Kagadi District Local Leaders Divided Over Tax

KAGADI – A bitter row has erupted between the district leaders of Kagadi over loading and unloading tax of agricultural products in the area.

The tax is levied on vehicles carrying agricultural produce and enforced at the borders of Kagadi district namely; Kyamutunzi, Paacwa and Buronzi. It is alleged that the tax collectors mount roadblocks at these border points to enforce the tax.

According to some receipts seen by theCooperator news, vehicles carrying agricultural produce and alcohol are being charged between shs 100,000 and shs 180,000.

The collection of this tax has caused disharmony among the leaders as the traders continue to protest against the tax.

Yosia B Ndibwami, the district Chairperson for Kagadi said that, this tax was passed by the previous district council following the Local Government Act.

He noted that this tax was being collected by town councils and sub-counties. However, the district took responsibility for collecting the tax after town councils and sub-counties failed to collect it due to inadequate staffing.

“We agreed that the district collects the tax at the border points and we also agreed to remit 65% of tax to the town councils and sub-counties after collection.” he explained, adding that the tax is lawful because the Local Government Act allows council to levy a tax and collect it.

He added that council also agreed that the tax be collected on vehicles carrying produce from the district at the exit points of the district.

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kagadi district, Mathias Ndifuna argued that the tax is lawful; adding only that, the collection mode is the one which is questionable.

“What is known is that this tax must be collected at the sub-county but not mounting road blocks on entry points of the district” Ndifuna said.

Some Kagadi district councilors disowned the disputed loading and offloading tax collection at the district border points.

https://thecooperator.news/ankole-diocese-partners-with-ucda-to-alleviate-poverty/

Speaking during a scientific council meeting held at Divine Hotel gardens on Tuesday, the councilors said council has never passed such a tax.

The councillors who included; Busobozi Moses, Councilor representing Kagadi Sub-County, Richard Namanya for Workers, Julius Twesigye for Mpeefu among others say the tax was banned during the regime of the former Kibaale district chairman George William Namyaka after the traders protested. They wondered how Kagadi district had resumed it.

The Councillors threatened to mobilize their electorates and storm the district headquarters if the current district leadership keeps a deaf ear to their concerns.

They allege that the offloading and loading taxes are being collected illegally since there is no contractor who secured the contract through legal terms.

Buyaga East Member of Parliament, Kagadi district Eric Musana Acaali, advised the Kagadi district local government to stop the tax which is levied on agricultural products with immediate effect.

Musana says the tax is negatively affecting farmers and business people mostly in this struggling time of Covid-19 where agricultural products are facing low prices in the market.

He threatened to forward the matter to the central government for action saying tax by roadblocks was abolished by president Museveni.

He said that such tax is also going to chase away the traders from the district which may leave farmers stuck with their produce.

“Given the above issues that I have mentioned, I advise the CAO and district Chairperson to stop collecting this tax immediately; if you fail to listen, as MPs we are going to get a way of stopping this because this kind of tax collection was abolished,” Musana warned.

Buyaga West MP Barnabasi Tinkasimiire and Kagadi district Woman MP Jennipher Mbabazi also protested that mode of tax collection.

They ordered Kagadi district local government authorities to immediately halt this road block tax collection, adding that this kind of tax is indirectly suffocating the local farmer.

“I do not see any viable reason why this current Kagadi district local government leadership led by Ndibwami should go ahead collecting such a tax; this primitive and ancient form of collecting tax which was last seen in President Idi Amin’s regime must stop,” said Tinkasimiire.

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OWC to Cluster Beneficiaries For Value Addition

GULU – The second phase of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) is aiming at clustering beneficiaries into primary and secondary societies, to enable them add value to their products and increase the market.

This is according to Lt Gen Angina Charles, the out-going Deputy Chief Coordinator (DCC) of OWC.

