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Date: October 27k 1982
To: Roger Newburn
From: Dale S. Bonde
Subject: Visit to Produce Marketing Board
On October 26, 1982 I visited the Produce Marketing Board
to discuss transport operations. I met with Mr. Joseph
Matte, Secretary and Mr. Joseph Nyanze, Transport Officer.
The transport equipment consists of the following lorries:
2 Nisan 2 Mercedes Benz
8 Leylands Other Passenger Vehicles
2 Fiats
At the present time, five lorries are parked because three
of these need spare parts and two need tyres. Three trailers
have also not been used in three years due to lack of tyres
and the shillings to pay for them. They employ 10 drivers
and 10 turnboys.
There are no maintenance facilities so an independent repair
shop is used for both service and maintenance. I asked them
if they ever use the Uganda Cooperative Transport Union repair
facilities. The Transport Officer said he had made sevcral
inquiries for repair of their vehicles but U.C.T.U. was
always busy so he went to another source. I also asked him
if he purchased spares from the U.C.T.U. Stores Department
and he said their prices were too high so they purchased them
elsewhere. I have heard this same comment from other
cooperatives.
Presently the Produce Marketing Board is marketing maize,
soybeans, beans, millet, pineapple, groundnuts and oth r
produce, but in the Kampala market only. At the present
time their fleet of lorries fills their transport requirements,
with the exception of peak periods when they hire
local truckers.
The Secretary advised me that farm production is improving
at a very good rate, and in the near future they will, be
exporting maize to Tanzania. Their plans are to move the
maize by rail via Jinja, on the car ferry to Tanzania. If
this service is too slow, they will call on the U.C.T.. to
transport their exports. He further stated that in appro:imately
three years they will be exporting almost all of
their products. Their market will be primarily African,
followed by the Middle East or whatever m-rket is available.
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