The Parliamentary Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation has called for the revival of a stalled sericulture project in Kiruhura District, questioning the use of about Shs41 billion invested by government in the initiative.

The committee, led by Kashaari North MP Patrick Musinguzi, made the call after inspecting the sericulture facilities in Kashongi and Byanamira and finding little activity at the project.

Musinguzi said the committee's oversight role was to establish how public funds are being utilised and why government-funded projects continue to stall before reaching commercial production.

He said the sericulture project could create employment, support rural communities and generate revenue for the country if properly funded, managed and brought to commercial scale.

Tororo Municipality MP Shyam Jay Tanna said the project could provide opportunities for unemployed young people because silk production involves relatively simple activities, including growing mulberry trees, rearing silkworms and processing cocoons into silk.

However, Tanna expressed concern over the inactivity at the facility and called for the project to be revamped while ensuring accountability for the public funds invested.

Dr Clet Wandui Masiga, Executive Director of the Tropical Institute of Development Innovations (TRIDI), said the institution has developed a proposal to establish about 50,000 hectares of sericulture production at an estimated investment of US$200 million.

Masiga said the expanded project could generate more than Shs300 billion annually for Uganda when fully implemented.

Sericulture involves the rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk. According to TRIDI, one acre of mulberry production can produce about 1,000 kilogrammes of cocoons annually, while improved processing technologies can convert the cocoons into yarn and other silk products.

The committee said it would continue inspecting government-funded science, technology and innovation projects across the country to identify implementation challenges and push for the completion and commercialisation of public investments.