While handing over office to the new DCC, Maj Gen Kavuma Sam at the 4th Division Barracks in Gulu City; Maj Gen Kavuma said the second phase of OWC which started this year running to 2026, will ensure that benefiting households that operated individually, are put into groups of about 30 households, depending on enterprise choices that do well in their environment, for them to reap more benefits.

“If we are able to work around that, then whatever facilities will be shared in common. They can then do some value addition and not sell their produce in raw form, which fetches a low price,” Angina said.

Angina, also noted that Uganda loses a lot of waste that could be turned into manure, animals, and poultry feeds, because of selling unprocessed farm produce.

https://thecooperator.news/cassava-value-addition-to-support-livestock-feedlot-technology/

“For instance, people carry a whole banana from Mbarara to Kampala, yet people in Kampala just need the peeled bananas. All these peels we bring to Kampala only burden KCCA and the government again has to spend money to collect the waste, which should have remained in the farms to be used as manure,” he said.

Angina reasoned that when benefitting farmers are clustered, they will produce in bulk and this will make it easier to get for them big and better markets, as bigger markets require a huge volume.

“Depending on the volume of their production, it will be easy to lobby for the cottage industry, medium industry, or major industry,” Angina said.

He also said, “Having industries would mean that even if there is no market for crops like maize; we can process it to posho, baby’s food, cornflakes, ethanol or sanitizers, to fit demand in the internal market. So, there is quite a lot that can be achieved.”

“The residues can still be processed to animal and poultry feeds. All these were lost because we would sell all the maize in grains, and we lost all the benefits that could have caused economic transformation for our people,” Angina further remarked.

On why OWC has not had a great impact on the lives of beneficiaries, Angina said the problem was because the resources have been scattered and given to beneficiaries who were not ready or willing to take up a particular enterprise. In the second phase, inputs will be procured by the beneficiaries, to synchronize their planting.

The first phase of OWC acted like a vehicle for enhancing the effectiveness of agricultural reforms in the households and community with more emphasis on input distribution and enterprise development.

However, there have been numerous complaints of distribution of poor-quality seeds compounded by late, or early distribution.

“Resources went into input procurements, and yet during distribution, you find that the beneficiaries are not ready and all those inputs went to waste as the beneficiaries dumped them in the compound or put them under verandas.

“Now OWC will not be blamed for taking inputs too early or too late, because the money will arrive in time and farmers who are organized will buy what they want depending on when it will rain in their area. Complaints of buying poor quality inputs will not be there because now the traceability of who has brought the input at the farm service center and agriculture authority will be there to certify,” he said.

Kavuma, the new DCC said there is need to also change the mindset of the beneficiaries.

“As we carry on with the activity of helping our people, we need to mobilize beneficiaries, enter their brains, and show them the opportunities that both God and the government have given, otherwise, they will remain poor,” Kavuma said.

Mindset change, he said, was what has been lacking since OWC started.

OWC was launched by President Museveni in July 2013 in Nakaseke district with the main objective of raising household incomes by transforming subsistence farmers into commercial farmers.

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Nebbi Municipality Generates Local Revenue In Lockups Giveaway

NEBBI – Nebbi Municipal Council has generated more than Shs 200 million local revenue in lockups give away to local developers for the construction of taxi and bus terminals.

The construction of taxi and bus terminals in Nebbi municipality on Nebbi – Arua road is one of the strategies aimed at boosting local revenue for the council in an effort to implement the basic priority
areas of garbage collection and road maintenance.

Nebbi taxi and bus terminals construction site was leased in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) by the municipal council for the periods of 15 years and thereafter, the council will take over the management of the terminals.

The construction of taxi and bus terminals according to authorities, will take the period of two to three months to be completed.

https://thecooperator.news/gulu-regional-referral-hospital-gets-funding-for-regional-incinerator/

According to Abwooli Makune William , the Town Clerk Nebbi Municipality, Shs 200 million raised by council will be used to re-activate some of the activities which the council failed to implement due to budget cut in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Makune says, 534 developers each paid Shs 500,000 for a 4 by 4, and 4 by 3metre room, 418 developers paid Shs 200,000 meanwhile 8 developers each paid Shs 3 million each for the bus terminal space of 28 by 30 metres .

