Farmers reject OWC Cassava inputs over poor quality

KIKUUBE – Farmers in Buhimba town council and sub-county in Kikuube district have rejected cassava inputs which were supplied to them by Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

The farmers in Buhimba town council rejected more than 55 sacks of cassava stems while those of Buhimba sub-county rejected 50 which were delivered three weeks ago at Buhimba community hall. They rejected the input on grounds that they were of poor quality and the inputs are currently drying up at the hall.

Musa Mugisa, the Mayor of Buhimba town council said, apart from the inputs being of poor quality, they were supplied late when the planting season was nearing the end hence there were fears they could not germinate.

The farmers supported by the Mayor demanded that the supplier takes back the poor-quality cassava inputs to avoid wastage of tax payers’ money.

They blamed the continued mess in the implementation of OWC program on lack of involvement of local leaders, district technical department and the beneficiaries in the selection of suppliers for the inputs.

Mugisa says, the cassava inputs were meant to be given to the farmers who were hit by the hailstorm in Kikuube district in May this year but shockingly they were supplied recently as the season was ending.

James Murungi, a farmer, said that late delivery of the cassava inputs has been one of the major challenges affecting the success of OWC.

He noted that even maize, coffee and beans are always supplied late and the farmers end up not benefiting from the program. He further demanded that OWC officials change their mode of operations.

Captain Benjamin Mugonzagane, the Coordinator OWC Kikuube and Kikuube district Production Officer, Barnabus Ntume defended themselves saying, they are not in-charge of procurement of the inputs.

They explained that procurement is done by NAADS secretariat adding that the role of the district and OWC is to receive and supply the inputs.

Mugonzagane noted that they cannot determine the quality of the inputs and time for supply because they do not get involved in the procurement process.

“The District production department receives the inputs from the NAADS secretariat, then the district hands over the inputs to OWC to deliver to the farmers,” said Mugonzagane.

Ntume said, Kikuube district received 1,220 sacks of cassava inputs adding that only Buhimba town council rejected the stems.

He blamed the leaders and the farmers for failing to communicate in time that they were interested in the inputs, noting that farmers in other sub-counties received and planted the cassava stems while others missed.

“We would have given these cassava inputs to those who missed, if you had informed us in time before these inputs dried up,” said Ntume.

The Kikuube Resident District Commissioner, Amlan Tumusiime who was invited to witness the rejected inputs condemned Brice Ajuna, the supplier for supplying poor quality agricultural inputs.

Tumusiime vowed to make sure that the supplier refunds the money that was paid to him by the government or else be arrested.

He described the supplier’s act as corruption, noting that such people are the ones failing the government program initiated to help citizens in fighting against poverty.

He also proposed that OWC should be given full responsibility for carrying out procurement to improve on the program.

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Masindi boda-boda riders hold elections amidst tight security

MASINDI – The members of Masindi Motorcycle Operators Association (MAMOA) held their elections under tight security at Masindi stadium in Masindi town.

More than 1000 members of MAMOA participated in the elections which were presided over by Clare Wamara, the Masindi district Senior Labor Officer and Denis Tumwine, the district Male Workers Councilor.

Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and Uganda Police Force (UPF) heavily deployed to ensure security was guaranteed during the elections.

Before they went for elections, by consensus they agreed to lineup behind their candidates of choice.

Rick Ronald Barongo, who has been the association’s secretary for the last three years was elected the Chairperson after polling 619 votes. His opponent, Nathan Kiiza polled 53 votes.

Bernard Musinguzi Wandera, was elected the Vice Chairperson, Jonathan Wobusobozi was elected Secretary, Robert Kalisa was elected Treasurer, Isaac Ahuura was elected Defense Secretary, Solomon Baguma was elected Secretary for Publicity and Rogers Tugume was elected Secretary for Health.

There was a section of boda-boda riders who wanted to protest the elections arguing that they can not continue when accountability is not given but their efforts were futile after Denis Tumwine, the District Workers Councilor told them that according to their constitution, accountability has to be given after fourteen days from the elections have been conducted.

MAMOA has more than 3000 members from the entire Masindi district.

In his inaugural speech, Barongo promised to work hand in hand with security to avert crime amongst the boda-boda riders.

