Government will embrace technology to track corruption tendencies by 2023

MBARARA – The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Dr Ramathan Ggoobi has said government agencies and ministries will embrace technology to track corruption tendencies.

Dr Ggoobi made these remarks while closing a two-day National Investment Symposium held at Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara City.

He further said, automating government processes is meant to track the tax payers’ money and ensure that the money collected is put to proper use.

“Beginning next year, rationalization of government is going to take shape because we want to emphasize the efficiency of government,” says Ggoobi.

“When you pay tax, where is it going? The revenue we collect, what is it doing? So, the government took a decision to rationalize itself to improve on the way it does business, the results government needs and how it accounts for the resources that you give us,” he added.

In this regard, Dr Ggoobi says his docket is designing an e-procurement system to reduce inefficiencies in government offices.

“We are working on e-government procurement modernity and by next year about 50 of the central government ministries, departments and agencies are going to be procured online to reduce the inefficiencies we see in government,” the PS emphasized.

Dr. Ggoobi also said, the modernity being fine-tuned to be implemented in 2023 will procure in the same way WhatsApp groups does it on social media.

“With a WhatsApp group, if we could get its mirror image in our procurement that the firms which are bidding for government projects can be seen transparently on a computer and the business they are doing instead of going in small rooms to meet certain people where they give bribes, we are likely to reduce on corruption tendencies,” the PS explained.

“Ministry will start e-monitoring of schools and health centres across the country to protect the government drugs from being stolen,” said Dr. Ngoobi.

“We have also developed a platform to implement the e-monitoring of schools and health centres which some people have not been doing effectively of inspecting and monitoring teachers.

“If we have children in the school and we have a number of teachers, how are they being monitored to ensure that they offer the service they are paid to offer. So, we are introducing a system which is going to be monitoring the learners as well as the teachers and also monitoring the health centres across the country to ensure that medicine and other equipment which government buys are not stolen.”

Dr Ggoobi is also optimistic that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) lost by 3% during Covid-19 pandemic since 2020 will recover by the year 2023/24 through different stimulus packages the government is committed to providing.

“We are implementing a stimulus package to boost aggregate demand and also support businesses to restart and recover. A total of Shs 260 billion have been deployed through Emyooga as well as Shs 77billion through SACCOs targeting the financially excluded vulnerable groups and active poor through Microfinance Support Centre,” he said.

“We have lost nearly 3% of GDP growth in each of the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic which is projected to grow at 3.8% by June this year. The economy is destined to recover its free pandemic growth of above 6% beginning 2023/24,” the PS added.

Prof Elijah Mushemeza, MP Sheema North Constituency also challenged the government to focus on local industries and processors to empower the forthcoming Parish Development Model (PDM) program.

“With the mobilization we are doing in the parish model, if we are not careful, people are going to surprise us with commodities and we shall have no market but if they are processed, they can be kept for some time,” Mushemeza said.

“In our opinion, Ankole is at a stage where there is serious production and with little processing, it will increase our incomes. We require more than four banana processing plants,” he added.

The Uganda Investment Symposium concept was launched in 2019 with an inaugural symposium held in the West Nile region and a subsequent one held in the Rwenzori sub-region.

This year’s national symposium was organized by Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL) in partnership with Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

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Unexploded ordnances threaten agricultural activities in Amuru.

AMURU – Amuru district leaders and farmers are concerned over the increasing number of unexploded ordnances being unearthed during the ongoing land preparation for planting period.

So far, more than 300 unexploded ordnances have been found in the district in the past 2 months, according to a report from the district security committee.

The report shows that the most affected areas are Pabo, Pogo, Atiak, Lakang and Layima sub-counties.

Christopher Onyango, a farmer and resident of Oguru cell in Pabo Town Council says, people are afraid to fully exploit their energy in tilting especially land in forests for fear of being hit by the unexploded ordnances.

“Last year, a 17-year-old boy lost his leg to a grenade while he was tilting his land in Oguru,” says Onyango.

“In 2019, a boy identified was Kidega lost his feet after he dug and hit a grenade which exploded while he was clearing his land. This has since discouraged many of us from clearing land which has never been used for fear of meeting similar challenges,” Onyango said.

