Communities donate four acres for agro-processing hubs in Kiryandongo
"This project will transform our village socially and economically. I encourage all residents to embrace it and ensure that the infrastructure is protected because it belongs to the community," Ojansuk said.
Kiryandongo: Communities in Nyinga II and Lavorongur A villages in Kiryandongo District have donated four acres of land for the establishment of agro-produce dehydration hubs, a move expected to boost agricultural value addition, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase household incomes.
The land was officially handed over to Excel Hort Consult Agribusiness Incubator (EHCAI) on July 10, 2026, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the landowners, EHCAI, and Kiryandongo District Local Government.
The dehydration hubs will be established by EHCAI with funding from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the FAO Dehydrated Value Chains (DVC) Project. The initiative is designed to strengthen agricultural value chains by promoting agro-processing and expanding market opportunities for farmers.
Under the agreement, EHCAI will manage the facilities for an agreed period while training local farmer groups to eventually take over their operation as sustainable community enterprises.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dr. Charles Malingu of Excel Hort Consult Agribusiness Incubator said the project will encourage increased agricultural production and collective marketing among farmers.
“The dehydration hubs will stimulate increased agricultural production while promoting bulking of produce. This will improve farmers’ incomes through value addition and better access to markets,” Dr. Malingu said.
He added that the introduction of modern dehydration technology will help farmers preserve perishable produce for longer periods, reduce post-harvest losses, and access higher-value domestic and export markets.
The project is also expected to create employment opportunities for youth and women in processing, packaging, transportation, and marketing of dehydrated agricultural products.
Nyinga II Village LC I Chairperson James Ojansuk described the project as a milestone in the community’s socio-economic transformation and thanked the Government of Uganda and its development partners for selecting the village to host one of the facilities.
“This project will transform our village socially and economically. I encourage all residents to embrace it and ensure that the infrastructure is protected because it belongs to the community,” Ojansuk said.
One of the land donors, John Tindyebwa of Nyinga II Village, voluntarily contributed two acres of his personal land, saying the long-term benefits outweighed the sacrifice.
“We were privileged to be identified to host this important project. I could not afford to lose such an opportunity, so I offered my two acres of land to support its establishment. I believe this investment will benefit our children and future generations,” Tindyebwa said.
Kiryandongo District Commercial Officer Sam Kakumba emphasized the role of agro-processing in improving agricultural competitiveness, noting that the planned solar-powered dehydration facility will help farmers preserve the quality of their produce while minimizing post-harvest losses.
“The solar drier will help farmers maintain the quality of their produce and minimize losses after harvest. I encourage the community to take ownership of the project and engage in large-scale production so that the facility operates at full capacity,” Kakumba said.
Once operational, the dehydration hubs will serve as collection, processing, and value-addition centres where farmers will dry fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural produce using solar technology before accessing more lucrative markets.
District leaders expressed optimism that the FAO-supported project will accelerate commercial agriculture in Kiryandongo by enabling farmers to shift from selling raw produce to marketing high-quality value-added products throughout the year.