“If you are a wrong doer and you are hiding in boda-boda, I will surrender you to police. When you are doing the right thing, I will defend you,” said Barongo amidst cheers from his supporters.

He also asked the political leaders to open up their doors for them saying that they need to be offered good services as boda-boda riders.

“As boda-boda riders, we are being exploited by the organizations that give us motorcycles on loan. They confiscate our motorcycles even if we are in a lockdown and they don’t give us our cards. Our leaders should intervene,” he appealed.

Livingston Kandiho, the officer in charge Masindi Central Police Station (CPS) asked the boda-boda riders to help police in the fight against crime.

“I am your friend when you’re doing good things. When you’re supporting wrong people, we shall come for you. Cooperation with security operatives is the way to go,” Kandiho advised.

Tumwine asked the people involved in the boda-boda business to embrace the boda-boda SACCO which was formed in 2018 as one way of boosting their income.

“The SACCO will help you save money and acquire loans at a low interest rate. Don’t be exploited by other organizations and the commercial banks when you have your SACCO here,” he advised.

The new leadership is mandated to be in office for three years.

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Bugisu Cooperative Union’s Nandala Mafabi is contesting for Board Chairmanship of UCA

Seasoned cooperator Nathan Nandala Mafabi, is contesting to be the next Board Chairman of Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA).

He is buoyant about prospects of UCA under his tested leadership.

The UCA Annual General Meeting (AGM) is due on the 15th December, 2021 just under a week from now. During this General Assembly, UCA is seeking to fill the position of the Chairman amongst other vacant positions on the board.

A highly qualified certified public accountant and lawyer, Nandala has served for more than 13 years at the helm of Bugisu Cooperative Union, he also, “boasts” as the best Chairman UCA can ever have in the new term.

“I don’t need introduction, I am a Cooperator with results, at Bugisu Cooperative Union where I have been the Chairman since 2008, farmers have been getting a good price for their coffee, check everywhere I have worked, World Bank, and Ministry of Finance they will tell you that I am a man of results.”

Nandala says, he wants to continue serving Ugandans, by sharing his skills and experience and bringing unity to the sector. He vowed that his interest in UCA’s leadership had everything to do with cooperative development and warned that no one should confuse his bid with his parliamentary politics.

“For me, I know that there is politics in everything, in a family there is politics, in circumcision there is politics, in parliament there is politics. This time in UCA, it is just cooperatives. We should not mix things up, because I don’t do that and everyone knows that about me.”

Nandala comes at a time when the majority of the founder union members of UCA like Busoga Growers Cooperative Union, Banyankore Kweterana Cooperative Union, North Mbale Cooperative Union, Masaka District Growers Cooperative Union, Nyakatonzi Growers Cooperative Union, Uganda Growers Cooperative Union, Mubende district Growers Cooperative Union, Bunyoro Growers Cooperative Union, Lango Cooperative Union, and Bugisu Cooperative Union have not been involved much in the business of their own UCA, something that worries him.

Nandala is concerned about the caliber and composition of most of UCA’s current membership. He is particularly wondering why primary cooperatives have been claiming membership of the apex, when the Cooperative Act Cap 112 is categorical that an apex cooperative must only have secondary and tertiary cooperative members.

He admits that part of his interest in the Board Chairmanship of UCA is to re-engage the secondary and tertiary unions that started UCA and the ones that qualify to be members of UCA now, so that the movement can be in a better position to contribute to national development.

The BCU Chairman, has pledged to deliver the following in his 100 days at the helm of UCA by re-engaging the original members of UCA and ensuring that the primary cooperatives under all the secondary and tertiary cooperatives members of UCA are united and collaborating. He commits to organizing UCA to partner with the government to ensure that the Parish Development Model delivers to ordinary Ugandans.

“Members of Busoga Cooperative Union should know the members of West Nile Cooperative Union, and they should benefit from each other. I am going to ensure that the unions move together with the primaries, so that there is strength at all levels up to the apex.”

He scoffs at the limited capacity that UCA has exhibited in the recent past, reminiscing that when UCA was still vibrant it was a hub for well-coordinated business development and training services.

He argues that UCA right now should be leading the design of the operational manuals for procurement, accounts, human resource and others which would then be customized by the members of the cooperatives, citing an absence of technical support from the apex where his cooperative-BCU belongs.

