With effect
from April 2020, northern Uganda will be able to kick-start large scale tea
growing, according Edwin Atukunda Bekunda, the founder of Edwin Foundation for Tea Initiative - EFOTI.
Briefing our media team this week after meeting with district officials of Gulu
at the Edwin Foundation Tea Initiative tea growing centre in Lugore, Mr.
Atukunda made it clear that the foundation has hundreds of thousands of tea
seedlings which were planted between December 2018 and February 2019 which will
be ready for transplanting by February 2020. However, since the dry spell
stretches from November to almost April, we shall have to wait for the first
April rains in order to start planting the ready tea seedlings which by that
time will have grown strong and become resistant to heat and dry soil.
 |
| We work as a team: Mr. Edwin Atukunda with his team of tea seedlings attendants |
Mr.
Atukunda further reiterated the need for the people of northern Uganda to
utilize the plentiful wealth of cultivable land at their disposal instead of
selling them for short term gains and swimming in abject poverty, let alone
living like destitute and squatters in their own land. He particularly called
upon the youth of northern Uganda to unite under an association for tea growing
if they seriously wish to eradicate the rampant poverty, excessive drinking and
idle talk among them. This, he said, will open for them various avenues of
funding from the government and other agricultural organizations, hence paving
way for their individual and collective development.
 |
| The joy of success: Edwin Atukunda smiles during a routine check on his tea seedlings bed in Lugore, northern Uganda |
Drawing from
his own life example, the founder of EFOTI advised the youth to strive to set
their own trends and legacies rather than waiting to enjoy their parents’ or
grandparents’ little wealth; this, he said will save them blames from their own
children in the future. “Since the age of ten, I have seen numerous wars and
grown in poverty but now I am a different person. I have travelled to many
countries around the world because of tea. Tea has made me what I am now....If
I am mad, it is for tea”, said Atukunda.
 |
| Edwin Atukunda covering his tea seedlings |
Edwin
Foundation for Tea Initiatives is a private organization founded by Mr. Edwin
Atukunda Bekunda with the interest of championing the cause of tea growing in
Uganda. His first success came when he initiated tea growing in Kamwenge
district. Currently, Mr. Edwin is working on the largest tea seedlings bed in
the entire northern and north eastern region, with a tea planting training
centre based in Lugore, Gulu district.