“Last year, the council realized a drastic decline in revenue collections instead of collecting the projected amount of Shs 790 million from local revenue, the council only collected Shs 500 million but if the taxi and bus terminals are completed, the council will come up with additional revenue to boost local revenues,” Abwooli said.

His Lordship the Mayor Nebbi Municipality Ngiriker Geoffrey says, for many years, municipal authorities were in running battles with taxi operators over street loading of passengers but if the taxi and bus terminals are fully complete, the local revenue wouldn’t be a problem in the near future since all vehicles will be in a confined place.

Ngiriker added that, the construction of taxi and bus terminals is aimed at providing a temporary accommodation for traders who will be displaced by the construction of the modern market in the municipality which will soon begin.

“The bus and taxi terminals will not only provide local revenues to council but also provide employment to all categories of abled working persons,” Ngiriker said.

One of the developers Adubango MacDonald says, a 15 year time period given by the municipal to the developers to utilize the lockups being constructed is too short for someone to realize the money spent in raising the lockups.

Adubango adds that, they abandoned the municipals Bill of Quantity (BOQ) after they detected a lot of irregularities in the BOQ because a temporary structure of a single room of 4 by 4 metres with mud motta can’t cost Shs 5 million, but the municipal engineers costed a single room at Shs 5m.

“We were given the BOQ which were not economical to us, that’s why we abandoned the BOQ and are using our own,” Adubango said.

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Oil And Gas Sector Tickles Tycoons To Form Association

HOIMA – As Uganda heads towards the oil and gas production phase, businessmen and women in Bunyoro sub-region have started a process of forming an association which will help them tap into the oil and gas opportunities.

Recently a group of tycoons appointed the interim executive committee and named their association as Albertine Oil and Gas Suppliers Association.

Some of the interim executive committee members are; Biingi Kawiso Julius who was appointed as Interim Chairperson, Owori Martin as Interim Executive Secretary and former Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Kabagambe Kalisa who is the Interim Patron of the association.

Others are; Biribonwa Joseph- Interim Member, and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Byakutaga- Andrew.

Speaking to theCooperator news, Kawiso said that they developed the idea of forming the association after realizing that they lacked a forum to bring business men and women together to advocate for their rights in regard to the oil and gas sector.

He says that the association was formed but they haven’t registered it adding that plans are under way to legalize their association.

“We haven’t decided on the membership fee and the number of the members the association should have but we encourage business people to subscribe to the association once they have registered businesses” Biingi explained, adding that all those issues will be discussed in their second upcoming meeting.

According to him, the association will act as a forum for investors within the Albertine sub- region who are actively operating reputable businesses to prepare and build capacities to meet the standards required to offer goods and services in the oil and gas industry.

He added that the association will also provide an apex body of eminent persons who will advocate and lobby on behalf of members for consideration of business opportunities in industry.

Biingi explained that through the association, they are able to get information and guidance on upcoming oil and gas opportunities among others.

He noted that the oil and gas sector will provide the region with better opportunities and this requires them to get prepared if they are to tap in the sector.

https://thecooperator.news/farmers-launch-push-to-save-bugoma-forest/

He explained that the business of oil and gas continues to be challenging, complex and sometimes uncertain and this calls for business communities to have strong partnerships to rely on to benefit from the sector as local suppliers.

In a recent association virtual meeting Kyaligonza Mathew, the National Content Manager China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) oriented the association on available opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

Kyaligonza, highlighted several ongoing oil and gas projects such as construction of critical oil roads, airport, pipeline and refinery construction as some of the opportunities business community and residents of Bunyoro can benefit from either directly or indirectly.

