Deforestation blamed for Karamoja Gum Arabic slump

The Uganda Gum Arabic Cooperative Society in Karamoja sub region has registered a drop in harvest volumes over the past year due to widespread deforestation of the gum Arabic trees.

Gum Arabic is a popular, naturally-occurring gum that’s often used as a stabilizer for packaged foods as well as in cosmetics and art products.

Jimmy Lomokol, the Chairperson of Uganda Gum Arabic Cooperative Society said the trees are often cut down by members of the local community for charcoal burning, or to open up land for cultivation and settlement.

“Last year we only harvested 110 kilograms compared to an average of 700 kilograms that we used to harvest in previous years,” he said, adding that the 2,000-member cooperative that was formed in 2002 risks collapse should the current situation persist.

Over the years, the cooperative, with support from Kenya Asal Resource Agency (KARA) Ltd has trained more than 600 women and men in Karamoja on how to harvest, pack and sort the gum for sale.

As the number of trees dwindles, and the elusive gum becomes even harder to find, many who have come to rely on the sale of gum Arabic fear their livelihoods could be under threat.

Mary Nangiro, a mother of six and resident of Kautakou village in Napak district, is one such beneficiary.

“I have been collecting the gum for three years now and selling it to the cooperative in order to get money for food and pay my children’s school fees. But finding gum is getting harder since people have destroyed most of the trees for charcoal burning,” she said.

Lucrative crop

According to Lomokol, gum Arabic is a lucrative export product with high demand on the international market.

Ordinarily, the cooperative buys the gum from locals at Shs 1,700 per kilogram (about 0.5 dollars) and sells it to foreign traders at anywhere between 1.3 and 3.7 dollars per kilogram, depending on the market.

In recent years, the product has been attracting attention from prominent buyers, the cooperatives.

” Last year we received a big number of foreign traders who had camped in Karamoja to buy gum. They included Hill Group Company from Ireland and SNI Company based in France, China, Thailand and India,” he says.

Climate change effects

But deforestation is not the only reason for declining gum Arabic harvests. According to Lokomol, the changing climate is also a big factor.

Over the last five years, both the average rainfall and humidity in Karamoja have increased, which is not conducive for gum Arabic production, he says.

“For the trees to release the gum they must be stressed by hot climate which needs to average about 31 degrees for a period of 21 days under low humidity conditions. You also need strong winds so that the trees can scratch against each other in order for the gum to come out,” Lokomol explains.

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Kasese traders vow to reward president for market

Traders in the Western Uganda district of Kasese have vowed to reward President Museveni handsomely for a new market currently under construction in Kasese town.

Construction of Kasese Central market is being carried out by the government of Uganda with funding from the African Development Bank [ADB] under the Markets and Agricultural Improvement Program project (MATIP) currently in its last phase in the country. The market is scheduled for completion in February next year.

”We are thankful to the president for this market, and come February when he comes to hand it over, we shall have a big gift awaiting him,” Wilson B. Wahemba, the Chairperson of Kasese Central Market Traders and Vendors Association told theCooperator. He, however, declined to specify the nature of gift the vendors have in store for the president.

Nevertheless, Mr. Wahemba says the market is too small to accommodate all the traders interested in occupying it.

“While we appreciate the work so far done, this market remains too small to handle the number of traders were already have,” he said.

He noted that the number of vendors has grown from 800 to 1200 ever since construction of the market started in 2017, yet the available stalls and lockups stand at 846.

According to the Mayor, Kasese Municipality, Mr. Godfrey Kabbyanga, clear guidelines for governing the new market need to be put in place early enough to ensure a smooth transition once it is completed.

“We have always had problems transitioning from makeshift to modern markets. This time a proper procedure should be followed,” the mayor said.

Mr. Kabbyanga also pointed out major shortcomings of the new market, including the fact that it has no provision for restaurants, banks, clinics and other facilities.

However, Eng. Gabriel Fataki, who is overseeing construction works, says that all the missing amenities will be catered for using the project’s contingency fund.

“This market will contain everything including banks, restaurants, places of worship and so on,” Eng. Fataki stated.

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Swedish Energy Agency Terminates Carbon Credits Agreement with Green Resources

The Swedish Energy Agency (SEA) is terminating its agreement to purchase carbon credits from the Norwegian forestry company, Green Resources—finally recognizing the devastating impact the company’s plantation has had on local communities in Kachung, Uganda.

