Teso Set for Economic Boost as Professor Ogwang Advances Multi-Billion Factory Project in Soroti.

By Peterson Hiirya.

Ugandan scientist and entrepreneur Prof  Patrick Engeu Ogwang has disclosed major progress on a multi-billion-shilling agro-processing and pharmaceutical factory under construction in Arapai, Soroti City, which is expected to significantly transform the economy of the Teso and Karamoja regions.

Speaking to our reporter, Prof. Ogwang confirmed that the facility, being developed under Jena Herbals Uganda Limited and its partner enterprises, is currently about 60 percent complete and is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year.

“We are already constructing a factory here in Arapai for Gena Boss Limited. The construction is being supported by President Yoweri Museveni. By now, according to his directive, the factory should have been completed, but delays  slowed the process.

However, we are now about 60% complete, and by the end of this year we expect the factory to be fully ready,” Prof. Ogwang said.

He explained that once operational, the factory will shift its production base to Soroti, sourcing raw materials from Teso, Karamoja, and surrounding regions.

Major Economic Shift Expected.

Prof. Ogwang revealed that the company currently spends over UGX 240 million annually on honey, most of which is sourced outside Teso. He said the new factory will redirect that expenditure to local producers.

“Currently, our company consumes honey worth more than UGX 240 million every year, and most of it comes from outside Teso.

When the factory is established here, local people — including beneficiaries of the Emerald Project — will produce honey that we shall buy directly from them,” he said.

He noted that initial local supply may cover about 25 per cent of demand, but production is expected to grow steadily as more farmers are integrated into the value chain.

Prof. Ogwang also highlighted other key commodities that will be sourced locally, including eggplants, ginger, and medicinal plants such as abache and ewusuku.

He said the company currently spends over UGX 120 million annually on eggplants purchased from Kampala, a cost that will be redirected to farmers in Teso once production begins locally.

“In addition, we purchase ginger worth over UGX 5 million every month — approximately UGX 60 million annually. We also buy abache and ewusuku valued at nearly UGX 120 million every year,” he explained.

According to him, the establishment of the factory will inject at least UGX 1.2 billion annually into the regional economy through raw material purchases alone, provided farmers respond to production demands.

Job Creation and Local Economic Growth.

Beyond raw materials, Prof. Ogwang emphasized that the factory will create employment opportunities and stimulate local economic activity.

“Workers employed here will earn salaries, rent houses, buy food from markets, and contribute to the local economy. In this way, the factory will significantly improve the economy of Soroti City and the wider Teso region,” he said.

Plans to Support Farmers and Irrigation Development
The scientist further revealed plans to engage farmers across Teso and Karamoja to ensure steady production of key raw materials.

“At the appropriate time, we shall engage farmers and encourage them to begin growing the raw materials we require such as eggplant, ginger, honey, and other medicinal plants.

This will spare farmers the struggle of searching for markets because the factory itself will provide a ready market,” he said.

He added that operations are expected to begin by the end of the year, with farmers likely to start earning from supplies by next year.

Prof. Ogwang also pointed out challenges faced in sourcing produce from the region, including high transport costs and seasonal production shortages.

“We previously attempted to buy eggplant from Teso, but transportation costs became too high. We also realized that during the dry season, production drops significantly,” he said.

To address this, he proposed the development of irrigation systems near swamp areas to enable year-round production of key crops.

Regional Economic Outlook.

The factory is expected to position Soroti and the wider Teso sub-region as a hub for agro-processing and herbal medicine production, strengthening linkages between farmers, industry, and research.

Stakeholders say the project could mark a major shift in value addition, job creation, and rural industrialization in eastern Uganda once fully operational.