He noted that security services, transport, health, accommodation and catering among others are some of the ring-fenced opportunities for the local suppliers.

However, he says that there is a need for business communities in Bunyoro, to prepare for the sector by registering on the National Supplier Data Base and keep updated with the oil and gas information.

He also challenged the business community to join strong partners with experiences in the sector; form associations which will help them share information and form joint ventures if they are to reap big from the lucrative oil sector.

Agaba Edgar, one of the association members and Managing Director of Spice FM based in Hoima town said that the formation of the association was long overdue adding that oil and gas as well as other sectors will provide several opportunities.

He advised that there should be a way of getting farmers organized in groups or cooperatives to be able to produce quality products to supply the sector.

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District Chairman Vows To Revive Cooperatives

KIKUUBE – Peter Banura took the oath on May 24 as the first elected chairman of Kikuube District and pledged to revive cooperatives to their full glory and riches.

In his maiden speech, Banura, son of Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi Maj Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza, said cooperatives can help people climb out of poverty but local governments have not fully supported them.

The interim district council chaired by Francis Kazini approved a Shs 36.83 billion budget on April 9 for the financial year 2021/2022. This was a climb down from this financial year’s Shs 42.4 billion.

Education and the health sector took the lion’s share of over Shs 10 billion and Shs 5 billion, respectively. The wage bill was allocated Shs 11.5 billion, domestic development, Shs 14.96, and the non-wage expenditure got Shs 8 billion. Cooperatives didn’t get a penny.

Banura vowed to engage the district technocrats to ensure that cooperatives get a share of the budget.

He said the government wants to revive cooperatives back on their feet and urged the local government leaders to support that commitment.

https://thecooperator.news/kikuube-36-saccos-receive-emyooga-funds/

Through strong cooperative societies, he said, the district will be able to mobilize farmers to embrace modern agriculture, value addition and get markets for their agricultural produce.

He also promised to teach people about the importance of cooperative societies to ensure sustainability of cooperatives in the district.

“Management of cooperatives societies is still a challenge; sometimes members think cooperatives’ money is free money. Members borrow money and don’t pay back, which affects the growth and sustainability of cooperatives,” he said.

He also promised to deal with the rampant land conflicts.

“Over 90% of the people in Kikuube district depend on agriculture, so when they are threatened with increasing land grabbing and eviction, they cannot plant coffee, banana and other cash crops,” he said.

He also promised to tap into the district’s rich flora and fauna to promote tourism and prop up the district’s purse.

Denis Senjobe, the chairman Mukama Natumanya Saving and Credit Cooperative Society in Ruhunga village, Buhimba sub-county, commended the new district boss’ commitment to revive cooperatives.

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post District Chairman Vows To Revive Cooperatives appeared first on The Cooperator News.

District Chairman Vows To Revive Cooperatives

KIKUUBE – Peter Banura took the oath on May 24 as the first elected chairman of Kikuube District and pledged to revive cooperatives to their full glory and riches.

In his maiden speech, Banura, son of Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi Maj Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza, said cooperatives can help people climb out of poverty but local governments have not fully supported them.

The interim district council chaired by Francis Kazini approved a Shs 36.83 billion budget on April 9 for the financial year 2021/2022. This was a climb down from this financial year’s Shs 42.4 billion.

Education and the health sector took the lion’s share of over Shs 10 billion and Shs 5 billion, respectively. The wage bill was allocated Shs 11.5 billion, domestic development, Shs 14.96, and the non-wage expenditure got Shs 8 billion. Cooperatives didn’t get a penny.

Banura vowed to engage the district technocrats to ensure that cooperatives get a share of the budget.

He said the government wants to revive cooperatives back on their feet and urged the local government leaders to support that commitment.

https://thecooperator.news/kikuube-36-saccos-receive-emyooga-funds/

Through strong cooperative societies, he said, the district will be able to mobilize farmers to embrace modern agriculture, value addition and get markets for their agricultural produce.

