Kasese apple farmers are frustrated with the lack of progress on a promised industrial park that was supposed to boost the local fruit economy. In 2021, government officials under the AGRILED program assured farmers that a fruit-processing facility would be constructed as part of the Rwenzori industrial park project. However, construction has yet to begin, leaving apple growers grappling with limited market opportunities.
John Kimadi, the head of the Kasese Apple Growers Association (KAGA), criticized the slow pace of government action. “We were hopeful that the industrial park would transform our sector by providing value addition and access to larger markets. Two years later, nothing has changed,” Kimadi said.
Farmers currently rely on selling their apples in local markets at prices between UGX 300 and 500, a range they describe as unprofitable. Paul Mbwambale from Kyarumba Sub County pointed out that the absence of competitive markets discourages reinvestment in the apple farming business. “Without the factory, we cannot compete nationally or internationally. We need immediate action,” he urged.
The industrial park’s delay has raised questions about the effectiveness of government-led agricultural initiatives. Farmers have called on authorities to prioritize the park’s completion to salvage the apple farming industry in Kasese