Eronda
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 996
- 540
The cassava processing plant established by Dei BioPharma in Kamuli District has struggled to commence full-scale commercial operations due to unreliable electricity supply, forcing the facility to rely on expensive diesel generators. The generators cost approximately Shs15 million per shift to operate, making sustained production financially unviable despite the factory being ready for more than 18 months.
During a recent visit to the facility, Energy Minister Monica Musenero directed the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to connect the plant to a stable power line within two weeks. The factory requires more than five megawatts of electricity to support its operations and unlock its production potential.
Once connected to reliable power, the plant is expected to begin large-scale production of pharmaceutical-grade starch, glucose, and maltose derived from locally grown cassava. These products are key inputs in the pharmaceutical and food-processing industries and are currently imported in significant quantities.
The facility was commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni in November 2025 as part of a broader biotechnology and industrialization initiative spearheaded by Dei BioPharma. The factory is designed to process up to 500 tonnes of cassava daily, creating employment opportunities, providing a ready market for farmers across the Busoga sub-region, and strengthening Uganda's capacity to manufacture pharmaceutical raw materials locally.
During a recent visit to the facility, Energy Minister Monica Musenero directed the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to connect the plant to a stable power line within two weeks. The factory requires more than five megawatts of electricity to support its operations and unlock its production potential.
Once connected to reliable power, the plant is expected to begin large-scale production of pharmaceutical-grade starch, glucose, and maltose derived from locally grown cassava. These products are key inputs in the pharmaceutical and food-processing industries and are currently imported in significant quantities.
The facility was commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni in November 2025 as part of a broader biotechnology and industrialization initiative spearheaded by Dei BioPharma. The factory is designed to process up to 500 tonnes of cassava daily, creating employment opportunities, providing a ready market for farmers across the Busoga sub-region, and strengthening Uganda's capacity to manufacture pharmaceutical raw materials locally.