He also promised to teach people about the importance of cooperative societies to ensure sustainability of cooperatives in the district.

“Management of cooperatives societies is still a challenge; sometimes members think cooperatives’ money is free money. Members borrow money and don’t pay back, which affects the growth and sustainability of cooperatives,” he said.

He also promised to deal with the rampant land conflicts.

“Over 90% of the people in Kikuube district depend on agriculture, so when they are threatened with increasing land grabbing and eviction, they cannot plant coffee, banana and other cash crops,” he said.

He also promised to tap into the district’s rich flora and fauna to promote tourism and prop up the district’s purse.

Denis Senjobe, the chairman Mukama Natumanya Saving and Credit Cooperative Society in Ruhunga village, Buhimba sub-county, commended the new district boss’ commitment to revive cooperatives.

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post District Chairman Vows To Revive Cooperatives appeared first on The Cooperator News.

District Chairman Vows To Revive Cooperatives

KIKUUBE – Peter Banura took the oath on May 24 as the first elected chairman of Kikuube District and pledged to revive cooperatives to their full glory and riches.

In his maiden speech, Banura, son of Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi Maj Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza, said cooperatives can help people climb out of poverty but local governments have not fully supported them.

The interim district council chaired by Francis Kazini approved a Shs 36.83 billion budget on April 9 for the financial year 2021/2022. This was a climb down from this financial year’s Shs 42.4 billion.

Education and the health sector took the lion’s share of over Shs 10 billion and Shs 5 billion, respectively. The wage bill was allocated Shs 11.5 billion, domestic development, Shs 14.96, and the non-wage expenditure got Shs 8 billion. Cooperatives didn’t get a penny.

Banura vowed to engage the district technocrats to ensure that cooperatives get a share of the budget.

He said the government wants to revive cooperatives back on their feet and urged the local government leaders to support that commitment.

https://thecooperator.news/kikuube-36-saccos-receive-emyooga-funds/

Through strong cooperative societies, he said, the district will be able to mobilize farmers to embrace modern agriculture, value addition and get markets for their agricultural produce.

He also promised to teach people about the importance of cooperative societies to ensure sustainability of cooperatives in the district.

“Management of cooperatives societies is still a challenge; sometimes members think cooperatives’ money is free money. Members borrow money and don’t pay back, which affects the growth and sustainability of cooperatives,” he said.

He also promised to deal with the rampant land conflicts.

“Over 90% of the people in Kikuube district depend on agriculture, so when they are threatened with increasing land grabbing and eviction, they cannot plant coffee, banana and other cash crops,” he said.

He also promised to tap into the district’s rich flora and fauna to promote tourism and prop up the district’s purse.

Denis Senjobe, the chairman Mukama Natumanya Saving and Credit Cooperative Society in Ruhunga village, Buhimba sub-county, commended the new district boss’ commitment to revive cooperatives.

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post District Chairman Vows To Revive Cooperatives appeared first on The Cooperator News.

District Chairman Vows To Revive Cooperatives

KIKUUBE – Peter Banura took the oath on May 24 as the first elected chairman of Kikuube District and pledged to revive cooperatives to their full glory and riches.

In his maiden speech, Banura, son of Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi Maj Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza, said cooperatives can help people climb out of poverty but local governments have not fully supported them.

The interim district council chaired by Francis Kazini approved a Shs 36.83 billion budget on April 9 for the financial year 2021/2022. This was a climb down from this financial year’s Shs 42.4 billion.

Education and the health sector took the lion’s share of over Shs 10 billion and Shs 5 billion, respectively. The wage bill was allocated Shs 11.5 billion, domestic development, Shs 14.96, and the non-wage expenditure got Shs 8 billion. Cooperatives didn’t get a penny.

Banura vowed to engage the district technocrats to ensure that cooperatives get a share of the budget.

