World Vision invests 1.7 million dollars in the education sector

HOIMA – Hoima Catholic Diocese has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with World Vision with the aim of promoting education in the diocese.

The MoU was signed by the Bishop of Hoima Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev Vicente Kirabo and Jeremiah Nyanga, the World Vision Uganda Program Director under a project dubbed Collaboration and Partnering for Greater Impact in the Lives of Children.

The focus of the project is to increase enrolment of learners in primary schools to be able to read and write.

Nyanga in his address said, the organization is partnering with religious and cultural institutions in implementing the project to ensure sustainable education since such institutions have strong roots and are respected.

Nyanga further noted that nationally, World Vision will invest 1.7 million dollars in the education sector for the financial years 2021-2025 with a target of 5 million children.

These funds will be shared by different districts where World Vision operates to support the education sector.

The project will also focus on observing children’s rights by fighting against early marriages, rape, torture and illiteracy among children.

During the implementation of the project, World Vision will offer capacity building for teachers, and teaching and learning aids besides supporting with school management and leadership skills.

“World Vision is a faith-based organization and we partner with the church as a choice and as indispensable partners; we want to put resources and synergy together so that we are able to do more. The kind of investment we are making are both financial and also human resource focused which is our greatest asset,” said Nyanga.

Speaking after the signing of the MoU, the Bishop of Hoima Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev Vicente Kirabo commended World Vision for the initiative saying, it will help to ensure a holistic education and that it will transform Bunyoro.

The Bishop also noted that the MoU is important because it seeks to address issues affecting children in the diocese.

He expressed concern over the increasing cases of child neglect and abuse especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that there is need for parents, religious leaders, teachers and government leaders to emulate Jesus as an example by loving and protecting the children so that they can live their lives to its fullness.

“I must say, as parent we must love our children, so that we can nature and form them into better citizens, if a teacher loves a child then that teacher will see to it that the child gets a holistic education,” said Bishop Kirabo.

Keneth Happy Mugabe, the World Vision Western region manager said, 23,465 children in Hoima Catholic diocese will benefit from the project.

He also noted that 60% of the population in the region are youth and children whose illiteracy levels are high.

Mugabe further noted that 65% of schools that work with organizations in the region are Catholic founded but the capacity of teachers to teach the children in some schools is lacking and promised that during the implementation of the project, they will look at capacity building of teachers.

Fr. Patrick Mugisa the Diocesan Secretary for Education said, Covid-19, dilapidated school structures and illiteracy are some of the setbacks of the education sector in the diocese, and that such challenges need a combined effort.

https://thecooperator.news/alebtong-district-failed-to-recover-shs-840m-from-youth-projects/

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NARO engages stakeholders to scale up production of bananas in Gulu

GULU – National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) engaged Gulu district stakeholders in an effort to scale up commercial production of bananas in the district.

During a meeting at Paicho sub-county in Gulu district, Milton Tenywa, a Research Officer at NARO noted that, Acholi and Lango sub-regions consume bananas worth Shs 24 billion annually yet only produce bananas worth Shs 6 billion locally from the two sub-regions.

“We want more farmers to start growing bananas so that they earn that remaining Shs 18 billion and export some to our neighbors in South Sudan,” Tenywa said.

Tenywa also argued that bananas are a good perennial crop for farmers in Acholi sub-region considering that they don’t have any.

“Farmers in Acholi sub-region lack a reliable perennial crop. Every season, farmers must till the land to plant crops,” he said.

NARO established 25 banana demonstration sites in Paicho sub-county in 2020, from which 400 farmers received training on banana growing.

The research organization also generated tissue culture seedlings which it distributed to 86 farmers. The 86 farmers are now each expected to supply free suckers to two farmers in 2022.

“We now need partners to help scale up banana production and tell farmers that they can earn more from farming through bananas,” Tenywa said.

He further added that, “If well maintained, an acre of land can earn a farmer up to Shs 9million annually.”

He said that a similar project implemented in Western, Central and South Western Uganda has seen banana production increase from 5 tons to 30 tons annually in the last five years.

Gulu district Production and Marketing Officer, Jackson Lakor noted that banana production is mainly done on subsistence level and not properly managed because of the belief that the crop cannot do well.

“The few farmers growing bananas lack proper knowledge on how to plant, manage and market the crop. You will find a banana farm having 20-30 plants which produce very small bananas,” he said.

Lakor however said, Gulu district has a huge potential of producing bananas commercially because it has good temperatures and receives adequate rainfall.

“Gulu receives 1500 milliliters of rainfall annually which is adequate for banana production, we also have adequate land,” Lakor said.