He also vowed to promote equality amongst the members, by ensuring that UCA focuses on their socio-economic wellbeing and not individual interests.

He shared the experience of his primary cooperative in which he mentioned that members are not charged interest on loans and because of the kind of care and trust, the loans are paid on time.

Similarly, he urged cooperatives to always try and understand the objectives of their founders, arguing that when the founders are self-seeking, the cooperative can not be in position to serve the needs of the members.

Nandala pledges to work with the government to ensure that cooperatives re-establish the Cooperative Bank. He argues that, the Cooperative Bank would ensure that the financing terms are favorable for the agricultural community which is riddled by a multiplicity of weather vagaries.

“I want to ensure that we start and end the journey of having our bank returned and operational in the first 100 days. The government gave us back the Cooperative Bank already,” he said.

Relatedly, he has expressed his concern about the operations of many of the Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs- financial services cooperatives) in Uganda, most of whom he believes are not focused on accelerating the socio-economic wellbeing of members but on profit.

“Cooperatives are not profit driven entities, they are there to improve the life of the members, in fact the kind of credit that members obtain from their cooperatives must be interest free.”

Nandala has also committed to work with the government to streamline war compensation. He tasked the government to ensure equal and fair war compensation arguing that, all cooperatives in Uganda were affected by the wars in equal measure.

He wondered why there is preferential treatment in the compensation process, where other cooperatives seem to be given more priority than others. He argues that compensation should be done in a way that does not leave any cooperative behind, stating that the losses cooperatives faced happened mostly within the same period.

He also advised that the compensation fund should be a lump sum that is therefore spread to all war losing cooperatives, so that the development that is anticipated from the compensation can be realized simultaneously across the country.

When asked about the recent allegations of forgery, misappropriation as well as high staff and board turnover at UCA, he says he was not sure of the realities and until these issues are investigated, he cannot give a fair comment on them.

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Increased corruption tendencies worry CSOs in Bunyoro

HOIMA – Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Bunyoro region have expressed concern over the increasing corruption tendencies among government institutions.

This was revealed during a dialogue between anti-corruption activists and Hoima district stakeholders under their umbrella organization, “District Integrity Promotion Forum”.

The meeting organized by CSOs like Action Aid Uganda, Transparency International Uganda and Mid-Western Anti- Corruption Coalition (MIRAC) to remind forum members about their responsibility since it has not been active. The meeting is one the activities to mark anti-corruption day slated for 9th December. 2021.

While presenting CSOs position, Brian Nahamanya, the Project Officer at Global Rights Alert said, despite different laws put in place to fight against corruption, the vice is escalating.

He noted that corrupt officials have taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to engage in dubious deals because there is limited monitoring and supervision due to the lockdown.

He further says, the vice has continued to hinder economic, political and social development of the community adding that this has had gross impact on the most vulnerable poor due to increased costs and reduced access to health, education, employment and judicial services.

Nahamanya adds that, a number of human rights violations, compensation issues and environment degradation cases continue to emerge as the government acquires land for oil and gas infrastructure due to lack of transparency and accountability which breeds corruption.

Nahamanya also said, although oil and gas projects are expected to contribute to the social economical transformation of the region and country at large, issues of human right violations are anticipated to increase towards the oil and gas production stage if the duty bearers continue to keep a deaf ear.

“These challenges continue to worsen poverty and aggravate inequality as resources meant for the poor and underprivileged are diverted to the pockets of the corrupt,” said Nahamanya.

“When you look at how communities are struggling to access land titles from the district, the struggle they go through to access compensation, you realize the struggles the people of Bunyoro go through to access employment opportunities both in oil and gas sector and at the district, are from structural issues like lack of transparency,” said Nahamanya.

“For instance, when you see people encroaching on wetlands and they are not restrained, it is corruption because there is no transparency and accountability,” Nahamanya explained.

Ismail Mutegeki, the Executive Director of MIRAC said, corruption in Bunyoro region stands at 300% compared to other regions, adding that Bunyoro is having a lot of issues related to corruption tendencies compared to other regions such as Acholi, Lango and Toro.

He notes that, the increasing misuse of public assets, issuance of illegal titles, giving away of public land, commercialized recruitment of civil servants and mismanagement of government projects are common in the Bunyoro region adding that these are some indicators of corruption.

