OWC to focus on technical and political leaders and not NAADS officers in their project implementation

SOROTI – Leaders of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) have decided to change strategy by moving away from engaging National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) officers to engaging technical and political leaders in their project implementation.

Speaking during a consultative meeting, Princess Kabakumba Labwooli Masiko, the Director (OWC) said, they are moving away from the first phase strategy where they directly engaged with NAADS officers to involving the political leaders and the local government stakeholders.

During their interaction, she said so far, the role of the OWC has been visible except with some of the issues that have not been handled well but promised that it will be tackled in the near future.

Operation Wealth Creation was launched by the President in July 2013 as a away to facilitate national socio- economic transformation; while focusing on raising household incomes and transforming subsistence farmers into commercial farmers.

Recently, farmers received agricultural inputs like maize, beans and more amidst fighting poverty in the region.

According to Dr Fred Muhumuza, the Chairperson of the committee that is revisiting the structure and strategies, OWC has adopted new mechanisms compared to what happened in the first phase.

He said OWC focused mostly on inputs but they had to rethink of new strategies and the nature of engagement with the government agencies.

He added that according to the standing orders assigned by the President, a number of stakeholders were identified to work closely with OWC including the local government technical team.

” The specified teams include the Chief Administrative Officers (CAO), Resident District Officers (RDC), district Chairperson and the District Internal Security Officer (DISO),” he told theCooperator.

He however, cited that there was too much focus on inputs and yet when local governments met, a number of issues were raised which actually fail the success of the inputs.

The Soroti district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mr Luke Lokuda applauded the government for giving them support because they have collectively been addressing poverty concerns.

He said through their support, most farmers are running out of poverty since they generate income to sustain their livelihoods.

The Production Officer, Soroti district, William Enyaku, said some of the sectors have not been visible to the farmers especially in Teso.

https://thecooperator.news/parish-beneficiaries-to-lead-in-setting-agenda-for-community-development-planning/

In the Production department, there are four sectors which include; crop, livestock, entomology and fisheries.

Enyaku complained that the fisheries sector has not been handled well because a number of farmers doing fishing are few.

He said that the potential is not there because it has not been exploited and the water bodies may not be visible enough to promote the enterprise.

He added that the initial investment costs are relatively higher than any other enterprise.

“Only excavating the pond requires a standard of 20-30 meters with a total area of about 600 square miles which cost millions,”Enyaku said.

He appealed to the government that while promoting these programs, they should have avenues that will help equip farmers at the management level, if not it will be shuttered and may not produce good results.

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Banks endorse Government plans to take idle cash on dormant accounts

KAMPALA – The Uganda Bankers’ Association [UBA] has endorsed Government plans to take cash considered “idle on dormant accounts” in all Banks.

In the new National Payments Systems Bill 2020, the government suggested that money considered idle, and sitting on dormant accounts would be seized by the state.

In a statement issued by Uganda Bankers’ Association, the Banks say the practice is one of the efforts made towards driving financial inclusion, adding that the legislation is key to economic recovery.

The Statement reads in part that “The legislation would regulate payment systems, provide safety and efficiency of payment systems, and regulate the issuance of electronic funds among others”.

In the new Legislation, Section 57, Clause [1] stipulates that an electronic account that does not have a registered transaction for nine consecutive months will be considered dormant.

An electronic account can as well be a Mobile Money account or a Bank Account, with the same act also highlighting additional procedures followed in case of relocating the unclaimed funds.

The Uganda Bankers’ Association says the practice of transferring balances on dormant accounts to the Central Bank is standard practice that has already been running.

The Statement adds that “As a sector, we believe that enactment of the National Payments System Act 2020 will bring in more positive changes in the payment space.”

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, also Secretary to the Treasury, Prof. Ramathan Goobi was fast enough to clarify that Government is not interested in taking depositors’ cash.

Addressing the Uganda North American Association [UNAA], in a virtual meeting, Goobi said the government is not interested in taking depositors’ cash as reported earlier to clear its debts.

“Uganda is among the few African Countries with a sustainable debt portfolio. I only encourage you to come and invest back home without any fears,” he said.