The Production Officer noted that there is a need to organize a farmers’ stakeholder platform at parish or sub-county level to make access to inputs and skills easier and cheaper.

“In order to change the mindset that bananas cannot grow well here, we need to establish demonstration sites where farmers can learn from,” he said.

Brigadier General Francis Ongom Achoka, the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Coordinator for Acholi and Lango sub-regions said, bananas would be included among the priority crops to be supplied to farmers in 2022.

The five-year project worth Shs 36 billion is funded by USAID through feed the future-a non-governmental organization.

It is also being implemented in Alero sub county in Nwoya district, Amach sub-county in Lira district and Myene sub-county in Oyam district.

Its target is to have more than 8,000 farmers in Acholi and Lango sub-region to embrace commercial banana production in the next three years.

https://thecooperator.news/increased-cotton-prices-excite-farmers-in-acholi/

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Ankole Diocese Partners With UCDA To Alleviate Poverty

ANKOLE – Ankole Diocese and Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) have launched a partnership to plant coffee to improve household incomes and transform communities in Western Uganda.

According to Sedrack Muhangi, UCDA’s Regional Coffee Extension Officer, the coffee growing campaign is targeting about 46,000 households in the area.

Muhangi says UCDA has gave out 22,500 Robusta coffee seedlings and 100 kilograms of Arabica coffee seeds to the diocese during the launch of the partnership on July 19th, 2021 at Kinoni Archdeaconry in Rwampara district.

Muhangi says UCDA joined the partnership because they believe the church institution can use its structures to improve both quality and quantity coffee production within the region.

“The church has well laid structures and commands a big following so we believe it can be a reliable partner to improve coffee production in terms of quality and quantity in this region,” Muhangi noted, before adding that they will give in more coffee depending on demand and uptake.

He said from 22,500 seedlings, after maturity, the diocese can earn about Shs 27 million in a season as each coffee plant can yield up to three kilograms ofKase or Fair Average Quality (FAQ) coffee a season, which translates into 67,500kgs.

Ankole diocese Bishop Rt Rev Sheldon Mwesigwa said supporting farming is part of the diocese’s community and household transformation programme.

He added that religious leaders owe a big debt if they only concentrate on spiritual growth and neglect other basics to transform communities in totality like improving household incomes.

“We will be answerable to our God if we let our people continue suffering in poverty. You can’t claim spiritual growth of a church when your people are languishing in poverty because we serve to grow our communities spiritually and in economic growth, “Bishop Mwesigwa noted.

He added that the church should not be a burden to christians over numerous demands to run the ministry, adding this is the reason the diocese is emphasizing in having its own income generating projects.

Bishop Mwesigwa said they have numerous acres of land spread at their churches and all these would be used as demonstration farms, and seed distribution centers of different agricultural produce to farmers.

Emmy Kateera Turyabagyenyi, Rwampara Resident District Commissioner (RDC) who officiated the launch pointed that the partnership is a great achievement not only in improving household incomes but also spiritual growth.

“This is a well thought intervention because some churches are becoming a burden. Your christians are poor but you keep demanding them thanksgiving, tithes and other church contributions every Sunday and a believer who finds has no money has no alternative but shuns the church because of shame and stigma” Turyabagyenyi explains.

Simon Kwikiriza, the head of household and transformation department Ankole diocese says they are targeting to have their own coffee processing factory in the next 10 years with the view of exporting the diocese coffee.

Kwikiriza said the coffee seedlings will cover 50 acres out of the project target of 400 acres on the church land.

Ankole diocese has a total population of 230,000 christians, 488 churches and 74 parishes.

https://thecooperator.news/uganda-doubles-increase-in-coffee-exports/

UCDA is working with different religious institutions across the country to promote coffee growing in line with the National Development Plan (NDP III) target of mindset change to promote development.

Away from Mbarara, UCDA also partnered with Hoima Catholic Diocese to promote coffee growing in Hoima district.

Dr. Emmanuel Lyamulemye, the Managing Director Uganda Coffee Development Authority stressed the need for the leadership of the diocese to mobilize families to increase incomes through coffee planting.

Lyamulemye further stressed that by 2050, there shall be a shortfall of 50 million bags thus a focus on Africans to meet that gap.

He asked locals in Hoima district to look at coffee as a business and a farmer’s bank through value addition both at production and market stages.

In conclusion, Lyamulemye revealed that the church is a centre of community with a role of educating people on business that can lead them to economic enhancement and development.

The meeting culminated into the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UCDA and Hoima diocese to facilitate coffee planting that can generate income to support the diocese’s short-term goals.

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

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Ankole Diocese Partners With UCDA To Alleviate Poverty

ANKOLE – Ankole Diocese and Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) have launched a partnership to plant coffee to improve household incomes and transform communities in Western Uganda.