“When State Minister for Economic Monitoring, Hon Peter Ogwang came here, you saw what he discovered, some officials had projects on paper but not on ground, the projects such as boreholes in the district like Masindi and Buliisa were not there,” he noted.

Josam Tumwesigye, the Hoima Resident District Commissioner (RDC) commended the CSOs for the engagement and called on stakeholders to embrace the District Integrity Promotion Forum to address the challenges affecting service delivery.

Tumwesigye, who also doubles as the Chairperson of the forum says, the forum was initiated by the government to help in promoting ethics and integrity among public servants for better service delivery.

Although the government has established a number of institutions to ensure an efficient and effective way of utilizing resources, holding public officials accountable requires that we complement it with such efforts.

Dr Charles Kajura, the Hoima district Production Officer who made a presentation on behalf of the District Integrity Promotion Forum said, the district local government public accounts committee is facing a challenge of backlog of reports for the financial year 2020-2021 which have not been discussed.

He attributed the challenges to lack of adequate funding and staffing, adding that funding has dwindled from Shs 31.7 million in 2004 to Shs 10million which PAC receives currently.

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COVID-19: Speaker Oulanyah rallies Northern Uganda to get vaccinated

Jacob Oulanyah, the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda has rallied members of the community, especially from Northern Uganda to turn up in large numbers to get vaccinated if the economy in the region is to be fully opened.

For close to two years now, Uganda’s economy has been partially operating with most sectors closed to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

According to Oulanyah, the Acholi community has been deceived that the jabs are ill-intended and will have a negative impact on their lives, which he says is untrue.

“I have listened to some unfortunate and misleading messages from the region. So, my people please respond to this call to be vaccinated. They are giving you a shield to protect yourself. Because otherwise, it has become a necessity even along borders, you don’t have it, you miss services”. Oulanyah says.

“Opening up schools, businesses, and the whole economy will majorly depend on the level of vaccination. The accusations which are not scientifically proven are baseless. Please be encouraged and go and take these vaccinations. These vaccines expire, so let’s get vaccinated because if we don’t, we are done” Oulanyah adds.

Oulanyah attributes the massive negative propaganda campaign against the vaccines because other powerful people and countries are willing to fund such information to frustrate the efforts of countries who are trying to locally produce vaccines and drugs.

“We know that some countries who are producing vaccines would even go as far as funding negative propaganda information on the vaccines because they want to make more money. For that matter, I want to rally my people to support local vaccines which are already in the final testing stages. Let’s encourage our scientists to help because we are counting on them to help us with this epidemic” Oulanyah said.

In a bid to boost vaccination, the Gulu City COVID-19 Taskforce has restricted entry to the Gulu main market and bus terminal to only those who are willing to get vaccinated or have partially or fully received their vaccinations.

This comes when the City is struggling to realize the target for vaccination despite the Ministry of Health launching mass vaccinations. Currently, the city has only vaccinated just 30 percent of the population with most of the increase in percentage realized during the ongoing mass COVID-19 vaccinations.

Denis Odongpiny, the Gulu Resident City Commissioner [RCC] confirmed to our reporter saying, they have in a follow-up meeting with the leadership of the main market and the bus terminal resolved that anyone accessing these premises must produce a COVID-19 vaccination card showing that they vaccinated.

“I engaged the people in the market. That is where we resolved that if one is not vaccinated and not willing to get vaccinated, we are not going to allow you to access the market because we have a team ready to vaccinate those who have not been vaccinated. Even at Gulu hospital, the day the Minister launched the mass vaccination, it was resolved that for any medical worker to access the regional hospital, they must get vaccinated.

Odongpiny blamed the low uptake of the vaccines on social media fake news with others claiming the vaccines brought to the Acholi sub-region have been contaminated, which is totally not true.

Susan Acan, a trader at the Gulu main market worries that despite the good intention for the resolution, they are likely to lose business especially with the Christmas season around the corner.

“Much as the resolution of the authorities is intended towards vaccinating all of us, but we also know that there are people who are not willing to get vaccinated and as a result, this is going to affect our sales especially those who come from the villages for Christmas shopping,” Acan observed.

Most of the districts in the Acholi sub-region have been recording low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines majorly due to social media reports. In Amuru district, the district task force was forced to make it mandatory for health workers and the district staff to get vaccinated or face missing out on salaries.