According to the act, an electronic money issuer shall in relation to an account referred to in subsection one, notify the customer or account holder at least one month before the transfer of funds is affected, and subsequently, suspend the account unless a transaction on the account is made there and about.

The Legislation also stipulates that at the expiry of one month, the bank or the electronic money issuer shall block the electronic money account against any further transaction until the account is reactivated by the customer.

The Act further stipulates that if the account is not reactivated within six months after it was blocked, the trustees shall transfer the balance of an electronic money account to the Central Bank.

The Central Bank shall refund the unclaimed balances to the account holder if the previous holder is dead and his legal representatives prove that upon a request within seven years and then transfer to the Central Bank.

Beyond the Seven years, the Central Bank shall transfer the funds to the consolidated fund account.

Meanwhile, the Act also allows Banks up to a period of two years to declare dormancy of an account, while eight years applies for unclaimed assets before the Bank to declare them dormant.

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National Drug Authority impounds counterfeit drugs worth millions of shillings in Acholi sub region

GULU – The National Drug Authority (NDA) has closed 110 drug shops and impounded counterfeit drugs in Acholi sub-region worth Shs 55.2 million.

The three-day operation was held in the region from 13th -16th, September 2021 in the districts of Gulu, Nwoya, Amuru, Lamwo, Omoro and Kitgum.

The inspections were reportedly carried out in 248 drug outlets, 232 drug shops and 15 clinics while a total of 232 medical workers attached to the facilities were equally assessed on qualification.

Dr. David Kaggwa, the Northern Regional Manager of the National Drug Authority (NDA) told the media in Gulu that the inspection was to ensure compliance to the National Drug Policy and Regulation Act.

https://thecooperator.news/nda-closes-21-illegal-veterinary-drug-outlets/

He noted that the operation was a routine post market surveillance, to protect the people from drugs and health care products that are substandard, counterfeit and unauthorized for the market.

Kaggwa did not provide details on the facilities that were closed but revealed that some of the personnel in the facilities were unqualified with poor facilities yet were providing services.

The Regional Enforcement Officer, Samuel Kyomukama also without mentioning names revealed that the proprietors of the facilities that were closed were summoned before the regulatory authority.

Michael Cankara, the Drug Inspector, Gulu District Local Government says the inspection will increase compliance to the guidelines and standard operations procedures of health facilities in the district.

He has however advised the locals to desist from buying drugs from the roadside, shops and other places that are not well defined for supply and sale of the medical products.

However, a Public Health Specialist, Flavia Teddy Okello, also the Director, Flama Medical Centre, a private health facility in Gulu has blamed the counterfeit drugs in the country to the porous borders.

She has appealed to the government to increase control in the border to avoid entry of such drugs into the country just like regular monitoring of the personnel in the private health facilities.

“The life of a patient depends on who is that personnel in the facility you meet which requires regulation but the problem again is the fake products in the markets,” Okello further explained.

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African countries tipped on untapped potential of creative and cultural industries

AFRICA – In a bid to tackle unemployment among the youth, African countries have been urged to tap into the creative industry and cultural economy to boost their economic growth.

This statement was made on Monday, September 20th, 2021 by the Director Institute of African Studies’ Ghanaian Professor Dzodzi Tshikata, while opening the 3rd Kwame Nkrumah Festival 2021 which runs up to Friday, September 24th,2021.

The Kwame Nkrumah Festival is a Pan-African intellectual event curated by the Kwame Nkrumah Chair at the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies.

It brings together intellectual and cultural facets of the Pan-African ideologies as taught by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

This year’s five-day event is held under the theme; “Pan-Africanism, Feminism and the Next Generation,” engaging in the exploration and pursuance of self-sustenance and liberation from neo-colonialism through the establishment of culture, science and technology as viable mediums for the betterment of the lifestyle of the African people.

In her speech, Professor Dzodzi Tshikata, the Director Institute of African Studies, said that the African continent is home to approximately 1.3bn people and by the end of the century that number is expected to jump to 4.2bn.

The continent will probably overtake Asia and be home to the world’s largest labour force as early as 2040.

Tshikata said taking the trend of African countries in development issues, poverty, unemployment, and under development is embedded in culture. Therefore, the neglect of culture and creative industries will cost us the much-needed development goals and employment for the next decades.

