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OUR
FACTORY
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In 2005 we were asked to vacate the warehouse and office within
the compound of Bugisu Co-operative Union which we had occupied
since 1998. The push did not come too soon. In 2004-5 Gumutindo
had exported 14 containers and the little warehouse had been
full to bursting, resulting in one or two mix-ups over different
shipments. After looking at a number of possibilities, Gumutindo
decided to put in a bid for a run-down complex of 3 warehouses
and associated offices on Mwanyi Road, Mbale (Coffee Road
in Luganda).
The refurbishment ended up costing more than the premises,
but resulted in a high quality environment for coffee, with
cross-ventilated warehouses that are several degrees cooler
than the old store, a direct satellite connection to the internet,
and a networked system of computers. Handsorting is now done
on conveyor belts, which has speeded up the process, improved
the quality of the product, and increased the earnings of
the 100 or so women who carry out this seasonal work at Gumutindo. |
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Top:
Gumutindo Board in front of the factory when we
bought it in 2005.
Middle: the new ventilated roof, which
uses the sun’s heat to keep the coffee cool; Handsorting
the coffee for shipment.
Bottom: Shipping coffee and weighbridge
underconstruction. |
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