According to Sedrack Muhangi, UCDA’s Regional Coffee Extension Officer, the coffee growing campaign is targeting about 46,000 households in the area.

Muhangi says UCDA has gave out 22,500 Robusta coffee seedlings and 100 kilograms of Arabica coffee seeds to the diocese during the launch of the partnership on July 19th, 2021 at Kinoni Archdeaconry in Rwampara district.

Muhangi says UCDA joined the partnership because they believe the church institution can use its structures to improve both quality and quantity coffee production within the region.

“The church has well laid structures and commands a big following so we believe it can be a reliable partner to improve coffee production in terms of quality and quantity in this region,” Muhangi noted, before adding that they will give in more coffee depending on demand and uptake.

He said from 22,500 seedlings, after maturity, the diocese can earn about Shs 27 million in a season as each coffee plant can yield up to three kilograms ofKase or Fair Average Quality (FAQ) coffee a season, which translates into 67,500kgs.

Ankole diocese Bishop Rt Rev Sheldon Mwesigwa said supporting farming is part of the diocese’s community and household transformation programme.

He added that religious leaders owe a big debt if they only concentrate on spiritual growth and neglect other basics to transform communities in totality like improving household incomes.

“We will be answerable to our God if we let our people continue suffering in poverty. You can’t claim spiritual growth of a church when your people are languishing in poverty because we serve to grow our communities spiritually and in economic growth, “Bishop Mwesigwa noted.

He added that the church should not be a burden to christians over numerous demands to run the ministry, adding this is the reason the diocese is emphasizing in having its own income generating projects.

Bishop Mwesigwa said they have numerous acres of land spread at their churches and all these would be used as demonstration farms, and seed distribution centers of different agricultural produce to farmers.

Emmy Kateera Turyabagyenyi, Rwampara Resident District Commissioner (RDC) who officiated the launch pointed that the partnership is a great achievement not only in improving household incomes but also spiritual growth.

“This is a well thought intervention because some churches are becoming a burden. Your christians are poor but you keep demanding them thanksgiving, tithes and other church contributions every Sunday and a believer who finds has no money has no alternative but shuns the church because of shame and stigma” Turyabagyenyi explains.

Simon Kwikiriza, the head of household and transformation department Ankole diocese says they are targeting to have their own coffee processing factory in the next 10 years with the view of exporting the diocese coffee.

Kwikiriza said the coffee seedlings will cover 50 acres out of the project target of 400 acres on the church land.

Ankole diocese has a total population of 230,000 christians, 488 churches and 74 parishes.

https://thecooperator.news/uganda-doubles-increase-in-coffee-exports/

UCDA is working with different religious institutions across the country to promote coffee growing in line with the National Development Plan (NDP III) target of mindset change to promote development.

Away from Mbarara, UCDA also partnered with Hoima Catholic Diocese to promote coffee growing in Hoima district.

Dr. Emmanuel Lyamulemye, the Managing Director Uganda Coffee Development Authority stressed the need for the leadership of the diocese to mobilize families to increase incomes through coffee planting.

Lyamulemye further stressed that by 2050, there shall be a shortfall of 50 million bags thus a focus on Africans to meet that gap.

He asked locals in Hoima district to look at coffee as a business and a farmer’s bank through value addition both at production and market stages.

In conclusion, Lyamulemye revealed that the church is a centre of community with a role of educating people on business that can lead them to economic enhancement and development.

The meeting culminated into the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UCDA and Hoima diocese to facilitate coffee planting that can generate income to support the diocese’s short-term goals.

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

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Hoima Drivers Miss Out On Covid-19 Relief Fund

HOIMA – Drivers operating from Hoima Taxi Park and Kinuubi Park in Hoima city have threatened to stage a peaceful demonstration protesting the alleged city authorities’ failure to include their names on the list of beneficiaries of Covid-19 relief fund.

The Government through the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD) allocated Shs 100, 000 to each household with various categories of vulnerabilities in cities and municipalities across the country.

Such vulnerable groups included drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers commonly known as boda-boda riders, salon operators and others whose work was either totally stopped or restricted to a certain level to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

However, although some people have received the money in Hoima city, many including drivers and boda-boda riders still complain that they are yet to see any single penny wired to their cell phones as per the government promise.

Peter Byaruhanga and Musa Kalanzi said although their names were initially registered and included on the list of beneficiaries, they were surprised after few of the colleagues received, leaving the majority out.

They claim that the money has been wired to phones of the non-vulnerable instead of the targeted groups.

They claimed that out of the 600 drivers who were registered only 15 received it wondering the criterion that was used in selecting the beneficiaries that led to their ultimate conclusion.