Citing the ongoing legal dispute over land and the inability for farmers to graze their cattle within the forest, the SEA’s decision comes after five years of research and advocacy by the Oakland Institute, documenting forced evictions from the land locals depended on for agriculture, grazing, and forest produce.

The Institute’s first report in November 2014, The Darker Side of Green: Plantation Forestry and Carbon Violence in Uganda, exposed the devastating impact of the Green Resources pine plantation. But it was only after the Institute’s third report, released in August 2019, along with the actual eviction notices served to the local farmers, that the SEA announced its suspension of payments, and eventually termination of the agreement in March 2020.

“Despite solid evidence and documentation, Green Resources and its financiers, including the SEA, callously, not only turned a blind eye to the victims of their ‘green’ fraud, but also dismissed our findings,” said Anuradha Mittal, Executive Director of the Oakland Institute. “If they had paid heed to the concerns raised in 2014—which should have been obvious to the SEA if due diligence had been done from the get go—Green Resources could not have gotten away with causing hunger, displacement, and distress amongst the population of 17 villages for this long,” Mittal continued.

On March 10, 2020, Development Today reported that the SEA terminated the agreement because of concerns over the ongoing land dispute and the unresolved issue of cattle grazing not allowed in the plantation. The SEA claims the work done by the Oakland Institute did not impact its decision, however, their findings are in line with its past research and advocacy. Hans Lemm, CEO of Green Resources, however, blamed SEA’s decision on the Oakland Institute.

“Land grabbing from Ugandan villagers to set up non-native pine plantations is a false climate solution, designed to allow polluters in Northern countries to continue with business as usual. This is the cautionary tale that Mr. Lemm should learn from, instead of placing blame elsewhere,” was Mittal’s response to the CEO.

Despite ample hard evidence, public investment funds of Norway and Finland—Norfund and Finnfund—are the primary shareholders of Green Resources since 2018. They have financed the company over US$62.5 million (NOK 600 million) . The question is now how long Norfund and Finnfund—supposed investment vehicles for developing countries—will remain complicit in its wrongdoing.

The SEA’s decision is another step towards justice for local communities. The Oakland Institute renews its call for Green Resources and its financial backers to be held responsible. The protracted misery inflicted on Kachung’s communities can only be rightfully addressed with the immediate end of this devastating project, so that they can reclaim their land and livelihoods. (SOURCE : OAKLAND INSTITUTE )

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Do not charge for registering SACCOs, minister warns.

The Minister of State for Microfinance, Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune has cautioned district officials against charging community members for registering Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs).

Minister Kyeyune issued the warning on Friday March 13, 2020, at Hotel Leslona, Moroto while launching the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job creation (EMYOOGA) in Karamoja region. Under the initiative, government will provide funds for cooperators in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to boost their incomes.

The warning followed complaints by several local community members that some district officials demand money from members before registering their SACCOs, a service that the minister says ought to be free of charge.

READ ALSO:Cooperatives to hit 20,000 by December – Kitandwe.

“This is a serious offence, and whoever is found charging members of the public for registration of their SACCO will be dealt with,” Kyeyune said.

He also advised the leaders of Karamoja region against politicizing the Presidential Initiative saying that would affect the core objective of the program which is to lift Ugandans out of poverty.

“This initiative is for everyone, regardless of where you belong; it is non-discriminative,” he said.

The regional launch was attended by district LCV chairpersons, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), District Commercial Officers (DCOs), Political leaders, District Internal Security Officer (DISO) and representatives from the business community in Karamoja region.

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Karimojong, Turkana pastoralists lobby for regional beef factory

Pastoralists from Karamoja and Turkana have called on the governments of Kenya and Uganda to establish a regional beef factory at the border between the two communities.

The demand, made on Monday last week at a cross border peace meeting between the Turkana and Karimojong held in Kenya’s Loima district, re-echoed a recurring plea by leaders of the pastoralist communities in every joint meeting they have held in the recent past.

Turkana peace group dances at the peace meeting. Photo by Patrick Odongo

They say the proposed factory will enable them add value to their products and improve on their welfare.

“Right now we only eat the meat and drink milk from our livestock; but if we had a factory, we could pack meat and process leather for sale, which would improve our household incomes,” Timothy Lokuruka, a Turkana elder from Loima District in Kenya said.

