PROJECT

Projects

Summary of Proposed Investment

Project Number

8136

Company Name

Tilda (Uganda) Limited

Date SPI Disclosed

Sep 5, 1997

Country

Uganda

Industry

Agribusiness and Forestry

Status

Completed

Sector

Grains and Beans

Department

Regional Industry - MAS Africa

Environmental Category

B - Limited

Previous Events

Approved : Apr 1, 1998
Signed : Dec 17, 1998
Invested : Mar 4, 1999

Project Description

REVISED SUMMARY OF PROJECT INFORMATION (SPI)


Project name UGANDA-Tilda Uganda Limited

Region Sub-Saharan Africa

Sector Agriculture

Project No 008136

Projected Board Date January 20, 1998

Company Name Tilda Uganda Limited

Technical Partner and/or Major Shareholders:

The Company is privately held by the Thakrar family, Ugandan Asians who left in the 1972 exodus precipitated by President Amin’s expulsion order. The family have developed businesses in the rice industry based in the United Kingdom and in India, and have recently acquired the land and existing facilities.

Project Cost including proposed IFC investment

Project Cost: US$6.4 million equivalent
IFC Investment: up to US$2.0 million (loan)

Location of project and Description of site:

The project is situated about 90km northeast of Jinja near the Kenya border (between Jinja and Tororo). The Kibimba estate incorporates an irrigation system. The key structures include a mill, storage areas workshops, housing and a school.

Description of Company and Purpose of Project:

The project involves the privatisation, rehabilitation and development of the Kibimba Rice Scheme, established in 1973. About 550 ha were developed for cultivation of rice paddies, but the scheme languished because of lack of investment, poor management and weak technical expertise. The sponsors bought the assets from the Government of Uganda in March 1997. IFC has been approached to finance part of the rehabilitation and development cost.

Environmental Category and Issues:

This is an environmental review category B project. The key environmental and occupational health and safety isssues associated with this project include pesticide use and handling, irrigation water supply and distribution, sustainability of water supply and impacts on other users, integrated pest management, outgrower training, provision of personal protective equipment, water-borne diseases and worker health and safety. The sponsor completed an independent environmental audit of the Kibimba Estate. This audit addressed the key issue listed above. Mitigation measures recommended include improvement of irrigation operations, provision of safety training, infrastructure improvements (e.g., water supply, sewage disposal, schools, housing), chemical handling and storage, and upgrading of medical services. The company is developing and monitoring program to oversee implementation of these improvements. The ERS on the project is available from the PIC.

Date SPI sent to PIC: July 1, 1997
Revised: September 5, 1997
Revised: November 20, 1997

For Additional Information contact: Corporate Relations Unit -
telephone: (202) 473-7711
facsimile : 202) 974-4384





L:\CAFD1\UGANDA\TILDA\TILDARVD.DOC
November 20, 1997 2:08 PM
Environmental documents for this project are available at http://www.ifc.org and from the World Bank InfoShop (http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/aboutinfo.html).

Sponsor / Cost / Location