President Yoweri Museveni has highly appreciated the use of denatured ethanol-fueled stoves saying that the effort goes a long way in supporting the Government’s bid to curtail and reduce the challenges the country faces as regards deforestation, especially in Northern Uganda.
The President made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from Acholi-Sub Region-based Bukona Agro-Processors Ltd who called on him yesterday at State House, Entebbe.
The Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, the Most Rev. John Baptist Odama, led the delegation. Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Mr. Mattia Kasaija, attended the meeting.
“I thank the owners of Bukona Agro-Processing factory for their innovation. On top of churning out food, the factory also produces ethanol, which generates a strong blue-coloured flame from processing the product. The processed cassava will not only attract good market but also as a fuel-generating product will contribute to the protection of the environment,” he said.
The President pledged government support to the project that is expected to significantly reduce deforestation activities tat have hitherto been responsible for the cutting down of trees to make charcoal.
The project is also expected to enhance efforts for the benefit of environment protection.
The project’s Managing Director, Mr. Praviin Kekal, reported that Bukona Agro-Processors Ltd has now launched into ethanol cooking stoves’ market with a view to ensuring the protection of the environment whereby people will not feel encouraged to cut down trees to make charcoal as fuel energy source.
Archbishop Odama reported that on top of his ecclesiastical duties, he is currently promoting intensive cassava cultivation in Northern Uganda for both food and cash purposes.