According to her, not only is the continent’s unemployment rate well above the global average, but up to 70% of employed African countries are trapped in vulnerable, low paying jobs, with many living in outright poverty.

“To maintain stability and advance prosperity, African governments face the tremendously daunting challenge of tackling unemployment and creating millions of new jobs for a booming working age population,” said Tshikata.

Tshikata emphasised the need for African countries to add non-traditional strategies to their national development plans.

One of the strategies includes tapping into their creative and cultural industries which are an increasingly important piece of the puzzle.

She observed that the creative industries such as design, fashion, film, television, radio, music and much more have all too often been overlooked as legitimate avenues for jobs and gross domestic product.

“African governments should embrace and support the creative industries in their efforts to drive sustainable development and create jobs,” advised Tshikata.

Tshikata said that Pan-African countries should change their mindset and shift from focusing on agriculture to creative industry in their latest development plans if they are to pace up with European countries which prioritise these industrial growths.

She urged the governments of African countries to take creative industries and cultural economies as an added layer in constructing more diverse and economically viable markets.

Tshikata stressed that jobs in the creative and cultural economy have proved resilient to the economic shocks that consistently hurt core sectors in many African economies.

According to the Financial Times Website, in Nigeria, Nollywood film production which is one of the creative industries generates between $500m and $800m annually.

https://thecooperator.news/financial-inclusion-key-for-resilience-bankers-conference-2021/

The success of Nollywood demonstrates how the creative economy can trigger a value chain between artists, entrepreneurs, distributors and support services to boost jobs and contribute to GDP growth.

Though Nollywood film production employs thousands of Nigerians, lack of intellectual property rights and enforcement have limited the ability of artists to earn returns on their investments, causing many to leave their home countries to go abroad.

“Besides, efforts to promote the creative industries are hindered by a scarcity of capital. Most of the banks and investors often shy away due to lack of capital that creators are able to offer as collateral and other associated risks,” she argued.

In order to tap into the creative and cultural economy, it is important to note that two-thirds of African countries have signed the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Kenya has taken a lead by publishing the Nairobi Plan of Action on Cultural Industries and facilitating the buildup of institutions such as the Music Copyright Society of Kenya and the Kenya Film Commission.

African countries have long been ripe with talent, creativity and cultural riches; however, it is only now, with new technologies and commercial markets that global success is starting to materialize.

According to economists, the creative and cultural economy globally has been growing at a rate of 12.1% annually since 2002.

The European Union is leading in export of creative goods having exported $150 billion in 2013 of creative goods and $120 billion in services while China, India, Jamaica and Nigeria lead the developing countries.

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Government injects Shs 408m for the construction of post-harvest storage facilities in Soroti

SOROTI – The government through the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has injected Shs 408, 293,723 for the construction of post-harvest storage and value addition facilities in Soroti district.

The construction of post-harvest, storage and value addition infrastructure is being done under the Agricultural Cluster Development Program (ACDP) meant to support farmers undertaking bulking, value addition and collective marketing of quality produce for better prices and thus realize better incomes.

It’s being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries with support from the World Bank in 57 selected districts.

The project also supports participating districts to make improvements on existing farm access roads so as to eliminate key choke points that impede the flow of farm inputs and produce from production centers to storage or value addition centers and markets.

Soroti district is under cluster five (5) which includes the districts of Kumi, Serere and Soroti.

Abraham Ekwaru, the district Communications Officer said, ACDP is specifically targeting organised farmer groups and cooperatives which aggregate farmer produce and carry out common marketing.

He told theCooperator that the project is supporting three farmers cooperatives in the district.

The cooperatives include; Amoru-Amoroto Multipurpose Cooperative Society SACCO in Awaliwali sub-county, Awoja Rural Producer Organisation in Aukot sub-county and Community Link for Development from Arapai sub-county.

According to Ekwaru, the construction sites for three storage facilities have already been handed over to respective contractors and they are expected to commence the construction works very soon.

The construction of a storage facility for Awoja Rural Producer Organisation was awarded to Frahah Amuria Enterprise Ltd at a cost of Shs104, 626,860.