“This has affected our harvest because we are forced to continue using the same pieces of land previously used even when the fertility has degraded,” Onyango noted.

Susan Achiro, another farmer, and resident of Layima says, tractor operators are reluctant to tilt new areas which have never been tilted before for fear of being hit by the ordnances.

Geoffrey Osborne Oceng, the former Amuru Resident District Commissioner (RDC) says this is affecting their efforts to rally people to fully engage in agricultural practices because they fear for their lives.

Recently, the UPDF 4th Division barracks in Gulu has been exploding the ordnances, but Oceng says limited resources have affected their operations.

Oceng was addressing the Minister of State for Defense and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth Oboth during a consultative meeting in Pabo Town Council.

According to Oceng, there’s need for the intervention of the central government and Ministry of defense to provide more resources so that community members are saved from being hit by the ordnances.

“We are busy mobilizing the masses to actively engage in opening their land for the forthcoming planting season, but these efforts have been frustrated by the presence of unexploded ordnances within the communities. In recent times, we were being supported by the UPDF at the 4th division barracks in Gulu which is not enough due to limited resources,” Oceng says.

Jacob Oboth Oboth, the Minister of State for Defense and Veteran Affairs said, the concerns of the farmers and leaders will be addressed by the army headquarters.

Amuru, like many parts of Acholi sub-region was part of the battle fields for more than two-decades between the the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the government forces. As a result, several weapons were planted underground as the war progressed.

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Kinyara Sugar limited, farmers lose more than 3000 acres of cane to fire

MASINDI – Kinyara Sugar Limited and the sugarcane out-growers in Masindi district have lost more than 3000 acres of sugarcane plantation to fires since December last year, says Mathivanan Masilamani, the Agriculture Manager Kinyara Sugar Limited.

Every dry spell, Kinyara Sugar Limited and farmers grapple with fire which leaves them counting losses. In most cases, the cause of the fire is not established.

Some people say, the fire originates from bush burning, negligence, envy among others.

Mathivanan said most of the fires were experienced in the newly created sub-county of Bikonzi.

He further told theCooperator that more than 1000 acres of burnt cane have been supplied to the factory for crushing, 470.5 acres are still under haulage, 863 acres not taken because they were still young and 298 acres sold to other companies.

Last week, 516.25 hectares belonging to Kinyara and the farmers got burnt in Miirya sub-county in Masindi district.

The farmers lost about 348 hectares while Kinyara Sugar Limited lost 167 hectares.

The farmers who lose their cane to fires have been complaining that the company doesn’t take the burnt cane for crushing, hence making huge losses as farmers.

But Mathivanan dismissed that claiming that they have been taking the burnt cane and they are still doing so.

“When a farmer loses sugarcane to fires, he/she must foot the cost of transport, harvesting and loading. That’s the condition we gave them. We are doing this because we have a lot of overgrown cane we are supposed to harvest. If we focus on the burnt cane, we will be increasing the burden of the overgrown sugarcane. We did this after agreeing with Masindi Sugarcane Farmers Association Limited (MASGAL),” he explained.

But most of the farmers have been complaining that the costs are too much and they cannot manage it.

Robert Atugonza the Chairperson (MASGAL) says farmers have lost millions of shillings as a result of the fires.

“Measures have been put in place to fight fires in vain. I am discouraging the community members to desist from setting unnecessary fires,” said Atugonza.

Sugarcane poaching

Mathivanan noted that as a company, they are also grappling with sugarcane poaching, adding that they have lost more than 1000 hectares of sugarcane in a period of a year.

Two months back, security belonging to Kinyara Sugar Limited intercepted four Tata lorries attempting to steal sugarcane from Kinyara Sugar Limited Estates in Butoobe village in Bikonzi sub-county, Masindi district.

The company officials indicated that the vehicles with registration numbers UBH-009Q, UBJ-150G, UBJ-152G and UBG-578X were intercepted by the company’s security loaded with about 90 tonnes of sugarcane worth about Shs 7,956,000 at the point of arrest.

Sugarcane poaching implies taking away cane from out-growers supplying a particular factory to other factories and entities elsewhere.

