Host communities tipped on business opportunities as Pader is set to host more South Sudan refugees

PADER – Development partners in livelihood programs have tipped local communities in Pader to tap into business opportunities as the district is set to host more refugees.

The team from Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), last week reached the proposed site located at Achol-pii, to assess the suitability of the area for refugees coming in to be accommodated in the area.

Coordinator of Mukwano Industries Uganda Limited, Sam Acuti, said as partners in livelihood programmes, it is time for host communities to engage in some form of business as more refugees settle in the district.

“We know food demand will be high and we feel that if such business opportunities are tapped into, the lives of the local population will improve,” he advised.

LCV Chairperson Obwoya Oyat, told theCooperator that as OPM finalizes with plans to bring refugees to Pader, the technical team will also reach out to the local community on how best to get involved in livelihood projects since there will be available market for whatever they produce.

“The inspected land can accommodate more than 20,000, refugees and we know when they get here, it means more business to the host communities,” he said.

The District Commercial Officer, Alfred Obaloker, said several stakeholders are in high gear sensitizing the masses on the upcoming business opportunities.

“All is set for our people and community engagements are still on going,” he said

Julius Kamuza, the Camp Commandant, Lamwo Refugee Settlement confirmed that a team from OPM, reached out to the district officials and they had a lengthy discussion on the land availability to host refugees.

“Our engagement was with the district leaders and host communities on land availability, we are waiting for their communication,” according to him.

Currently, there are 60,000 South Sudan refugees settled in the three centers in Lamwo district, they fled their homes in 2017, after mayhem broke out back in South Sudan.

Recently, Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Hilary Onek, said OPM was searching for possible land that can host more refugees that are most likely to come in looking at the continued unrest back home.

A total of 1.5 million refugees are already settled in Uganda according to statistics from the Humanitarian aid agency, United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

https://thecooperator.news/naro-engages-stakeholders-to-scale-up-production-of-bananas-in-gulu/

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Nwoya farmers want government to fast track the wildlife act amid persistent invasion by elephants

NWOYA – Farmers in Nwoya district want the Ministry of Wildlife, Tourism and Antiquities to fast track the Wildlife Act so that they are compensated for the crops, injuries and lives lost to wild animals.

This follows the persistent invasion of wild animals including elephants, buffaloes and lions among others.

The latest incidences were in the villages of Lapono, Dongolem and Agung where more than 3000 acres of rice and soya bean have been destroyed by elephants numbering 7, that invaded the area.

Francis Ojok Opira, the LCI Chairperson of Lapono village in Pabali parish, Anaka sub-county says, the crops destroyed were in their final stages of maturing and readying for harvests. At least 28 people have been affected by the destruction inflicted by the elephants from the neighboring Murchison falls national game park.

“The elephants came from the park and destroyed more than 3000 acres of rice and soya beans belonging to the 28 people. We are still continuing with profiling the level of destruction by the elephants,” Ojok said.

“This is not the first time these elephants escape from the park to destroy crops from our gardens. In August this year, they came and destroyed more than 5000 acres of crops and even injured people who tried to chase them away,” Ojok noted

Locals had to contact Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers to come to their rescue and drive away the elephants from the community.

Juliet Atim, a resident of Agung village says, the persistent invasion has thrown them into losses and increasing the risk of hunger in their families.

Atim lost 10 acres of rice and soy bean that she had hoped to get money to send her children back to school.

“I had hopes of taking my children back to school when I sell my soya beans and rice. Now I am not sure if it will be possible because the elephants have destroyed my crops,” said Atim.

Justine Ajaji, the LCIII Chairperson of Lii sub-county in Nwoya district says, it’s been too long ever since the government stated that people affected by invasion of wild animals would be compensated.

Ajaji believes that hundreds of people have lost millions in cash crops destroyed especially by elephants with others injured and killed in the attacks in the recent past.

John Bosco Okullu, the former LCIII Chairperson of Koch Goma sub-county and also a farmer in Langele, in Lii sub-county expressed concerns at government’s slow pace at compensating those who lost properties in the past.