Junior Holdings Uganda Ltd was awarded the contract for a storage house for Community Link for Development Organisation storage facility at Shs103, 994,399; while the construction of Amoru-Amoroto Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd’s storage facility is awarded to Sure Friends Civil and Agro Input Consultant Ltd at a cost of Shs92, 505,320.

The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries has already disbursed this money to the bank accounts of the benefiting farmer cooperatives.

Ekwaru told theCooperator that the post-handling facilities are particularly targeting cassava and rice which are two major traditional cereal crops grown by the farmers under the three cooperatives.

“The storage facilities once completed are projected to store about 220, 250 and 300 metric tons of produce respectively,” said Ekwaru.

According to him, the facilities will act as a motivating factor for farmers to increase the production of cassava and rice in their respective cooperatives.

Ekwaru added that the storage facilities will also have post-handling and value addition equipment and this will help improve the quality of cassava flour and rice.

Rose Tino, who is the Chairperson, Works Committee Soroti district cautioned the beneficiaries against misusing the funds but to instead use them for the intended purpose.

She explained that as district leaders, they shall not tolerate any abuse of these funds by the grant beneficiaries.

Tino also warned contractors undertaking the construction works against doing shoddy work.

“As a district we want contractors to do quality work. Our technical teams from the district and the sub-counties will always carry out routine monitoring of the construction works to ensure that there is value for money in the works executed,” she added.

According to her, contractors must carry out their work professionally while ensuring quality and complete them in the set time frame or face termination of their contracts.

David Odeke, the Chairperson Amoru-Amoroto Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd is grateful to the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) for supporting them with a post-harvest handling facility.

He said that the construction of the storage facilities for organised farmers in the district has been long overdue.

“We have been trying to lobby from the district and NGOs to construct for us a storage facility for our cooperative in vain, but I’m happy that God has finally answered our prayer, a reason I’m extremely happy,” said Odeke.

He further encouraged farmers to embrace growing cassava in a large scale so as to enhance their income.

Sharon Mary Anyait, the Councilor representing Awoja parish at Aukot sub-county and a member of Awoja Rural Producer Organisation is optimistic that this facility will become a marketing center where the sorting, grading, cleaning and bagging will be best done.”

She added that with the storage facility in place, farmers would now be able to hold out for good prices for their produce, which would mean improved incomes.

Meanwhile, Enyaku James Michael, the Soroti district Production Officer, urged farmers in rural areas to embrace availability of grants and other micro projects under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP) in order to move from subsistence to commercial farming.

He said farmers should change their mindset from farming for “the stomach” to farming for “the pocket.”

https://thecooperator.news/ministry-of-agriculture-to-construct-post-harvest-handling-facilities-in-57-districts/

‘Although ACDP funds have been disbursed to community farmer organizations for the implementation of matching grants in all the 12 clusters, the farmers are still hesitant to embrace the project despite numerous sensitisations,” Enyaku said.

How Agricultural Cluster Development Program (ACDP) Works.

Through ACDP, registered farmers are enabled to access critical farm inputs and equipment for post-harvest handling at subsidised costs met using E-Voucher management system that links registered farmers to pre-qualified, certified agro-input dealers.

Through the subsidy, farmers acquire inputs in a manner that allows them to utilise them effectively with commitment.

In the first season, the farmer contributes 33% of the cost of inputs and the 67% is provided by the government while in the second season, the farmer contributes 50% which attracts a 50% contribution by the government.

In the third season, the farmer makes a 67% contribution while the government contributes 33%.

By the fourth season, with training in best practices of agriculture and agribusiness enterprise management as well as enhanced access to markets, the farmer is expected to be in position to run a self-sustaining enterprise.

However, on ground investigations by theCooperator indicate that the farmers are finding it challenging to transit from one cycle to the next due to limited information on the best practices of the ACDP project.

This slow transition according to them affects the attainment of the project development objective.

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Ministry of Education investigates alleged corruption at Gulu College of Health Sciences

GULU – The Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Technology has commenced investigations on alleged bribery, corruption and mismanagement of funds at Gulu College of Health Sciences.

The investigations come following a week long demonstration by the students against the new fee policy.

The Commissioner Health Education and Training in the Ministry of Education disclosed in an interview that the investigations into the allegations had kicked off.

However, she did not indicate the timeframe of the investigations but noted that the Ministry is yet to establish the facts about the matter that has disorganized the school since May this year.