Previously, during his state of the nation address on May 31, 2016, President Yoweri Museveni called for a stop to sugarcane poaching to avoid the risk of importing sugar from other countries due to low production.

Competition over sugarcane had in the past been limited to Busoga areas as Kakira Sugar Works complained about new millers eating into its 8,500 out-growers. But other big factories such as Kinyara Sugar Limited in Masindi has been facing the same challenge.

The practice in which emerging millers target established factories, buying sugarcane from out-growers has come to be known as “sugar cane poaching.

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Life after Prison: Authorities call for establishment of re-integration, counselling centers for former inmates

GULU – Margaret Orik Obonyo, the Aswa Region Prison Commander has called on the various stakeholders to establish a re-integration and counselling facility to help former inmates adapt to life after prison upon completion of their sentences.

Upon completion of prison sentences, former inmates normally go straight to their respective homes without any psychological and psychosocial support.

This, Orik says, jail is traumatic and needs to be addressed in a center through which one commutes from their respective homes as they continue to interact with their fellow inmates as they carry on with practice of the life skills they would attain while serving their sentences.

“We normally train our inmates with various life skills ranging from tailoring, brick laying and concrete practice, carpentry and joinery, salon and hairdressing among others. If they could be supported and a center or centers established are for them, they could continue with practicing their various skills and earn money as they continue with their re-integration into their various communities,” Orik proposes.

Douglas Peter Okello, the LCV Chairperson of Omoro District conquers with Orik but says for the idea to be effective, the centers will need to be established at district levels so that distances and others costs attached to the commuting to a center for example in Gulu City would be minimized.

Okello says, the result of the lack of counselling and psychological preparation of the former inmates into the community in most times results to either suicide or further crimes committed by the former.

“We have had numerous cases of former inmates committing suicide while others engage in criminal activities which is majorly as a result of lack of mindset change among others. This according to our findings, is because the former inmates are normally bitter with the members of the community who could have participated in them being jailed,” Okello says.

According to Okello, such a center could turn out to be a great center for entrepreneurial activities based on the skills the inmates have acquired during their time in prison but also as a center for community transformation. Some of the inmates can be trained to become crime preventers since they have experiences to share as a result of being in prison.

Brian Opio, a former prisoner, who served and completed his sentence says, sometimes he is raged with anger from the fact that his life has probably been destroyed and can’t be recovered which sometimes brings in the temptation of going back to the criminal life that took him to prison.

Opio says, despite having attained skills in carpentry and joinery, the lack of capital has also greatly affected him in establishing a workshop to support himself.

“Society often looks at me as a criminal and for this reason, no one is willing to financially support me to put up a carpentry workshop. So, putting up a center where we can continue to practice our skills as we earn money from it could help fund dreamers like me who can’t kick-start life after spending more than three years in prison,” Opio says.

Gulu Central Government Prison has a total of 146 female inmates and over 1400 male inmates.

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All Saints University Lango gets two tractors worth Shs 800m

LIRA – The government has donated two tractors to All Saints University- Lango to boost its agricultural training program as they plan to open a Faculty of Agriculture.

The tractors worth Shs 800 Million were offered by the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADs) under Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) which is headed by Gen. Salim Salah.

Two months ago, during the graduation of more than 300 students at All Saints University, the OWC Chief Coordinator, Saleh through Amolatar woman MP Dr Agnes Apea donated Sh10m and pledged to offer two tractors.

The varsity located at St Augustine Community Center in Lira City has more than 200 students with 22 pursuing certificates in Agriculture.

The university was started in 2009 by Lango Diocese to provide a cheap and affordable higher institution of learning.

The University’s Chancellor who doubles as the Bishop of Lango diocese, Prof Alfred Olwa called upon the administration to use the machinery carefully to support development.

He urges the people in the Lango sub-region to embrace the Parish Development Model (PDM) as one of the programs to eliminate poverty in the households and generate income.

Health Minister, Dr Jane Aceng delivered the tractors to the university administration on 24th February at the University’s new site in Ireda, Boroboro road, Lira City East division.

She applauded All Saints University Lango for engaging in agricultural productivity in line with government’s policy of poverty alleviation and wealth creation strategies.