Mr. Mathew Mudong, a Karimojong pastoralist from Moroto district agreed, adding that such a facility would allow the Karimojong and their Turkana neighbours to benefit from the East African regional market.

The Karimojong and Turkana peoples have traditionally been fierce rivals, often clashing over water and pasture resources in addition to engaging in frequent cattle raids and rustling expeditions.

Recently, however, efforts to promote peace between the communities have started to bear fruit, a development that Peter Loputhnyang, another Karimojong elder, finds exciting.

“We have decided to stop killing each other and we are very excited by the current peace that has united the Turkana and the Karimojong,” he said. “We are now demanding for joint services for our communities from both governments (Uganda and Kenya).”

Others like Imana Icor, the Turkana Peace Ambassador, called for the establishment of supporting facilities such a veterinary school and meteorological centre within the community.

“In addition to the beef factory, we need a veterinary school for our children to study animals’ medicines, and a facility for weather forecast given the impact climate changes wan have on livestock,” he opined.

John Byabagambi, Uganda’s Minister for Karamoja affairs assured the pastoralists that the two governments would address their demand. “We shall forward your request to the highest authorities so that action can be taken,” he said.

During his 2016 presidential election campaign, President Museveni pledged to set up beef and cement factories in Karamoja, a promise that is yet to materialise.

Once bitter rivals, the Turkana and Karimojong are on better terms now and even share grazing resources. Currently, more than 70,000 Turkana pastoralists with about 200,000 heads of cattle, donkeys, camels, and goats are grazing together with their Karimojong counterparts in the areas of Moroto, Kotido and Kaabong after fleeing from a drought that scorched their pastures and dried up water sources back home in Kenya.

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Cooperators raise alarm over Bundibugyo water crisis

Residents of Bukonzo County in Bundibugyo district are facing an acute water shortage three months after floods and landslides devastated the area.

Following a spate of ruinous floods that ravaged numerous areas in Bundibugyo in December last year, water supply was disrupted in some parts of the district, especially Bukonzo County.

Among those affected are members of the Abadhingiya Farmers Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd who have raised an alarm over the water situation that has deprived several families of access to clean water.

Rev. Smith Tibamwenda, a member of the SACCO, said in a phone interview that the water situation in the area was worrying.

“For example, Greater Bubukwanga had its main water sources destroyed while the major gravity water flow for the sub Counties of Bukonzo, Kirumya, Bubukwanga and Ntotoro was washed away,” Rev. Tibamwenda said.

“This has left us with only a few, poorly maintained wells whose water is unsafe for consumption. Moreover, the wells are few and very far, making them difficult to access for many in the community,” he added.

Due to the acute water scarcity, residents of the affected areas say the price of water has shot up, with a 20 litre jerrycan now going for Shs 1,500, which is more than most can afford.

“Our only choice is between spending the Shs 1,500 per jerrycan of dirty water to be delivered by a bodaboda, or trekking 3-5kms per day to find water. Since the option of paying is too expensive for most of us, many people end up fetching the water themselves, which is very tiresome and time consuming,” says Juliet Ajuna, another Cooperator and affected resident.

Rev. Tibamwenda says that the water shortage has contributed to an increase in school dropouts since many children who should be in school now have to spend hours daily searching for water to take back home.

Noisy SACCO

However, Richard Sajjabi, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Bundibugyo district, reacted angrily to the outcry raised by members of Abadhingiya Farmers’ SACCO, wondering why a group was “making noise” yet it was not the group, but individual families that had been affected by the water crisis.

“When you see a group complaining, then you know there’s something wrong. But if you want to know the plans for the district, then come on ground [sic] and we plan together,” Sajjabi charged.

But Ms. Ajuna insists that they are merely giving voice to an issue that affects the community as a whole.

“The floods did not affect us- the Cooperators- alone, but rather the entire community. For instance, the lack of clean water has affected mothers at Bubukwanga Health Centre III, where they deliver without water,” she said.

Help coming

For his part, Bundibugyo district Chairperson, Ronald Mutegeki, told theCooperator that locally, they could not do much to restore water supply at the moment since, he said,” local governments depend on the central government for help”, but was optimistic that soon the issue would be resolved.

“Officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and engineers from Ministry of Water and Environment visited the area on a fact finding mission some time ago, meaning that the water problem facing the community will be sorted out very soon,” Mutegeki said.

He, however, admitted that apart from relief items that government distributed to his people shortly after the flooding happened, not much else had been done.

Mutegeki is especially concerned that relocation and resettlement of the at-risk population need to be urgently undertaken to avoid another disaster in the future.

“Despite continuously urging people to shift to safer places as the rains set in, our warnings have fallen on deaf ears,” the LC V boss said.

“We are likely to face an even worse situation this time round if the government’s weather projections come to pass as predicted, since those who had been affected last year returned to their former areas of residence after the camps closed,” he warned.

Among the most affected sub-counties include Bubukwanga, Kirumya and Ntotoro.

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Avoid commercial banks, Minister advises entrepreneurs

The State Minister for Microfinance, Hon. Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, has advised small scale entrepreneurs to desist from taking high-interest loans from commercial banks, arguing that such rates may cripple rather than boost their businesses.

He made the remarks on Wednesday 11th March, while launching the Presidential initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (EMYOOOGA) at Bomah Hotel in Gulu Municipality.

Minister Kasolo said the interest rates charged by commercial banks on loans to small scale enterprises make them inaccessible for entrepreneurs. Instead, he proposed they borrow from the Microfinance Support Centre Ltd (MSC) which, he says, offers cheaper credit.

“Now that you have your own institution which has been set up by government to support you, avoid accessing high interest loans from banks,” he said. “You don’t even have the collateral or security required for those expensive loans.”

He added that government is rectifying the challenges affecting the effective operations of Microfinance Support Centres (MSC)in order to better serve small-scale enterprises across the country

“We have commercial officers at district level who should mobilise people into groups and link these groups to access financing cheaply through MSC,” he said.

‘Don’t politicise initiative

Mr Kasolo also warned leaders from Acholi Sub region against politicising the initiative, saying this would frustrate its core objectives.

“On issues of development, we are all in it together. I was sent by the president of the country, not the Chairman of NRM; and this is a presidential, not an NRM initiative,” he stressed.

Amuru Woman Member of Parliament Ms Lucy Akello had accused NRM leaders of failing to differentiate between party projects and government initiatives meant to benefit all citizens.

“Let’s think beyond our party when it comes to developmental issues, for the betterment of our citizens,” she urged.

About Emyooga

The Presidential initiative on Wealth and Job Creation, known locally as Emyooga, aims at supporting small scale enterprises as part of government’s commitment to stimulate market-oriented production.

Under the initiative, each SACCO of 30 members or more stands a chance of receiving support of up to Shs. 30 million in initial seed capital.

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Ministry of Agriculture signs MoU to promote cashew nut production

Cashew nut farmers have reason to celebrate after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to develop the crop’s value chain on Wednesday this week.

Representing government at the signing was Henry Aggrey Bagiire, the Minister of State for Agriculture while growers of the highly prized crop were represented by the Uganda Cashew nut and Trees Limited, under which they are organised.

Hon. Henry Aggrey Bagiire the Minister of State for Agriculture at the signing of the MoU. MAAIF photo

The partnership is expected to boost cashew nut production and promote trade in Ugandan Cashew products both locally and internationally.

In addition, under the MoU, more than 300,000 cashew seedlings are to be supplied to farmers in 42 districts countrywide, particularly in the country’s cattle corridor and in other dry areas.

Although Africa accounts for a significant percentage of the global cashew nut production, Uganda’s own contribution to this figure remains meagre. Today, most cashew production is carried out by small-scale farmers in Eastern and Northern Uganda.

This despite the fact that the country enjoys a long history of promoting the crop, starting in the 1970s. Due to several factors, the cashew nut industry collapsed in early 1980s until its revival in 2004.

However, given its high demand on the international market, Cashew has been identified as a possible source of income for small holder farmers in addition to bringing in much needed export earnings.

Recognising this potential, President Museveni in October 2017 directed that cashew nut be added to the country’s priority commodities, and an engagement be initiated between MAAIF and the Uganda Cashew nut and Trees Limited to develop a cashew nut Value Chain.

Benefits

Cashew nut is widely celebrated for its nutritional benefits, especially for being rich in both proteins and minerals. It is also used in the manufacture of various industrial products including varnishes, tiles, gum, cements and so on.

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