He said the government wants to revive cooperatives back on their feet and urged the local government leaders to support that commitment.

https://thecooperator.news/kikuube-36-saccos-receive-emyooga-funds/

Through strong cooperative societies, he said, the district will be able to mobilize farmers to embrace modern agriculture, value addition and get markets for their agricultural produce.

He also promised to teach people about the importance of cooperative societies to ensure sustainability of cooperatives in the district.

“Management of cooperatives societies is still a challenge; sometimes members think cooperatives’ money is free money. Members borrow money and don’t pay back, which affects the growth and sustainability of cooperatives,” he said.

He also promised to deal with the rampant land conflicts.

“Over 90% of the people in Kikuube district depend on agriculture, so when they are threatened with increasing land grabbing and eviction, they cannot plant coffee, banana and other cash crops,” he said.

He also promised to tap into the district’s rich flora and fauna to promote tourism and prop up the district’s purse.

Denis Senjobe, the chairman Mukama Natumanya Saving and Credit Cooperative Society in Ruhunga village, Buhimba sub-county, commended the new district boss’ commitment to revive cooperatives.

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post District Chairman Vows To Revive Cooperatives appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Go big on Coffee, Bushenyi Farmers Told

BUSHENYI – Large-scale coffee farming could be the surest way to draw into the district a steady stream of investors from across the country and guarantee big pay-days for Bushenyi farmers in future, Asaph Bainomugisha, treasurer Nyeibingo Co-operative society, has said.

“I appeal to all Bushenyi farmers to plant more coffee because it is our main economic cash crop. This will also attract investors to open more coffee factories in the district,” Bainomugisha said recently at the opening of a coffee facility at Nyeibingo Co-op Society Coffee.

The facility was constructed under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP). The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has rolled out the project in more than 50 districts in Uganda.

Bainomugisha said he has never regretted going into coffee farming.

“Personally, I have four children studying in good schools and I clear all their school dues in time just because of coffee. I have also taken on many other projects like banana, dairy farming and tree planting all on the back of coffee farming,” he said.

According to Chris Gumisiriza, the project grants manager at MAAIF, the 57-district Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP) is funded by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) to the tune of Shs 532 billion.

He said the project began in 2018/19 in five pilot clusters covering 25 districts and later spread into another seven clusters in 2019/2020 and will end in March 2022.

Gumisiriza said the project was first piloted in the six districts of Amuru, Isingiro, Kalungu, Iganga, Ntungamo, Nebbi and later moved into 19 more districts in 2019 to raise on-farm production, productivity, and marketable volumes of beans, cassava, coffee, maize and rice in farmer organizations in specific geographical clusters of the country.

https://thecooperator.news/bwijanga-coffee-cooperative-targets-coffee-processing-machine/

“From project inception to-date, the ministry has signed grant agreements with 192 Farmer Organizations from 25 pilot districts worth Shs 62.8 billion, in which the Government of Uganda (67%) will contribute Shs 42.1 billion while farmers will contribute Shs 20.7 billion (33%),” Gumisiriza explained.

The Ntungamo Cluster, which hosts the six districts of Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Rubanda, Rukiga, Kabale and Isingiro received 38 grant awards worth Shs 11.9 billion.

According to Bainomugisha, Nyeibingo Cooperative Society Ltd. in Nyeibingo Parish, Ruhumuro Sub-county, Bushenyi District, received a grant of Shs 278m in December 2020 to construct a 60 metric tonne coffee storage facility and install a coffee huller supplied by China Huangpai Food Machines Ltd.

He said however, that funds were not enough and members sacrificed their premium pay to finish construction, which started in April 2020.

Nyeibingo Co-operative Society Ltd was formed on July 22, 1993 and currently has a total of 632 members.

Bainomugisha said the newly completed modern coffee facility will boost their bulk production.