“We are looking to address this problem once and for all, but what we need is to find out what has gone wrong before the school can be fully reopened,” Dr. Safinah explained.

In the new fee structures, the privately sponsored students are required to pay Shs 2.5 million, an increment of Shs 200,000 from the previous academic years.

Meanwhile, the government sponsored students are subjected to pay Shs1.6 million as opposed to Shs1.4 million in the last academic years.

The school has a population of 947 medical students; however, each student is subjected to pay Shs 200,000 for sanitizers which amount to Shs 189.4 million per semester.

The management has also levied a cost of Shs 50,000 on each student for DSTV subscription and up to Shs 47.3 million is collected from the students.

https://thecooperator.news/government-injects-shs-527m-towards-the-completion-of-two-health-facilities-in-alebtong/

Whereas the School only has two DSTV outlets, one installed in the main Campus and another in Laroo Campus whose subscription and maintenance costs the college less than Shs 5 million per semester.

The school has also continuously been collecting Shs100,000 from each student for an annual operational cost of the bus.

The school equally collects Shs 40,000 from each student and it amounts to Shs 37.88 million to pay for 6 security guards where each of them according to the pay record gets Shs180,000 as monthly salary.

While the Ministry is concerned about the accountability of the funds collected from the students, the new fees structure is also subjected to query.

In the new policy, according to the circular, the government sponsored students are required to pay Shs1.47 million which is an increment of Shs 200,000 shillings from the previous academic years.

The new fees for privately sponsored students rose from Shs 2.3 million to Shs 2.5 million, the variation that is far wider than from other medical institution and colleges.

While the new fee policy has paralysed Gulu College of Health Sciences, at Mbale College of Clinical Officers, the government sponsored students pay Shs 883,400 while private students pay Shs1.6 million.

At Fort Portal College of Health Sciences, the government sponsored students are required to pay between Shs 800, 000 to Shs 868,400 while private students pay between Shs1.8 million to Shs1.1 million for both Diploma and Certificate Courses.

However, while the school remained closed, the Acholi Parliamentary Group visited the Institution for a fact-finding mission on the numerous alleged corruption scandals at the college.

The preliminary investigations by the team have established a report on bribery and mismanagement of the funds collected from the students and the security organs are alleged to have been involved in the scandals.

The Member of Parliament for Kilak South, Gilbert Olanya, disclosed in a recent meeting that the Shs1.2 million was wired to the Security Agency to facilitate them to help put down the demonstration, the support he says was taken as bribe that the management needs to account for.

“We have enough evidence of mismanagement of the funds collected which we shall table to Parliament for resolution,” Olanya further disclosed.

John Amos Okot, the area Member of Parliament for Agago North Constituency revealed that the committee will institute investigations on the allegations.

Denis Odwong Odongpiny, the Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Gulu City has declined receiving any financial support from the college as a bribe.

“I have seen more money than what you are talking about and I don’t have any knowledge that any of the security personnel have received any money from the college for whatever reason,” Odongpiny told journalists at Northern Uganda Media Club.

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Gulu constructs new road to link farmers to South Sudan market

GULU – Gulu district is constructing a 17 km road to link farmers in Awach sub-county to a bigger market in the neighboring South Sudan.

The road worth Shs 165 million is expected to be completed in the next two months.

It will stretch from Awach-Patiko via an already existing road in Owoo sub-county to Pabbo sub county to join the Gulu-Juba highway.

Opiyo Christopher Ateke, the Gulu district Chairperson said, the district is partnering with Rhino Star Construction Company Limited to construct the road.

Opiyo said that, “Farmers have been complaining that they are spending too much money on transport to access the market in South Sudan. When the road is complete, farmers will no longer have to go through Gulu City to access South Sudan.”

“Farmers will just cross to Patiko through Pawel Angany to Pabbo then to South Sudan instead of going through Gulu City which is expensive,” he said.

Through the new road, farmers will also easily access Elegu border market which attracts traders from various neighboring countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia among others.

Elegu, located approximately 105 kilometers north of Gulu City is an international border between Uganda and South Sudan.

https://thecooperator.news/masindi-access-roads-to-connect-farmers-to-market/

Gulu district administrative headquarters was in July 2020 relocated to Awach sub-county after Gulu Municipal Council was elevated to a city.

