A new revolution in Paper manufacturing is taking shape in Uganda with production of recycled craft paper for boxes.
At the forefront of this is Modern Laminates a factory based in Njeru in Buikwe District near the Industrial City of Jinja.
The facility has ventured into producing virgin craft paper out of wood an activityis made possible with readily available of raw materials.
The Director Modern Laminates Dhruv Thummar says the Company has its own tissue culture lab where bamboo seedlings are being made which will also be supplied to outgrowers in the area and beyond.
“We are going to do outgrowers program where we contract their supply for the next decades to come. The farmers should be well sustained within their plants and we are going to be with them on this project”, says Dhruv.
When production commences in December 2025, the vision of substituting imports of more than $80 million each year for the country and exporting $40 million worth of craft paper to other neighboring countries will be achieved.
Minister Anite taken through the Incubation process in the Laboratory
The idea is not only to make paper but also generate power out of the innovative undertaking.
“Power has never been generated from bamboo before in this region, so we have a 15-megawatt power plant in place”, Notes Dhruv.
The $80 million project is currently at completion stage as additional investment is made with production expected to commence in December this year.
“The farmers benefit in two types. One, they can sell carbon offsets generated from bamboo which we are going to liaise with them and we sell it for them”, explains the Director.
He goes on to explain: “And the farmers are going to get the advantage out of it as compared to other crops where they have to replant every few years”.
Minister Anite inspects the Paper Manufacturing Premises
Bamboo works for 90 years and above, so the replanting time is not required.
All this came to the light on Friday as State Minister for Investment and Privatization Evelyn Anite toured the premises.
She was here to assess the progress of the work of how use virgin paper will be used to make craft paper.
Impressed, she lauded the Factory for using unique innovations in this new undertaking.
“And now this modern laminate is a very unique factory because they started their company in this country by using the recycled paper. But because of the conducive environment that we provide for investors in this country, instead of repatriating their profit, they’ve decided to reinvest their profit in the country”, Noted Anite.
Anite says this is an opportunity for Bamboo Farmers to make money.
“And the farmers in this country who are into bamboo farming, where they did not have any market whatsoever for take off for their bamboo that they have been growing at their backyards and in a small scale, now they’re going to have an opportunity of having a ready market, which is the modern laminates”, said Anite.
Anite lauded modern laminates for giving hope to Bamboo farmers who are farming bamboo who did not know where to sell their Bamboo.
“Now they know where to bring this bamboo. And most importantly, that this is going to reduce on our import bill”, celebrated Anite.
The Factory Director Mr Dhruv takes Minister Anite through the Bamboo seedling development process
It is reported that Uganda currently imports virgin paper worth 80 billion Ugandan shillings, a trend Anite sees changing thanks to innovations such as that by Modern Laminates.
“Now that is too much money that we’re just donating. And just so you know, so many of our young people, over 15 million school going kids depend on scholastic materials. Now all the scholastic material manufacturing companies in this country, they have been importing the virgin paper to be able to make those exercise books, this is going to be no more”, noted Anite.
This milestone also applies to Toilet rolls, which also currently, the Country partly imports. Anite says this equally will be history.