“I want to thank the All Saints University for introducing agricultural courses which are in line with the government policy of fighting poverty through farming and income generation,” she said.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Anthony Cula said, the tractors will benefit both the university and the farmers in the Lango sub-region.

He urged the government through the Ministry of Education and Sports to support the university financially since they were badly hit by COVID-19.

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Gen. Salim Saleh urges DCOs, Agricultural Officers to report on farmers’ demands

MBARARA – Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho a.k.a Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) has urged District Commercial Officers (DCOs) and Agricultural Officers including his own army officers in OWC to always report issues affecting farmers.

Akandwanaho said this on Tuesday while opening the two-day investment symposium held at Kakyeka Stadium, in Mbarara City.

The third National Investment Symposium of its kind was celebrated under the theme; “The contribution of financial innovation to the resilience of the economy for sustained growth.” It attracted more than 20 companies, cooperatives, bankers, agencies and other private institutions in Ankole sub-region.

Some of the exhibitors included; Ankole Coffee Producers Union, Manyakabi Area Co-op Ltd, Kazire Health Products Ltd, Bishop Stuart University, Rwentanga Farm School among others.

During his opening remarks, Akandwanaho was concerned about Commercial Officers and Agriculture Officers who are failing to reveal farmers’ demands hence challenging commercialized agriculture and industrialization.

His concerns come at a time when Patrick Musinguzi, the District Commercial Officer, of Isingiro district failed to give a regional report about Ankole’s statistical data on agriculture and industrialisation.

“How many maize millers do you have in the region and how many coffee hullers do you have in the region? What are the problems faced? You see in Ankole you don’t have products to influence because this is UDB; they are capitalizing now at a level of one billion? So, they came here to look for business and you are now giving them stories?” OWC Chief Coordinator said.

Akandwanaho challenged leaders to always focus on people’s demands rather than telling stories in their areas.

“This was a chance for the people of Ankole and that’s what I was telling the organizers first to provoke the locals to come up with their demands but now you can tell that the effective demand is zero,” added.

He furiously warned the national symposium organizers never to invite him again when they don’t have to raise people’s demands.

“Organizers, I am happy that you have persisted with these symposiums but this will be the last symposium I will come to, where there is no demand. We went to Arua and leaders came with dreams then in Gulu it was just imaginations, now I have come to Mbarara and I am listening to stories?” the bush war army officer emphasized.

Akandwanaho further challenged the people of Ankole to focus on industrialisation to address unemployment in the region rather than concentrating on subsistence farming.

“The population of Ankole is 4.2 million and they are settled on land equivalent to 6000 square miles which is not expanding yet the population is expanding. So, if you don’t go into labour intensive activities and manufacturing, people will have no jobs,” said Akandwanaho.

“Ankole is at a stage where there is serious production but with little processing and in our opinion, we require more than four banana processing plants,” he added.

Prof Elijah Mushemeza, MP Sheema North Constituency also challenged the government to focus on local industries and processors to empower the forthcoming Parish Development Model (PDM) program.

“With this mobilization we are doing in Parish Development Model, if we are not careful, people are going to surprise us with commodities and we shall have no market but if they are processed, they can be kept for some time,” Mushemeza said.

Dr Ramathan Ggoobi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development encouraged government agencies and ministries to embrace automated procurement processes to track corruption tendencies.

“We are working on E-Government procurement modernity and by next year about 50 of the central government ministries, departments and agencies are going to be procured online to reduce inefficiencies we see in government,” Ggoobi emphasized.

He says, the e-monitoring system will also cross to education and health across the country to ensure that drugs and other equipment which the government buys are not stolen.

“We have also developed a platform to implement the e-monitoring of schools and health centres where I think some people have not been doing it perfectly.”

In his closing remarks, Ggoobi said the government is committed to providing different stimulus packages to recover the country’s economy from Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are implementing a stimulus package to boost aggregate demand and also support businesses to restart and recover. A total of 260 billion have been deployed through Emyooga as well as Shs 77 billion through SACCOs targeting the financially excluded vulnerable groups and active poor through Microfinance Support Centre.”

However, Ggoobi is optimistic that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined by 3% since 2020 and will recover by the year 2023/24.