Public transport from Awach to Gulu City costs Shs 15,000 on a boda-boda and about Shs 10,000 in a taxi while Gulu City to Elegu border town is Shs 20,000.

Acen Agnes, a farmer in Awach sub-county says she has been afraid to venture into selling her goods at Elegu border town because of the transport costs.

“I always rely on buyers who come to our village with trucks to buy produce from farmers because I don’t want to incur more costs on transport but when this new road is completed, I will transport my goods to Elegu and also earn more money for my produce,” she said.

Acen majorly grows beans, maize and soya beans to pay school fees for her five children.

Acen is a member of Awach Improved Housing Co-operative Union.The group is currently using their proceeds from agriculture to build better housing for members.

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Parish chiefs to lead in setting agenda for community development planning

Government Chief Whip and Ruhinda Constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has said, Parish Chiefs will take the lead role in designing the community development agenda under the Parish Development Model (PDM).

Previously, money would come to the district and be channelled to the sub-counties where officials would make decisions about projects in remote parishes; this is different with the parish model.

Tayebwa said, the central government expects that by giving power to local policy makers, it will shape rural economy by focusing on their competitive advantages. He said people will be making decisions themselves.

“People should know that the government has stopped giving free things. Like the Emyooga fund, where you borrow and pay back, people who will borrow money under PDM have to pay back to the community,” Tayebwa said.

Tayebwa added that just like the Emyooga fund, PDM fund is also a revolving fund that will help communities improve their household income and eradicate poverty.

Recently, about 30 legislators visited one of the model farms in Rwengaju sub-county Kabarole district belonging to Richard Nyakana, who has utilized one acre by putting up different enterprises, to learn from his success.

Tayebwa said, since this money will be controlled and revolving within the community, it should be given to people who are prepared with the already setup projects.

He said under this model, each parish will be given a minimum of Shs 100m starting the next financial year for five years.

https://thecooperator.news/ict-state-minister-cautions-ugandans-against-criticizing-the-parish-development-model-program/

“People have been complaining that we sit in Kampala and plan for them but this time you will be involved in planning. Our work now is giving you money and you plan for it,” he said.

He appealed to fellow members of parliament not to get involved in the implementation of PDM but rather do the supervision part and their involvement will be at the district level since they are ex-officials in their respective district councils.

The Member of Parliament representing Kashari North, Hon. Bazil Bataringaya said, for the PDM to be effective, in each parish there should be a model farmer/demonstration farm where others can copy from.

“As Members of Parliament, we have come from Kampala to see how Nyakana has managed to utilize one-acre piece of land by putting up different enterprises but someone from my constituency Kashari or other regions cannot manage to come here,” Hon. Bataringaya noted.

He said this will make it easy for farmers to learn from their fellows and practice it at their own farms.

Hon. Bataringaya also noted that government should also look at different enterprises for different regions or parishes where they can do well.

“Just like for Emyooga, the government should at least look at different parishes specializing in different enterprises which are within their reach. For example, one parish can deal in piggery, another one in poultry, another in cattle, like that,” he said.

He however noted that for farmers to access market, the government should ensure roads are worked on for farmers to benefit from this parish model.

“One of the pillars for this model is ensuring farmers get market for their produce and to achieve this, there should be good roads. The government may not necessarily construct tarmac roads but can do good murram roads,” he said.

Bataringaya pointed out Fort Portal-Kijura road that used to reach Nyakana’s farm, which he said is in a sorry state and yet it is used by many farmers in the area.

The Fort Portal-Kijura road connects to big tea factories in the region which Bataringaya said can make it easy for farmers to access market.

This 23Km road is an inter-district road which connects Fort Portal to Kyenjojo, Hoima and Ntoroko. The president has always talked about it while campaigning in the region but has never been worked on.

Richard Nyakana a model farmer who hosted the legislators pointed out poor road network as one of the biggest challenges hindering farmers from accessing market for their produce.

“For example, Rwengaju is the president’s model sub-county but the only main road we have is not worked on and yet most of us are farmers. How can we access the market? We have four big factories in the area but trailers have failed to pass because of bad roads,” he said.