It is against this background that they threaten to stage a peaceful demonstration to attract the attention of the city authorities so they can act accordingly.

The drivers said that city leaders need to explain why they were left out, adding that they are currently struggling to feed their families since most of them have no other source of livelihood.

Muzamil Ahebwa, a driver and publicity secretary for Kinuubi Drivers’ Association said that more than 20 drivers at his park missed out on the money. He expressed concern that most of the people who received the money were not part of vulnerable groups.

“Am also a victim, I do not know what happened to our names, you can imagine few of our colleagues whom we registered with on the same form received the money and I and many of my colleague drivers did not get any coin, I suspect our names were excluded by the people from the center.”

He demanded that, city authorities intervene and communicate to the Prime Minister about their concern so that they can also be considered.

https://thecooperator.news/theft-of-government-hoes-rocks-soroti-city/

Imran Tumwesige, the Secretary Hoima Boda-boda Cyclists Association said that many of the boda-boda cyclists missed on the funds. He noted several boda-boda cyclists registered for relief funds but few have received it.

“We are suspecting some people to have received the money in our names, leaving the actual beneficiaries to miss out,” he said.

Samuel Kisembo, the Hoima Resident City Commissioner (RCC) said that they were directed to register 9,460 households but they received more than 18,000 applications from the city dwellers.

“Hoima city through our technical team, we did our part and good numbers of people have received this money and we estimate to be standing at 50%, of course the challenge is that the demand was very high, there were over 18,000 applicants to benefit but we were allocated only 9,460. So as of now we have not yet gotten any report from the MGLSD of names that were not able to make it,” he said.

He added that they are optimistic that by the end of this week all the people who were registered will have received their money.

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

The post Hoima Drivers Miss Out On Covid-19 Relief Fund appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Hoima Drivers Miss Out On Covid-19 Relief Fund

HOIMA – Drivers operating from Hoima Taxi Park and Kinuubi Park in Hoima city have threatened to stage a peaceful demonstration protesting the alleged city authorities’ failure to include their names on the list of beneficiaries of Covid-19 relief fund.

The Government through the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD) allocated Shs 100, 000 to each household with various categories of vulnerabilities in cities and municipalities across the country.

Such vulnerable groups included drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers commonly known as boda-boda riders, salon operators and others whose work was either totally stopped or restricted to a certain level to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

However, although some people have received the money in Hoima city, many including drivers and boda-boda riders still complain that they are yet to see any single penny wired to their cell phones as per the government promise.

Peter Byaruhanga and Musa Kalanzi said although their names were initially registered and included on the list of beneficiaries, they were surprised after few of the colleagues received, leaving the majority out.

They claim that the money has been wired to phones of the non-vulnerable instead of the targeted groups.

They claimed that out of the 600 drivers who were registered only 15 received it wondering the criterion that was used in selecting the beneficiaries that led to their ultimate conclusion.

It is against this background that they threaten to stage a peaceful demonstration to attract the attention of the city authorities so they can act accordingly.

The drivers said that city leaders need to explain why they were left out, adding that they are currently struggling to feed their families since most of them have no other source of livelihood.

Muzamil Ahebwa, a driver and publicity secretary for Kinuubi Drivers’ Association said that more than 20 drivers at his park missed out on the money. He expressed concern that most of the people who received the money were not part of vulnerable groups.

“Am also a victim, I do not know what happened to our names, you can imagine few of our colleagues whom we registered with on the same form received the money and I and many of my colleague drivers did not get any coin, I suspect our names were excluded by the people from the center.”

He demanded that, city authorities intervene and communicate to the Prime Minister about their concern so that they can also be considered.

https://thecooperator.news/theft-of-government-hoes-rocks-soroti-city/

Imran Tumwesige, the Secretary Hoima Boda-boda Cyclists Association said that many of the boda-boda cyclists missed on the funds. He noted several boda-boda cyclists registered for relief funds but few have received it.

“We are suspecting some people to have received the money in our names, leaving the actual beneficiaries to miss out,” he said.

Samuel Kisembo, the Hoima Resident City Commissioner (RCC) said that they were directed to register 9,460 households but they received more than 18,000 applications from the city dwellers.

“Hoima city through our technical team, we did our part and good numbers of people have received this money and we estimate to be standing at 50%, of course the challenge is that the demand was very high, there were over 18,000 applicants to benefit but we were allocated only 9,460. So as of now we have not yet gotten any report from the MGLSD of names that were not able to make it,” he said.

He added that they are optimistic that by the end of this week all the people who were registered will have received their money.

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

The post Hoima Drivers Miss Out On Covid-19 Relief Fund appeared first on The Cooperator News.