“Since 2019 March, the government started talking about the Wildlife Act which has components of compensating people whose properties have been destroyed by wild animals from game parks. When will we be compensated? The future of our children is being jeopardized as our livelihoods are destroyed. This has taken too long,” Okullu observes.

While presenting a statement on the implementation of the Wildlife Act in March 2020, Tourism and Wildlife Minister, Tom Butime said the ministry had begun processes of developing regulations to operationalize the compensation clauses but the scheme is not yet active.

“We could not start compensating Ugandans without accumulating money to the Compensation Fund. We started with setting aside 22% of the wildlife revenue to the fund starting this financial year 2019/2020,” said Butime.

The Minister added that the compensation regulations were expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year. The review process of revenue sharing regulations would have been finalized by then.

In an interview with our reporter, Martin Magara, the State Minister Wildlife, Tourism and Antiquities said, the government is still looking for funds to help fund the claims for compensation by people affected by the invasion of wild animals.

“We are currently looking for funds to pay for the compensation claims of hundreds of people who have been affected by the invasion of wild animals. Some people have lost lives, others were injured, while others lost food crops and properties to the wild animals,” Magara notes.

Several people in the districts of Amuru, Nwoya, Kitgum, Masindi, Kitagwenda among others have been heavily affected by the invasion of wild animals from the Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Kidepo national game parks in recent times.

https://thecooperator.news/national-land-acquisition-resettlement-and-rehabilitation-policy-in-offing/

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Lack of political will failing the fight against corruption, says Soroti leaders

SOROTI – Lack of political will among leaders and moral decadence have been singled out as one the major obstacles in the fight against corruption.

These were sentiments raised during a meeting between the State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Hon Rose Lilly Akello who doubles as the Woman Member of Parliament for Karenga District, local leaders and members of the civil society of Soroti district and Soroti City.

Benson Ekuwe Ocen, the Country Executive Director of Public Affairs Center (PAC) Uganda blames continued corruption tendencies in Uganda to government’s failure to close legal loopholes.

He claims that the government has failed to hold high-ranking officials accountable for theft of public funds, despite its stated commitment to eradicating corruption.

Ekuwe points out that lack of political will has crippled Uganda’s anti-corruption institutions, undermining their efforts through political interference, underfunding, harassment and threats.

According to him, lack of a clear system to protect witnesses and to insulate prosecutors from bribery and intimidation means that anti-corruption institutions in Uganda have ended up focusing on low-level corruption involving small sums of money, while the “big fish” have continued to accumulate wealth and power.

Ekuwe further said, since President Museveni took office in 1986, despite recurrent corruption scandals; only one minister has ever been convicted of a corruption-related offense, a verdict that was overturned on appeal just after the president publicly offered to pay the defendant’s legal costs.

He argues that political leaders beginning with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni must walk the talk in the fight against corruption and reform policies that will help champion a move towards zero corruption tolerance in public offices across the country.

“We shall continue singing about corruption in this country, if those in authority do not stop shielding individuals implicated in corruption scandals,” says Ekuwe.

Ekuwe adds that most of the people in authority only mind about their personal gains at the expense of the local man who is a taxpayer expecting good, effective and efficient service delivery in all sectors in return for his taxes but in vain.

Meanwhile, the controversial state mobiliser for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM]) party for Teso sub-region Teddy Acham blamed the police and the Office of the Inspector General of Government (IGG) over delayed investigations of corruption cases.

She states that police are so quick to conclude investigations of other cases but when it comes to corruption investigations, it takes years without being concluded and the culprits are always released.

According to Acham, it’s disheartening for the police and the IGG to set corruption culprits free claiming that they are being investigated.

“I don’t understand why most of these culprits are often left unpunished and investigations of technical officers have often been delayed and in most cases, they are set free without any prosecution,” she wondered.

Acham cites an incident in which 14 officers of Soroti City accused of allegedly stealing over 140 cartons of government hoes meant for the rural peasants were set free without being arraigned in court to answer charges of theft of government property in which they are being accused off.

In between June and July this year, more than 140 cartons of hoes donated by the government through the Ministry of Agriculture to the locals went missing from Soroti City stores under the custody of police. Some City officers were arrested but they were released after spending few days in police cells and the cases seems to have died a natural death,” adds Acham.