Nyakana also appealed to the government to support farmers who already have something and give them machinery not looking at those who are starting.

Background

The 3rd National Development Plan (NDP3) has adapted the parish model as a strategy for rural social and economic transformation.

The PDM is a strategy for organizing and delivering public and private sector interventions for wealth creation and employment generation at the parish level as the lowest economic planning unit.

The parish will be the epicenter of multi-sectoral community development planning, implementation, supervision, monitoring and accountability.

The LC2 Chairperson and Parish Chief shall be responsible for political stewardship in the implementation of the parish model in their respective parishes with support from the sub-county and district technical planning committee.

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Kapelebyong district demands for more foot and mouth disease vaccines

KAPELEBYONG – Authorities from the Eastern district of Kapelebyong have demanded for more Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines from the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to achieve a 100% vaccination target.

This was made on Wednesday as the production department concluded the two weeks vaccination exercise against Foot and Mouth Disease.

The outbreak was confirmed in November 2019, resulting into numerous cattle deaths in the sub counties of Acowa, Akoromit, Alito and Obalanga.

After close to two years of waiting for vaccines, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) dispatched them this month to vaccinate the cattle in the affected sub counties.

Emmanuel Opio, the Kapelebyong district Communications Officer told theCooperator that the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries delivered 7,000 doses of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines to the district which were shared amongst the affected sub-counties.

He said that they have vaccinated only 7,000 cattle from the four sub-counties which are the hot spots, according to the ministry.

However, he noted that the vaccines were inadequate to meet the overwhelming numbers of cattle and they have requested for more vaccines to reach at least 70% target in the affected sub-counties.

Statistics from the office of the district production department indicates that the four sub-counties of Obalang, Alito, Acowa and Akoromit have more than 20,000 heads of cattle.

Meanwhile, Raymond Ekita, the acting District Veterinary Officer (DVO) revealed that his office has written to the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries asking for more vaccines.

He appealed for calm among the livestock farmers as the district waits for feedback from the ministry in regards to the request for more doses of the vaccine.

Charles Obongo, a resident of Ajeleiki village in Acowa sub-county said the concluded vaccination exercise is a relief to the farmers in the district.

“Since the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak was detected by MAAIF officials in November, 2019, we have been losing livestock which are our only source of livelihood,” said Obongo.

Simon Opolot, another livestock farmer from Alito sub-county said the vaccination exercise had been long overdue and they were running out of patience.

WHAT IS FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD)?

Dr. Robert Ojala, the Veterinary Inspector in the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries in charge of Teso-Karamoja regions describes Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine.

It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. FMD is not recognized as a zoonotic disease.

According to him, the disease spreads very quickly if not controlled and because of this is a reportable disease.

Causes

Dr. Ojala said that foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus of which there are seven ‘types,’ each producing the same symptoms and distinguishable only in the laboratory.

“The interval between exposure to infection and the appearance of symptoms varies between twenty-four hours and ten days, or even longer. The average time, under natural conditions, is three to six days,” he said.

Dr. Ojala explained that the virus survives in lymph nodes and bone marrow at neutral pH, but is destroyed in the muscle when pH is less than 6.0.

https://thecooperator.news/nwoya-under-attack-by-the-foot-and-mouth-disease/

He added that Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks have been linked with the importation of infected meat and meat products and that the disease can also be spread by people, vehicles and other objects that have been contaminated by the virus.

On the side of the symptoms, Dr. Ojala outlined fever, blisters in the mouth and on feet, drop in milk production, weight loss, loss of appetite, quivering lips and frothing of mouth. Cows may develop blisters on teats and lameness as some of the symptoms the affected cattle presents.

Prevention

According to the Cattle Site, Foot and Mouth Disease is one of the most difficult animal infections to control. Because the disease occurs in many parts of the world, there is always a chance of its accidental introduction into an unaffected country.

Export restrictions are often imposed on countries with known outbreaks.

FMD outbreaks are usually controlled by quarantines and movement restrictions, euthanasia of affected and in-contact animals, and cleansing and disinfection of affected premises, equipment and vehicles.

