The fire believed to have been set by unknown people was first reported to the local authorities on Friday 10th. It escalated until Sunday evening when the Police Fire and Rescue Service team rushed to help put it out.
Fire has destroyed an estimated 200 hectares of sugarcane under
Atiak Sugar Factory, which belongs to Horial Investments Company Limited in
Amuru District.
The fire believed to have been set by unknown
people was first reported to the local authorities on Friday 10th. It
escalated until Sunday evening when the Police Fire and Rescue Service team rushed
to help put it out.
David Mudong Ongom, the Aswa River Region Police
Spokesperson told URN in an interview that the fire also destroyed 14 huts
belonging to UPDF soldiers guarding the factory.
// Cue in: “The fire started…
Cue out …Bibia, were burnt.” //
According to Mudong, the management of the sugar
factory got the information about the incident but delayed to notify the police
in time. He says that when police firefighters arrived at the scene, they could
not penetrate the plantation due to a lack of fire lines.
//Cue in: “Very many incidences…
Cue out …with the locals.” //
By the time of publishing, this story firefighters
were still in the process of securing the scene. Mudong says that they have
opened inquiries under SD ref: 15/12/12/2021 at Atiak Police Station to
establish the cause of the fire and the perpetrators.
// Cue in: “We have outstanding…
Cue out …OC Station Atiak.” //
Atiak Sugar Factory is located 17kms north of
Atiak –off the Gulu –Nimule Road in Gem Village, Pachilo Parish, Atiak Sub
–County in Amuru District. The factory has the capacity to crush 1,650 tons of
raw sugarcane daily, producing 66,000 tons of sugar annually.
Since its establishment, Atiak Sugar Factory has
suffered a number of fire outbreaks. The 2020 Police Annual Crime Report
indicates that the factory incurred a loss worth 3billion Shillings due to the
fire outbreaks in 2019.
Mahmood Abdi, the Director of Agriculture, and
Plantation at Atiak Sugar Factory declined to comment on the matter when
contacted by Uganda Radio Network.
Jesse Johnson James
Freelancer