Paul Omer, the Mayor of Soroti City East Division said, the issue of those implicated in corruption scandals walking escort free has escalated corruption cases in Uganda.

“The weakness in government structures that often leave the culprits unpunished even when they are proven guilty, has encouraged many greedy individuals to engage in corruption which has greatly affected development of our country Uganda called the “Pearl of Africa”.

Meanwhile, the East Kyoga regional police spokesperson SP Gregory Oscar Ageca, clarified that by law, police are not allowed to detain a suspect beyond 48 hours, a reason they release suspects not only those accused of corruption but other crimes as well as investigations continue.

He explains that if the police are not yet able to charge the suspect within the 48 hours, the law mandates them to release a suspect on bond as investigations into the matter continue.

The regional police spokesperson Oscar Gregory Ageca challenged the public to ensure that cases of corruption are often reported to police for redress other than lamenting in silence.

“Some people complain in silence instead of reporting matters of corruption to police or to the IGG’s office.”

Godfrey Mubiru, the Deputy head in the office of the IGG in Soroti said, the delays in the investigations of corruption cases is not only in Teso but it cuts across the country.

He further clarified that investigations of corruption cases often delay because of lack of credible evidence and information to prosecute the suspects.

According to Mubiru, for a person to be charged over corruption, the plaintiff must provide concrete evidence against that person short of that, IGG can’t do much and that is the reason some of those alleged to have been engaged in corruption are released.

The State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Hon Rose Lilly Akello acknowledged that lack of political will is hindering a fight against corruption and reiterated governments’ commitment to fight the vice which has affected the economic development of Uganda.

However, she tasked the police and office of the IGG to ensure that corruption cases are investigated comprehensively and the culprits are brought to book.

“We should not sit and watch people suffering, I want to request the investigating arms of the government to collaborate and ensure that we prosecute all perpetrators of corruption in courts of law,” the minister said.

Hon Rose Lilly Akello cited corruption as some of the main immoral acts that have continued to erode Uganda’s ethical values, thus endangering the fabric of the society, calling on parents to instill acceptable morals into their children at a tender age.

Despite the existence of agencies like Inspectorate of Government (IGG), the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity (DEI), the Anticorruption Court and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit among others, which are established by government to fight corruption, the vice remains a monster that has dented the image of Uganda.

https://thecooperator.news/prime-minister-nabanja-accuses-minister-onek-of-indiscipline/

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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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Acholi district councils tasked to enact ordinances to protect land

ACHOLI – The District, Municipal and City Councils of Acholi have been tasked to enact ordinances to protect land. This directive was given by Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) and the cultural institution Ker Kwaro Acholi, following the rampant sale of land which has seen thousands of acres of land in the region bought by investors, cattle keepers and top government officials.

Ambrose Olaa, the Prime Minister, Ker Kwaro Acholi, the Acholi Cultural Institution says, the rate at which land is being sold is alarming. He says, if the current trend in land sale continues, the Acholi community will lose its identity in the next 5 to 10 years to come.

Olaa says, following a meeting with all the cultural chiefs in Acholi, it was resolved that the sale of communally owned land, swamps, kraals, forests, and cultural sites be banned.

“The cultural chiefs in a meeting held last week have banned the sale of kraals, communally owned lands, swamps and cultural sites because they are not owned by individuals. We have in the past years seen conflicts arise over ownership of kraals, community land, cultural sites and swamps in the Chiefdom which has seen people injured and properties destroyed. For instance, the Amuru hot springs where the hot springs and the kraal was reportedly sold to MP Odonga Otto by a family,” Olaa explains.

Anthony Akol, the Chairperson Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) says, one of the resolutions in the meeting with Ker Kwaro Acholi and other stakeholders was to have all the land titles in the sub-region verified.

This is to ascertain the validity of the titles since several people who are brokering land sale in the sub-region have resorted to selling community land, kraals among others fraudulently.

According to Akol, a vetting committee should also be set in all the districts to regulate the renting and sales of communal land. The district Veterinary Officers would then get approval from the LCs before issuing cattle movement or grazing permit.