Infected carcasses must be disposed off safely by incineration, rendering, burial or other techniques. Milk from infected cows can be inactivated by heating to 100°C [212°F] for more than 20 minutes. Slurry can be heated to 67°C [153°F] for three minutes.

Rodents and other vectors may be killed to prevent them from mechanically disseminating the virus.
Good biosecurity measures should be practiced on uninfected farms to prevent entry of the virus.

Vaccination

Vaccination can be used to reduce the spread of FMD or protect specific animals.
Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines must closely match the serotype and strain of the infecting strain.

Vaccination with one serotype does not protect the animal against other serotypes, and may not protect the animal completely or at all from other strains of the same serotype. Currently, there is no universal FMD vaccine.

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Nebbi farmers shun cotton growing over short term crops

NEBBI – For the last three years, cotton growers in Nebbi district have shunned cotton growing for short term crops like rice due to consistent fluctuations in the price of cotton. Most farmers say it has only contributed to their prolonged life in poverty.

Due to the continuous fluctuation of cotton in the world market, farmers have resorted to growing of short-term crops like maize, soya beans, water melons, groundnuts and beans with a sustainable income and result oriented nature which benefit farmers within the period of three months.

The farmers who are reaping from other short-term crops have their livelihoods changed compared to cotton growing where cotton farmers have remained poor for more than 20 years.

According to some farmers, cotton fetched low prices of only Shs 1500 per kilo which many producers say it’s a huge loss compared to the working capital that each farmer spends right from preparing the cotton field.

Oyoma Francis, one of the traditional cotton farmers in Ndhew sub-county, Nebbi district says, last season, he planted more than 5 acres of cotton with a hope of getting profits to send his children to school but ended up getting frustrated with both the yields and price.

“I have never realized any profits from cotton growing for the last three planting seasons due to price and poor seeds quality,” Oyoma said.

The farmers have been battling with low price for cotton commodity for the last five years with the price ranging from Shs 1000 to Shs 1200.

Oyoma further noted that the refusal by most traditional cotton farmers to produce the crop this season, may lead to shortage of cotton commodity since most farmers have opted to grow less tedious crops for easy management.

Another cotton farmer in Atego sub-county, Nebbi district, Franko Wacal says, in 2020, he planted 2 acres of cotton and spent more than Shs 700,000 but only harvested 300kgs which amounted to Shs 450,000 at Shs 1500 per kilo.

“Cotton growing is no longer attractive to farmers due to the production cost incurred by the farmers right from preparing the land up to the harvest time,” Wacal said.

https://thecooperator.news/plummeting-prices-anger-cotton-farmers/

Wacal added that farmers had better soils and they had no reasons sticking to a crop that fetches low returns due to marketability and it’s labor intensive which gives no room to farmers to tap profits at the end of the season.

An official from the Cotton Development Organization (CDO) anonymously said, Uganda has the lowest influence with the price of cotton compared to the world market which has remained a consistent challenge to cotton farmers.

He adds that surprisingly for more than 2 years, cotton farmers have not been realizing good yields and returns due to the outbreak of jessed cotton pest which affected the quality and price of cotton.

“We are getting challenges with continuous fluctuation of cotton prices in the world market with only 5 to 10% of cotton being sold internally in the country but, 90% of cotton was mostly exported to the world market whereby the prices of the cotton are dictated in the world market which has demoralized cotton farmers, ” he said.

He says the country is registering low cotton production due to climatic changes and the fluctuation of cotton prices in the world market during the harvest season which has barred cotton farmers from growing the quantities needed to be exported to the global market.

But this year, the price of cotton has increased from Shs1500 to Shs 2000 and farmers still say, the price is not high enough compared to the workload at the cotton plantation.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC0 Emma Onyango Okol says, cotton was among the top main cash crops in the country for the last 30 years but there has been a problem with prices after harvest which are so demoralizing and contributing to poverty among the farmers since its labor intensive.

Onyango adds that there is need to restore cooperatives society such that farmers’ problems are well managed to avoid exploitation of farmers by the middle men who take advantage of farmers’ ignorance while negotiating prices.

“Cotton farmers should be linked directly to cotton ginneries to avoid exploitation of farmers by middle men who take advantage over them. This has affected their economic transformation; farmers should be encouraged to form cooperatives,” Onyango said.

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