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Include compensation in the new mining and mineral amendment bill, says LoP

The Leader of Opposition [LoP], Mathius Mpuga has asked the government to consider the question of compensation when amending the tabled mining and mineral bill in parliament.

The mining and mineral bill was approved by the cabinet in April 2021 to effectively implement the tenets of the 2018 mining and mineral policy.

According to Hon. Sarah Opendi, the Minister of State for Mineral Development, the mining and mineral bill will repeal the outdated Mining Act, 2003 to streamline the mining sector in the country.

While addressing journalists in Mbarara, Mpuga confirmed that the motivation to traverse Kigezi and Ankole sub-regions was to inform legislators’ understanding of the prospects of mining. This would inform their decision to amend the mining and minerals bill in parliament next week.

The Leader of Opposition [LoP] together with some members of the shadow cabinet including; Joyce Bagala, Abdul Bwanika, Winfred Nuwagaba concluded three days of field visits in the districts of Kabale and Buhweju to explore the artisan miners’ operations.

As opposition in parliament, we contend that some of the considered amendments are likely to affect people already involved in mining, says Mpuga.

“You are aware Kigezi and Kabale, in particular, are endowed with plenty of iron ore, wolfram, gold, tin, and other minerals. Most of this endowment is hosted on private land. Therefore, the proposed legislation in its current form will negatively impact private miners because they don’t have licenses but have been surviving using the informal crude technology,” said Mpuga

Hon. Mpuga also reported that it was unfortunate for the Members of Parliament to be blocked from accessing gold mines in Buhweju district.

“It was unfortunate that we were blocked from accessing the gold mines in Buhweju,” LOP said.

Whereas the constitution says all underground minerals are owned by the government on behalf of the people, the Leader of Opposition asked parliament to consider the compensation of landowners in the amendments.

“If the government wants to own such mines, they should compensate the owners of land containing such minerals. It should not be like the situation in Bunyoro where locals were cheated by private investors,” said Mpuga.

Hon Mpuga insisted that he will not support the contentious long-awaited Mining and Minerals Amendment Bill 2O21 if it does not favor the artisan miners.

Francis Mwijukye, area MP Buhweju revealed that the poor locals in the mines should freely benefit from the natural resources.

“The poor people in the mines desire to benefit from our God-given resources and as politicians, it’s our duty to support them but not to undermine, scatter and deprive the locals. So, the question for us is to defend their right to a decent economic life to support their families,” said Mwijukye

He further added that the Leader of Opposition’s visit to Buhweju was timely to save the cheated miners by investors in the area.

Part of the mining and mineral bill spells penalties, sanctions punitive fines on illegal mining, and non-performing mineral rights for both small scales, medium and large-scale artisan miners.

“Citizens caught mining without permits commit an offense, according to the draft, one is liable to a fine of one billion shillings or imprisonment not exceeding seven years or both, upon conviction. The bill also provides for a fine of Shs100 million to miners using hazardous substances such as mercury or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both,” reads part of the bill.

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Police on the spot over rising number of criminal gangs in Gulu

GULU – Local leaders have accused police of the rising number of criminal gangs in Gulu City causing havoc in the area.

The leaders also accused police of self deployment to extort money from the public in the disguise of enforcing the presidential directive on Covid-19.

The concern was tabled before the Assistant Commissioner of Police Community Policing, Mr. Mutelerwa Anatol at the City health boardroom who summoned the local leaders for a security meeting as crime rate escalates.

Vincent Ocan, the LC1 Chairperson Industrial area in Bardege-Layibi Division told the Commissioner in the meeting that the police have continued to receive bribes from the criminals and set them free.

Ocan also alleged that within the forces itself, there are personnel who connive with the criminals to steal from the public as they share the money, a situation he blamed for the rising number of the criminal gangs in the City.

“There was a time we arrested some criminals who we knew where the ones terrorizing the area were and handed them to police but Shs 50,000 only, was enough to set them free,” Ocan allegedly said.

The area LCI Chairperson, Go-down cell also in the same division similarly complained of elements of criminality within the forces itself which he says has failed crime management in the City.