Denis Onekalit Amere, the Member of Parliament for Kitgum Municipality says, it has become a trend for jobless youths to broker land sale, which is the major reason for the surge in conflicts over land ownership.

Onekalit wants land brokers either for sale or hire investigated and in case any conflict or dispute arising from their land deal; they are arrested to face the law for fraud.

Rwot Otinga Otto Otuka, the Chief of Lamogi Chiefdom, also the Deputy Paramount Chief of Acholi says, people have taken advantage of the cosmopolitan culture of the Acholi to approach, live and acquire their land.

Otinga says, if the people acquiring land were peacefully coexisting without hurting the cultural setting of the community, there would be no problem.

“Reports of sexual violence, land grabbing, forest destruction and being in possession of firearms have emerged mostly from investors and the Balaalo cattle keepers. We can’t continue living with such people who just want to hurt, grab and destroy the culture and the people of Acholi,” Otinga notes.

Several conflicts over land have over the years emerged in Acholi sub-region including the Madhvani Lakang land saga, Apaa township, among others.

https://thecooperator.news/apg-ker-kwaro-acholi-calls-for-unconditional-release-of-apaa-residents-in-custody/

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Kigarama SACCO boss loses civil suit against the registrar; members demand for a new board chairman

SHEEMA – Kigarama People’s SACCO, a historical financial institution hailing from Masheruka town council Kanyeganyegye ward in Sheema Municipality, is on the verge of collapsing due to leadership squabbles.

This started in 2018 after the end of the two terms of Grace Rukumbagaza, the board Chairman. SACCO members sought to change its leadership but failed.

After assuming board office in 2013, Rukumbagaza started manipulating everything to keep himself in power says, John Muhabwe, one of Kigarama People’s SACCO members.

“He started by manipulating the delegates who are supposed to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and we kept on demanding for change until he reached the extent of appointing the vetting committee using the board instead of electing them at the AGM,” Muhabwe said.

To their surprise, Rukumbagaza held sham elections insisting that he will not leave office until he is done with another term.

This annoyed most SACCO members who appealed to the Resident District Commissioner, District Commercial Officer and later to Joseph William Kitandwe, the then registrar of co-operatives to allow members to conduct fresh elections to choose a new board chairman.

“I was the General Secretary and when our term of office ended in 2012, we elected Rukumbagaza as our new board Chairman. His term of office ended in 2018 after serving six years as a Chairman for the supervisory committee and now six years as the board Chairman,” says John Muhabwe’ one of Kigarama People’s SACCO.

After receiving the petition, Muhabwe says the registrar in his capacity issued a road map directing the board Chairman to hold fresh elections and also for the AGM to elect the vetting committee.

“After realizing that the Chairman’s years of office had expired, the registrar directed that there should be elections and also gave us criteria on how to select delegates,” he said.

Muhabwe says together with Juliet Kyosimire, the General Manager Kigarama People’s SACCO, they selected 200 delegates balancing the 6 zones which was not the case before.

Upon putting in place all legal processes to hold the AGM, the Chairman rejected the plans thus suing the registrar for interfering with the SACCO affairs.

“When he saw 65 delegates picked from the headquarters, Rukumbagaza realized he will not survive the vote and he instead rushed to Mbarara High Court claiming that the registrar was not supposed to indulge in the process of electing the new board,” Muhabwe said.

According to Muhabwe the matter was filed by the SACCO Chairman on 28th November 2019 at Mbarara High Court before Lady Justice Joyce Kavuma.

During the preliminary hearing, the applicant was represented by M/S Ampurire Associate Advocates then the 1st respondent represented by the Office of the Attorney General’s Chambers, while the 2nd-8th respondents were represented by M/S Mugabi, Shyka & Co. Advocates who all presented their submissions before the Judge.

On 22nd October, 2021, Judge Kavuma dismissed the case with costs on grounds that the application was brought outside the time limit given by the statute.

“I find that this application is statute barred and incompetent before this Court for being filed out of time without seeking extension time. Accordingly, the application is hereby dismissed with costs,” read part of the ruling.

