is there and simsim,” she said during the commissioning of the project at Otuke Town Council on Friday.


Minister Grace Kwicwiny commissioning Otuke Business and Governence Centre on Friday
 
The UNCDF representative in Uganda, Mr. Dmitry Pozhidaev says that the project is to transform Otuke to the second largest business hub in Lango Sub-region. “The idea behind the facility is much bigger than the facility itself. The idea is to transform Otuke to the second most important economic center after Lira City in the entire Lango Sub-region,” he said.

Otuke East County MP, Mr Julius Acon asked the district leaders to manage the facility well so that it can last longer. “We the leaders of Otuke as we launch this building we need to sit down and see how this construction can be managed and I would ask those who are going to rent, I think we need to use it wisely. We should never light the charcoal stove in this building because if this building catches fire we shall never find it,” he warned.

Otuke RDC, Mr Robert Adyama urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of this project for the economic transformation of the area. “Most important thing for all of us is that the journey to economic transformation has begun, we have the asset here we must utilize the asset well,” he said.

Mr Jasper Okengo, a farmer in Otuke District one of the beneficiaries of the DINU project revealed that the tractor he acquired through DINU has now enhanced his household income. “I got the tractor last year but within a short period of time more than 800 people in Otuke, Amuru and Nwoya Districts have hired it and I personally cultivated 300 acres of land last year which made me to get very good harvest,” he said.

The Otuke Business and Governance Centre that sits along Lira-Abim Road at Adwong-Ibutu Cell, Adwong- Ibutu Ward in Otuke Town Council-Otuke district consists of two banking halls, two pharmacies, modern governance and conference hall, supermarket, craft centre, child care centre, shops, restaurant, boardroom and merchandise stalls.

The facility is expected to expand the revenue base of Otuke District Local Government. The project will serve more than 5,000 beneficiaries of whom 30% will be women and 20 percent youth of Otuke and the surrounding districts.

COVER PHOTO: Newly commissioned Otuke Business and Governance Centre By Santo Ojok