The dryers, which are fitted with polythene and wire mesh, are used to dry pineapples. Muhammad says the polythene material used to cover the dryer used to cost Shillings 60,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic but now costs Shillings 200, 000.
They argue that the presence in the Rwenzori region of key minerals needed in the automotive industry makes Kasese the ideal location as their extraction from the bulky raw materials would make the plant viable as the operation cheaper than if they had to transport the ores long distances for smelting.