The Vice Chairman Godwin Arikwera, confirmed that he is now a passive leader since the Chairman side-lined him in all the leadership affairs of the SACCO.

“Currently, I don’t have any mandate at Kigarama People’s SACCO because the Chairman usurped all my powers as his deputy,” Arikwera explained.

Also, Osbert Amanya, another member of Kigarama People’s SACCO says, Rukumbagaza used his powers as a Chairman to buy a SACCO van and open more branches without the AGM approval.

“We’ve spent almost three years without holding any AGM, his term of office expired; so how did he go ahead to purchase a SACCO van and opening other branches in Ibanda and Mbarara without members’ consent? Amanya asked.

Also, Mzee Kahima Samson, one of the founder members, who was chased from the delegates meeting in 2019 by the accused Chairman also complained that Rukumbagaza must leave the top leadership for Kigarama People’s SACCO to move forward.

“It’s true we voted you expecting great things but that should not make you to refuse handing over power. Are you waiting up to a time when Jesus Christ comes back?” Kahima asked.

Way forward

Muhabwe says, Kigarama People’s SACCO can only restore its lost glory if the current Chairman is replaced.

“For the last 15 years he has led the SACCO, what else does he want to achieve? He should pave way for the members to decide who should lead the SACCO,” Muhabwe advised.

He adds that if the Chairman does not show any intentions of appeal, they are ready to write to the registrar of Cooperatives calling for fresh elections during the 2020/2021 AGM.

“We are still waiting because 14 days expired on Saturday which court allows for one to appeal but if we find that he has not appealed we shall write to the registrar to call for our AGM,” Muhabwe emphasized.

On his part, Amanya says they are not ready to count the total compensation if the Chairman has not stepped out.

“We are not the ones who opened a case, so awarding us costs was irregular and we cannot meet the costs when he is still the serving Chairman because he has all the chances of getting all the money from our SACCO,” says Amanya.

He adds that plans of getting an external auditor are underway to assess the SACCO’s finances.

“We are in the process of bringing an external auditor to assess the loss the Chairman has caused to the SACCO because we have almost spent 3 years without holding an AGM. We don’t know the SACCO’s turnover neither do we know how much he spent on buying a van nor on opening other branches,” Amanya appealed.

Allan Buhanda, the District Commercial Officer (DCO) Sheema District advised Kigarama People’s SACCO members to organize pre-AGMs and have a legitimate board.

When Chairman Rukumbagaza was contacted to comment whether he is willing to appeal the matter or not, he answered that he cannot speak to strangers.

“I don’t speak to anyone whom I don’t know,” he briefly replied.

Kigarama People’s SACCO started as a public limited company with only 24 members and later registered as a SACCO on 11th April, 2005 but currently it has a total membership of 8797.

https://thecooperator.news/cooperatives-given-up-to-november-to-hold-covid-19-delayed-agms/

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Cooperatives, Commercial Officers trained on Cooperative Identity, Business Management & Regulations

KAMPALA – The Assistant Commissioner for Cooperatives in the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives (MTIC), Robert Mpakibi has urged leaders of cooperatives around the country to always insist on using the established regulations or legal guidelines in the management of their establishments.

Mpakibi says cooperatives should endeavor to refer to the available laws and regulations for guidance in financial and social audits, management and other legal requirements to avoid running their cooperatives into legal ditches that can lead to their collapse.

Mpakibi, who represented the Registrar of Cooperatives in the MTIC says, cooperatives need to keep their organs functional at all time, and stick to the established operational procedures to avoid unnecessary management sanctions.

While addressing a training session for cooperatives and District Commercial Officers in Namugongo, Mpakibi acknowledged the fact that many cooperators are ignorant of the sector rules and regulations in Uganda. He encouraged them to endeavor to learn and follow them always.

“You people need to stick to the rules and regulations of this business. You do not bend a single regulation, because it will catch up with you. You should enhance your knowledge levels about the law and compliance to handle a wide range of areas,” he added.

He stressed that cooperatives should always ensure that institutional financial audits are carried out by fully certified bodies or persons sanctioned by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda as provided for by the Cooperative Societies Act as amended in 2020.

