Makerere University has today, Friday 22nd December 2017 entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Moon Agriculture and Processing Company Limited (MAP Co. Ltd.) aimed at setting up a modern pig farm and processing facility at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK). The Agreement was signed on behalf of Makerere University by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Principal-College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Prof. Bernard Bashaasha and on behalf of MAP by Mr. Joseph Moon and Mr. Peter Moon.

In the introductory remarks Prof. Bashaasha thanked Mr. Joseph and Peter Moon for choosing to partner with Makerere University. In particular, he observed that Mr. Joseph Moon was no stranger to the Ugandan business scene, having been the brains behind Kampala’s first street parking company Green Boat Entertainment Limited (GBEL), hi-tech photo studio DOLICO as well as other businesses.

Prof. Bashaasha noted that whereas CAES had for a long time been engaged in pig farming and production, the JVA would enable Makerere students to be exposed to the industry’s latest modern practices, especially elements related to disease control.

In his remarks, Mr. Joseph Moon said that the JVA is framed on the basis of improving the pig value chain in Uganda, with the CAES being the starting point. He hoped that the agreement would go a long way in boosting Uganda’s pig production during the initial 10 year period, especially as the country still imports semen for specific pig breeds.

The Vice Chancellor in his remarks thanked MAP for choosing to partner with Makerere, noting that this was timely, in an era where Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) are being encouraged. He went on to say that although Makerere has in the recent past been pushing for real estate developments on its prime lands around Kampala, PPPs in agriculture; owing to its great potential, were a welcome innovation.

“Makerere has approximately 1,000 acres of agricultural land within an 80km radius of Kampala. We are therefore happy that you are going to set up a facility to not only improve the University’s revenue but also equip our students with skills in modern pig production and processing,” said Prof. Nawangwe.

After the JVA signing ceremony, the Vice Chancellor handed over Makerere souvenirs to the delegation. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mrs. Lillian Helen Kuteesa on behalf of MAP’s Lawyer-Nangwala, Rezida & Co. Advocates, Mr. Gordon Murangira-PA to the Vice Chancellor and Mr. S.L. James Lee, a MAP official.

Article by Public Relations Office