Itinerary
Day 1: Visit Raintree farm and Abja Farm
At 8:00am we set off to Masindi district where Raintree farm is located. The distance is just about 226km therefore arrival time is 12:00pm. At close to 2 hours of driving through the Kampala-Masindi highway we take a break at Migyera to buy some bites and refreshments.
We then get back on the road and arrive at the farm more than one hour later. The farm management then welcomes us and offers a guide to take us around. The farm is a unique venture focused on the sustainable growing and processing of Moringa Oleifera crops of the highest quality to the nutritional, beauty, and health markets around the world.
At 2:00pm we proceed to Abja farm located in Oyam district, less than 3 hours away. The farm mainly deals in horticulture, apiculture and animal husbandry. Some of the products include pure natural honey, crane maize flour, passion fruits, matooke, eggs, vegetables among others. By sunset we travel to Oyam town to book a nearby lodge for one night.
Day 2: Visit Delight (U) Limited Nwoya farm
At 10:00am we start the journey to Nwoya where this farm is located. As we drive through the Bobi-Masindi highway, we get even more excited knowing that this is arguably the biggest fruit farm in the country. We then stop along the Karuma - Pakwach turn before arriving at the farm at 1:00pm. The farm is seated on 1700 acres of Iand with a variety of fruits grown including: guavas, mangoes, jackfruit, oranges, paw paws and lemons among others. With over 550 species currently grown, the farm looks to preserve even more.
The best period to visit is during harvesting when all tasty fruits are readily available. Delight is the manufacturer of Cheers soft drink and, the plans for production of other types of drinks are underway. Some of the activities done here include; stone throwing games, camping, picnic site, fishing. At 6:00pm we retire to one of the town lodges.
Day 3: Visit Gulu Uganda Country Dairy farm and Aswa Nagric Ranch
At 9:00am we start the journey to the dairy farm which is only45km from our current location. Located in Gulu district, the farm looks to address massive social problems of food and nutrition insecurity, unemployment and poverty. This is a demonstration and research centre that deals in milk processing and manufacturing of yogurt. Students and farmers from all over the country visit the farm to acquire knowledge and skills.
We then proceed to Aswa Nagric Ranch via Gulu-Kitgum road, 84km away. Located in Angagura Sub-county, Aruu North County, the ranch is State owned with stocks of cattle mostly for milk production, goats and pigs. Here we also get an opportunity to visit some private farms where farmers mostly grow fruits such as oranges, lemons, mangoes., guavas among others. Sim sim, ground nuts and vegetables are also commonly grown and sold to travelers and some delivered to Kampala markets. At 6.00pm we relocate to Gulu town for a meal and accommodation.
Day 4: Visit Atiak Sugar Factory
After breakfast at the hotel we then proceed to Atiak Sugar factory, traveling via Nimule-Gulu road. The site is one hour from our starting point and is located in Gem Village, Pachilo Parish, Atiak sub-county, Kilak County, in Amuru District. With a capacity of crushing 1.650 tonnes (1,650,000 kg) of raw cane daily, producing 66,000 tonnes (66,000,000 kg) of powder sugar annually the factory is considered to be a maior solution to some of the area concerns such as unemployment and lack of market for some of the sugarcane out-growers.
The owners of the company have established a working relationship with Gulu Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (GWEAL), whose objective is to develop Northern Uganda. Some of the activities include site seeing,training and skilling and interacting with the farmers. At midday we get back to Gulu town for lunch and thereafter set off to Karenga to book a town lodge for one night as we prepare for the next day's activities.
Day 5 & 6: Visit Kidepo Valley
National Park and Kotido district
At 9:00am we embark on traversing the areas around Kidepo Valley National Park which are dominantly inhabited by the Karamojong. Cattle keeping is their main source of livelihood therefore, pastoralism and running of cattle kraals are major activities and a way of life. We then travel to Kotido through the Kotido-Kaabong road, only 140km away.
After more than one hour on the road, we stop at Locherep to stretch a little bit before continuing with the journey. Kotido iS inhabited by the Karamojong who live in small communities surrounded by Manyattas (rural housing). Pastoralism is a major source of livelihood therefore, management of natural resources like pasture, livestock and water is paramount.
The people also practice crop farming and mainly grow sorghum and maize which they trade with neighbouring districts. Other crops grown under subsistence farming include; beans, groundnuts, cassava and sweet potatoes. At 6:00pm we relocate to Kotido town where we are to spend a night.
Day 7: Travel back to Kampala
After breakfast at one of the town restaurants we begin the journey to Kampala at 9:00am via the Gulu-Kampala highway. We anticipate to spend around 9hours on the road therefore, we shall make three stoppages in the areas of Lira, Kamdini and Migyera.
END OF TOUR.