“You can only be sure if your financial audit is done by a certified auditor,” he said.

Mpakibi also revealed that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is carrying out a cooperative census to validate the cooperative register, and ascertain the cooperative movement’s contribution to the national economy.

“We have so many cooperatives in the register, we need to find out how many really exist. We are examining the level of compliance, their participation in the activities and their contribution to the economy,” Mpakibi said.

The 4 day leaders orientation training organized and conducted by The Uhuru Institute for Social Development under the auspices of the Coop360 Network, a platform that so far brings together 50,000 cooperators from across Uganda aimed at skilling the District Commercial Officers and selected cooperative leaders in areas like cooperative identity and fundamentals, financial and social audits, taxation, strategy development, and conflict prevention and management.

Denis Odeba, the Senior Officer Learning and Organizational Development at The Uhuru Institute says the training initiative aimed at building a sustainable operational environment for the cooperators with skills, knowledge and proper understanding of the cooperative identity, fundamentals and business practice.

“Knowledge sharing in cooperative business is key to social development, where different players contribute to the community development agenda like agriculture, education and others in a collective manner,” he added.

Under the Coop 360 Network, several cooperators have been skilled in multiple business aspects to support the sustainability of the cooperative movement.

The District Commercial Officer – Kamuli, Fredrick Ssentongo, who also attended the training says, the training and networking was so handy that it would address most of the challenges cooperators have been facing, especially those that are financial and operational.

“Many of the cooperatives especially SACCOs and other groups think a cooperative is a charity, where you are just given money without investing,” he said.

He says cooperators need to appreciate that fact that they need to invest, save, pay back the loans and sustain the business like any.

The District Commercial Officer, Bududa Wafula Hashim says, many cooperatives have collapsed due to governance challenges.

“The leaders are mismanaging the cooperatives due to ignorance of the rules and the regulations. Such a training will go a long way in enabling us manage such and change the trends,” he says.

The trainees included; leaders of cooperatives such as Kamuli Entrepreneurs Development Organization, Ngora District Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Kapsukwar Maize Producers SACCO, Bushika Area Cooperative Enterprise from Kamuli, Ngora, Bukwo and Bududa districts respectively alongside their respective District Commercial Officers.

https://thecooperator.news/cooperatives-trained-on-business-recovery-in-post-covid-19-pandemic/

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APG, Ker Kwaro Acholi calls for unconditional release of Apaa residents in custody

ADJUMANI – The Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) and Ker Kwaro Acholi have called for the unconditional release of 7 residents of Apaa who have been arrested and are being detained in Adjumani district.

The residents identified as Vincent Okumu, Kenneth, Stephen Ojara and his son Julius Arop, Patrick Oloya, Denis Ochaya and one only identified as Okumu were arrested between August and October this year.

Apaa township, measuring over 24 square miles, has been at the center of conflict with both Acholi and the Madi claiming ownership. The attacks between the two communities have seen 20 people killed and 2 missing since 2015 to-date.

Addressing the media, Anthony Akol, the Chairperson Acholi Parliamentary Group says, the people who were innocently arrested and tortured in Adjumani district must be unconditionally released within a 14-day period of time.

According to Akol, failure to release these people, the members of Acholi Parliamentary Group will pitch camp in Apaa township to send a clear message on the ongoing human rights violation which include; torture, freedom to live freely as well as access to social services such as schools and health centers which have since been closed for over two years now.

“If the government can not order for the release of the people arrested innocently, we are going to pitch camp, and send a clear message on how the government has failed to control and run the country,” Akol asserts.

Akol, also the Member of Parliament for Kilak North, says a team from APG, Ker Kwaro Acholi, Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) among other stakeholders will pursue dialogue with the Madi community for a long-lasting solution to the conflict.

Ambrose Olaa, the Prime Minister Ker Kwaro Acholi says, as the cultural institution, they are going to re-establish and ascertain the boundaries of Acholi land and their neighbors which is one of the ways forward to solve land conflicts arising from border disputes.