“Last year we sold 220,000 kilograms of coffee but with this new coffee warehouse and with every household planting an acre of coffee, our coffee production projection is around 400,000 kilograms and our membership will increase from 632 up to 10,000,” Bainomugisha emphasized

According to a report from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), Uganda’s coffee exports soared in March 2020, despite an overall contraction in international trade as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Uganda’s major export destinations include; Italy, Sudan, Germany and Spain.

A total of 477,56160-kilogram bags worth about US$ 45.87 million (Shs171bn) were exported with an increase of 38.39% and 35.72% in quantity and value respectively, compared to March 2019.

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post Go big on Coffee, Bushenyi Farmers Told appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Go big on Coffee, Bushenyi Farmers Told

BUSHENYI – Large-scale coffee farming could be the surest way to draw into the district a steady stream of investors from across the country and guarantee big pay-days for Bushenyi farmers in future, Asaph Bainomugisha, treasurer Nyeibingo Co-operative society, has said.

“I appeal to all Bushenyi farmers to plant more coffee because it is our main economic cash crop. This will also attract investors to open more coffee factories in the district,” Bainomugisha said recently at the opening of a coffee facility at Nyeibingo Co-op Society Coffee.

The facility was constructed under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP). The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has rolled out the project in more than 50 districts in Uganda.

Bainomugisha said he has never regretted going into coffee farming.

“Personally, I have four children studying in good schools and I clear all their school dues in time just because of coffee. I have also taken on many other projects like banana, dairy farming and tree planting all on the back of coffee farming,” he said.

According to Chris Gumisiriza, the project grants manager at MAAIF, the 57-district Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP) is funded by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) to the tune of Shs 532 billion.

He said the project began in 2018/19 in five pilot clusters covering 25 districts and later spread into another seven clusters in 2019/2020 and will end in March 2022.

Gumisiriza said the project was first piloted in the six districts of Amuru, Isingiro, Kalungu, Iganga, Ntungamo, Nebbi and later moved into 19 more districts in 2019 to raise on-farm production, productivity, and marketable volumes of beans, cassava, coffee, maize and rice in farmer organizations in specific geographical clusters of the country.

https://thecooperator.news/bwijanga-coffee-cooperative-targets-coffee-processing-machine/

“From project inception to-date, the ministry has signed grant agreements with 192 Farmer Organizations from 25 pilot districts worth Shs 62.8 billion, in which the Government of Uganda (67%) will contribute Shs 42.1 billion while farmers will contribute Shs 20.7 billion (33%),” Gumisiriza explained.

The Ntungamo Cluster, which hosts the six districts of Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Rubanda, Rukiga, Kabale and Isingiro received 38 grant awards worth Shs 11.9 billion.

According to Bainomugisha, Nyeibingo Cooperative Society Ltd. in Nyeibingo Parish, Ruhumuro Sub-county, Bushenyi District, received a grant of Shs 278m in December 2020 to construct a 60 metric tonne coffee storage facility and install a coffee huller supplied by China Huangpai Food Machines Ltd.

He said however, that funds were not enough and members sacrificed their premium pay to finish construction, which started in April 2020.

Nyeibingo Co-operative Society Ltd was formed on July 22, 1993 and currently has a total of 632 members.

Bainomugisha said the newly completed modern coffee facility will boost their bulk production.

“Last year we sold 220,000 kilograms of coffee but with this new coffee warehouse and with every household planting an acre of coffee, our coffee production projection is around 400,000 kilograms and our membership will increase from 632 up to 10,000,” Bainomugisha emphasized

According to a report from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), Uganda’s coffee exports soared in March 2020, despite an overall contraction in international trade as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Uganda’s major export destinations include; Italy, Sudan, Germany and Spain.

A total of 477,56160-kilogram bags worth about US$ 45.87 million (Shs171bn) were exported with an increase of 38.39% and 35.72% in quantity and value respectively, compared to March 2019.

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post Go big on Coffee, Bushenyi Farmers Told appeared first on The Cooperator News.