“I was attacked by about 70 gang members but I was with arrows and managed to arrest some but when I handed them to the police on night patrol, what happened was money at play as they walked away so what crimes are we fighting when the forces are the criminals,” he asked the Commissioner.

Meanwhile, the area LCII Chairperson, Alex Okoya also expressed his disappointment with police who take self deployment to extort money from the public.

“They are not only compromised in the line of their duty but are partnering with criminals to steal from the public,” Okoya told the Commissioner.

The Commissioner then quickly summoned all the junior officers that include the criminal intelligence department and the operation commanders in the same meeting.

The new District Police Commander (DPC), Gulu Peter Ocen however noted that most of the officers are new but pledged to restore order in the City with stringent measures on crime management and prevention.

“If you have no confidence in me then I ask the Commissioner to take me away from here but what I know is that I will deliver if you support planned activities for interventions,” he assured the local leaders.

Muleterwa Anatol, the Assistant Commissioner for Community Policing noted that the reports and the concerns raised will be discussed and scrutinized which will attract punitive action.

“We don’t condone misconduct in the forces and you have seen many police officers implicated and dismissed from the service and you will see many more coming back home if that is what we are getting on the grounds,” he warned.

He revealed that the force is in a nationwide consultation and engagement with the stakeholders to develop new community policing strategy on crime prevention and management to uphold the security of the country.

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COSASE probes Umeme over extortion and torture

KAMPALA – The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) is set to probe the conduct of Umeme officials after consistent claims of torture, extortion and unlawful conduct.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among directed the Committee to institute the probe after the public outcry against the conduct of the company’s officials.

Several Members of Parliament have lodged complaints, with multiple claims of extortion and torture as well as carrying out illegal connections.

MP’s James Niringiyimana for Kinkizi County West, Seth Wambede for Mbale Northern Division, accused Umeme of connivance with Police officers to arrest people and extort money from them with threats of prosecution.

“I went to Jinja Road Police Station, 12th September, 2021 where a person in my area was arrested over electricity related matters but to my surprise, these Umeme people had been given powers to arrest and prosecute,” said Niringiyimana.

MP Wambede described a tormenting incident that a member of the clergy in his constituency went through at the hands of Umeme officials.

“I was called by my parish priest over an electricity connection incident in my area. These Umeme people with Police had arrested him; put him on a pickup and took him to a forest near Mbale town and took everything they could before letting him go,” he told Parliament.

After several complaints, MP Ephraim Biraaro of Buhweju West says, Umeme had ignored his pleas in the constituency to treat the members of the public in a humane manner, but rather tortured and arrested them violently with the help of the police.

“Madam Speaker, we need to consider terminating the contract of Umeme as the service provider for power,” said Biraaro.

Biraaro told Parliament that after frequenting the Umeme office in Ishaka with little success, he considered tackling the issue from Kampala, but he was not accorded the due attention.

The State Minister for Energy, Okasai Opolot who attempted to respond by defending Umeme was shouted at by the angry legislators, and advised to consider consulting about the behavior of Umeme officers and its operations.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among ordered the Committee to conduct an inquiry and report to the House on the actions taken against the perpetrators of the illegalities of Umeme.

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Parliament approves Shs108bn for mechanization of Atiak Sugar Works project

KAMPALA – Parliament of Uganda has approved a total of Shs 108 billion in supplementary budget to fund the mechanization of Atiak Sugar Works.

The company sits on 60,000-acre piece of land in Pacilo, Atiak sub-county in Amuru district.

In September this year, while meeting the Members of Parliament from the Acholi sub-region, the Director in charge of Agriculture, Horyal Holdings, Muhamoud Abdi Mohamed said, they had incurred several losses due to human labor.

Catherine Lamwaka, the Vice Chairperson of the Trades, and Industry Committee says, the approved funds will be released to Atiak sugar factory if the governance and internal control mechanisms of the company will have been strengthened.

She further said, whereas the lease will see that the government interest is safe guarded, the committee also recommended that the government should carry out an assessment of Atiak Sugar Works with the view of expanding its share equity in the company.

Muhamoud Abdi Mohamed while addressing Members of Parliament in September this year said, they are only able to currently crush around 1.2 tons of cane but need at least 5000 casual laborers to cut canes to meet the 1600 tons of cane cuttings per day. The company has reportedly lost canes worth Shs 33 billion to frequent wild fires over the years.

