Karooro and Kimani giving a lecture on banana fibres
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BUSHENYI– Ugandans have been lectured on how to use banana stems and fibres to get money that can improve their standards of living.

The lecture was given by Mr Kimani, an expert with TEXFAD Company who demonstrated to people how the whole process works. Kimani was speaking during the Karooro’s day celebrations held at Ntambiko Crafts Centre in Bushenyi district on Saturday 13th January 2024.

Mr Kimani who was demonstrating using an electric hand driven machine said though Uganda remains the 3rd Matooke producer in the world, people are used to just eating it but illiterate about the benefits of the stem and fibres after harvesting thus tasking farmers to commercialize the banana growing activity so that they can benefit from it.

During the function, the attendants were visually shown how banana fibres can be used and processed to make ropes, mats, carpets, synthetic hair for women, threads, bags, necklaces, cloth among others. 

“Remember the banana fibre is just 15%of the stem and after proccesing it, the biomas is used for mulching and the sap after being kept for like 3 days becomes a first class fertilizer for your crops. So we are still putting it on trials to see the components inside this fertilizer but its very good even for cereal crops”, Kimani explained.

He revealed that they are working with different organisations and Universities such as Busitema University to make more research and increase the production capacity so as to serve the World wanting market for banana fibre products.

On her turn, Canon Mary Busingye Karooro Okurut who was in juicy moods because she was celebrating her day with her people and different dignitaries said its high time for Ugandans to start benefiting from what God created at their own land.

Mary Karooro Okurut who is the special presidential dvisor on Public Relations could not hide her happines for the banana fibre innovation but personally showed the already made products to the people who had gathered to witness the happening at Ntambiko Crafts Centre. It should be remembered that where the function was held is the same place that’s hosts Karooro Foundation Skilling Centre and the factory for Pads is also being constructed at the same site.

Karooro said that adding value to the banana fibre is a great idea because people will be eating matooke and at the same time benefiting from the so called “wastes” since Ugandans have for long been cutting the banana fruit, neglecting the stem and fibre as a waste product.

“Mr Kimani is also here to train farmers how to extract these things from banana fibres, so if we can make such products from our own indigenous materials, we are going to be very far as a nation in terms of development”, Karooro lamented.

Located in Bushenyi District

On the same day, Can Karooro Okurut officially launched Ntambiko Crafts Centre which is known as a place for all sorts of African culture crafts, pottery among others and is now one of the places that is attracting tourists from all parts of the world thus a source of income to both Ugandans and the country atlarge.

What this website could not leave behind is that “there was also a launch of Bushenyi Twetambire Association”. This is a health Insurance Community Organisation (CBO) that was initiated by Canon Mary Karooro Okurut last year and is designed to serve the community’s healthcare needs comprehensively. 

“Lets not wait to pay condolences, our people always need money for treatment and some cannot afford it. I was saddened when i went to a burial and they told that the person had died because he did not afford shs 60,000= they had asked for in the hospital”, Karooro said. 

As of now Bushenyi Twetambire Association has more than 450 members who pay a monthly subscription fee of shs 10,000= for their life insurance. 

Karooro giving out a craft to one of the attendants

In her absence due to a fixed schedule, the Chief Guest Her Excellency Rose Malango Former UN Resident Cordinator for Uganda and former UN Director for Regional Commissions contributed Ugx 10Million towards supporting the Twetambire Association.

At the function, there was proffessor Eric Mabonga from Kampala International University Hospital who confirmed that the Association has already signed a memorandum of Understanding MOU with KIU Hospital where members will be receiving the services. He thanked Dr El Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba (MD) KIU for giving such an opportunity to people to save their lives since life has no spare parts.

Madam Kansiime Peace Tibigwisa, who was the chairperson Organizing Committee thanked Canon Mary Karooro Okurut for supporting stressing that through her, they were able to start “Karooro Saving Association” which was also launched. As an ONC Cordinator Bushenyi, she thanked President Museveni for empowering Women and selecting the best mobilizer Hon Hajjati Hadijah Namyalo.

Sharon Bashisha who heads Emyooga for Ankole sub – region was in attendance and asked Ugandans especially women to embrace the program by joining Emyooga Saccos so that they can get money to help them get out of poverty.

The function was attended by various dignitaries including RPC Greater Bushenyi, Deputy RDC Buhweju Goodman Tumwebaze, Mayor Bushenyi – Ishaka Municipality Byaruhanga Richard, Muhumuza Micheal ONC Cordinator Sheema, district councilors, church leaders, village Chairperson, Team Canon Members among other Ugandans.