Sharon Laker Balmoi, the Gulu District Woman Member of Parliament says, with the current trend of occurrences in Apaa, children and women are left to suffer on the veranda of houses or even under trees because their houses have been destroyed.

“We have lost the education of future children, people have caught illnesses without treatment because of the harsh conditions they have been subjected to, yet the government can’t take a stand to end the dispute. Regardless of where Apaa is, the right to land ownership and other human rights must be respected and protected, which the government seems to have failed to do,” Balmoi said.

The dispute has seen tons of food crops destroyed in the past three years leaving the community members homeless, without access to education and health.

https://thecooperator.news/kikuube-locals-storm-rdcs-office-over-appointment-of-land-board-chairman/

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Kikuube hold budget conference with call to mobilize farmers to embrace PDM

KIKUUBE – The Kikuube district leaders have emphasized the need to mobilize and sensitize farmers to get prepared to benefit from Parish Development Model (PDM).

In this financial year, Kikuube district will receive over Shs 500 million and this first quarter, the district received Shs.113 million for PDM.

The Shs 113 million is meant to conduct sensitization of the stakeholders, help farmers to form groups and pay salaries of parish chiefs among others.

The program was initiated by President Museveni with the aim of transforming 39% of households from subsistence economy to commercial production. The model is in line with the National Development Plan (NDP III) whose goal is to increase household incomes and improve the quality of life of Ugandans.

Peter Banura, the Kikuube district Chairman, explained that PDM is a magic program which can help farmers to move out of poverty if they get prepared and understand its purpose.

Banura made the call during the budget conference for the financial year 2022-2023 held at the Resort Hotel in Hoima town. The theme for 2022/2023 Financial Year for Kikuube district, “Industrialization for inclusive growth empowerment and wealth creation.”

He explained that there is poor attitude towards government programs where the beneficiaries take funds dispensed to their groups to help them in fighting against poverty as a donation and as result, they ended up mismanaging the program.

He noted that there is a need for different stakeholders both political, civil society organizations and religious leaders, to sensitize the populace for a mindset change.

He expressed concern that communities have remained poor despite several government initiatives implemented for poverty alleviation.

He urged farmers to embrace the program by forming groups adding that the program will only benefit interested and organized groups.

Andrew Milton, the Kikuube district Chief Administrative Officer noted, implementation of the programs is expected to kick off next month adding that there is need to have structures to help in the functioning of the program.

He noted there is a need to have parish headquarters, parish chiefs, parish land and a strong parish development committee before the program kicks off.

However, Milton challenged the district stakeholders to interest themselves in the budget to ensure that they identify priorities for better improvement of service delivery in the coming Financial Year 2022/ 2023.

He noted that it’s during the budget conference that the stakeholders identify the priorities and challenges affecting service delivery in the district.

He explained that issues ranging from human resource, finances, governance and democracy, accountability and corruption need to be tackled because they affect service delivery when not addressed.

Milton expressed concern over delays by the lower local governments such as sub-counties and town councils, parishes and villages to hold their budget conference.

He said procedurally, lower local governments are supposed to hold budget conferences before the district since planning is a bottom-up approach adding that this helps the district to identify gaps that need urgent attention.

He noted that only Kabwoya sub-county out of the five sub-counties and two town councils held its budget conference.

Meanwhile, Faustine Baguma, the Kikuube district planner, expressed concern that the 2022/23 FY budget will be reduced by Shs1 billion from Shs 36.211 billion.

According to him, 2021/2022FY was Shs 36.211 billion while 2022/2023 will be Shs 35.21 billion. He attributed the budget cuts to reduction of external financing due to poor performance resulting from COVID-19 effects.

In the proposed budget of the FY 2022/23, local revenue will contribute Shs 1.132 billion, central government will contribute Shs 20.522 billion, other government transfers Shs 12.362 billion and external financing Shs1.200 billion.

According Baguma, administration will take the lion’s share with Shs 14.974 billion, education Shs10.49 billion, water Shs1.01 billion, health Shs 4.302 billion and production and marketing will take Shs 1.193 billion.

https://thecooperator.news/masindi-district-recruits-16-parish-chiefs-11-town-agents-for-new-administrative-units/

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