According to Muhamoud, they will construct a 52km railroad, to import high performing machines such as 600 power horse tractors other than the current 75 power horse tractors, cane cutters and irrigation scheme built especially with the abundant water flow at river Unyama among others which will see them realize the target of crushing at least 1600 tons of cane with 1500 laborers.

Anthony Akol, the Member of Parliament for Kilak North, where the factory is located says, the focus of leaders will now change to advocating for more youths within the region to receive trainings so that they can benefit from such opportunities.

“Our focus will now change to seeing that if possible, the factory partners with some schools to train our youths in operating the machines planned for installation; so that more experience is gained to rubbish the previous scenario where casual laborers were imported from India. We have youths who only need to be taught how to operate the machines,” Akol said.

According to Akol, with farming mechanized, they are also going to check the cooperative societies on ground that the members have for a long time been complaining of corruption from their leaders, which have been denied and swept under the carpet.

“We have had several members of the cooperative societies complaining on how corrupt their leaders were. So, with funds already in the offing, we want to investigate and shake up the societies so that common members of the societies benefit from the sugar project,” Akol said.

Joyce Santa Laker, the Chairperson of Atiak Sugar Cane Out Growers Cooperative Society says, this is a huge step towards eliminating poverty because as farmers, they also felt the wrath of the slowness of the company to start large scale sugar cane production.

“Because Atiak Sugar Works is our biggest and only buyer, we were suffering because they lacked the much-needed machines. With government finally approving the needed funds, our plantations will also increase because we know that the need would have also increased and this means much more money for us,” Laker notes.

Between the Financial Year 2017/18 to 2019/20, the government of Uganda through the Uganda Development Cooperation progressively purchased and acquired 40% equity shares worth Shs 81 billion in Horyal Holdings before investing Shs 74.68 billion in loans to the factory and support to Sugar cane out growers in Amuru and Lamwo districts to sustain sugar cane supply. The government also gave Shs16 billion to the company to buy sugar cane from dealers from Busoga.

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UPDF launches air, artillery strikes on ADF camps in DRC

KAMPALA – The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has launched air and artillery strikes on Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel positions inside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The rebel group blamed for the Kampala twin bombings a fortnight ago, has also claimed responsibility for the attacks on the UN peace keepers under MUNUSCO inside the vast Central African Republic.

The two bomb blasts in the heart of the Capital, Kampala claimed at least seven lives, majority of whom were Police Officers and more than 30 were severely injured.

Several other bombs were since deactivated, with security attributing the attacks on the Congo based rebel group formerly led by Jamir Mukulu, now incarcerated in Luzira Prison on several offences including treason, murder among others.

The rebel group terrorized parts of the Western Axis in the district of Kasese, Bundibugyo, Kabarole, between 1995s to early 2000’s claiming more than 3,000 lives and scores left displaced.

The recent UPDF attack was a preemptive reaction, following intelligence reports indicating that the terrorist group was planning deadly attacks on Uganda in a few days.

The UN Peacekeepers in the Congo, who have also been attacked by the same group reported that the rebels had developed strategic points from where to launch the attacks on the Kampala regime.

UPDF spokesperson, Brig Flavia Byekwaso confirmed the attacks this afternoon.

“We have attacked ADF bases in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this afternoon. After shared intelligence between Uganda and the DRC, we confirmed that the ADF terrorists were planning to conduct hostile activities against Uganda,” she said.

Contrary to the reports on social media, Brig Byekwaso clarified that the Ugandan army didn’t enter the territory of DRC, but rather they used long range artillery and planes to attack the ADF positions.

Earlier, there were numerous reports indicating heavy deployment by the UPDF along the DRC border following attacks on the UN Peace contingent by the rebel group in Eastern DRC.

The Army has also confirmed that its presence into the DRC territory was authenticated by the Kinshasa regime after Chief of Defense Forces, Gen Wilson Mbadi exchanged pleasantries with his DRC Counterpart Celestin Mbala.

In August 1998, Ugandan Army was allowed into the same territory to flash out the same group but the venture turned out into a plundering expedition.

DRC resources were plundered by the Uganda army officials, attracting the International Court of Justice to charge the Ugandan government for causing immense violation of sovereignty, illegal use of force among other charges.

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