“We have lost nearly 3% of GDP growth in each of the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which is projected to grow at 3.8% by June this year. The economy is destined to recover its free pandemic growth of above 6% beginning 2023/24,” the Permanent Secretary added.

Speaking to some of the exhibitors, Sedrack Atuhaire, Coordinator for Research and Projects at Kazire Health Products Ltd pledged to implement whatever he has learnt from the symposium.

“This symposium was worth it and the fact that we do value addition which is agro-processing, it was an opportunity for us to come together and we look forward to the operationalisation of the deliberations in a practical way that we shared together.”

However, Clare Kabakyenga, Manager Area Women’s Cooperative Enterprise (ACE) in Isingiro district says, the turn up was low as people were blocked from accessing the premises.

“I was happy to be part of the symposium, but we did not sell our products because the turn up was poor. People were blocked from accessing the premise on security grounds but being an exhibition next time, it should be a free access event to showcase our products.”

The Uganda Investment Symposium concept was launched in 2019 with an inaugural symposium held in the West Nile region and a subsequent one held in the Rwenzori sub-region.

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Avocado cooperative seeks to make Acholi a green sub-region

ACHOLI – Gulu Avocado Farmers’ Cooperative Society has embarked on growing Hass Avocado variety; an initiative that will see heavily deforested Acholi sub-region green again and increase income among households.

The Hass Avocado is dark green-colored and has a bumpy skin and a smooth, creamy nutty taste.

It was grown and sold by Southern California mail courier and amateur horticulturist Rudolph Hass, who also gave it his name in 1926-1935.

Gulu Avocado Farmers’ Cooperative Society that was registered in 2021, has more than 70 members spread out in Gulu, Amuru, Agago, Lamwo, Nwoya in Acholi sub-region and Lira, Oyam and Amolatar districts in Lango sub-region.

Pastor Gabriel Lajul, the Chairperson told theCooperator that an unknown number of trees are cut down every year to make space for annual food and cash crops in the region.

“We believe that Hass Avocado is a perennial crop that will bring money into pockets of our farmers and at the same time green the environment,” he said.

Approximately, 4,000 out of 16,000 hectares of forest cover in Acholi sub-region has been depleted since 2016-2019.

According to Our trees we need answers, a pressure group of journalists, researchers and community workers advocating for conservation of trees, majority of the trees are cut down for wood fuel especially charcoal and timber.

Lajul who has planted 5 acres of Hass Avocado in Pabbo sub-county, Amuru district noted that avocado trees could be the solution to unending land conflicts.

“We currently don’t have long lasting landmarks that can help address land conflicts but this can be solved by people planting avocado trees. One can harvest avocado fruits for 50 years if well maintained,” he said.

The group which is positioning itself to join the Hass Avocado export economy like farmers in Kenya, are already investing in learning visits to established farms for farmers to acquire hands on skills to maintain the Hass Avocado trees.

“In 2021, we visited Musubi farm in Mayuge district and will visit another farm in Nakaseke district this month,” Lajul said.

Since it’s difficult for farmers to grow avocado on large acreage of land, the cooperative is sensitizing as many small holder farmers as possible to ensure and strengthen bulking.

Lajul notes that there is available market for avocado considering that much of the fruit is currently supplied by Elgon and West Nile regions.

Challenges

Alfred Komakech, a member of the production committee of the cooperative who has planted 26 Hass trees in Paicho sub-county, Gulu district says, the challenge they are currently faced with is a poor attitude problem among potential farmers who have tried and failed at other crops.

“People keep complaining that they have tried other crops like chia and ginger only to make losses due to lack of market,” Komakech said.

He said, the Hass Avocado seeds are also costly for ordinary farmers and accordingly called on the government to include it among inputs distributed free of charge under existing programs like Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

In May 2021, the then Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Vincent Ssempijja launched a nationwide avocado-growing campaign.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Hillary Agaba, the Director of Research at the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI), said that Uganda aims to produce a million avocado seedlings over the next 12 months, which will be given out to farmers at a subsidized fee of Shs 5,000.

Health experts say, Hass Avocado is nutritious and contains potassium, heart-healthy acids as well as fibre.

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Avocado cooperative seeks to make Acholi a green sub-region

ACHOLI – Gulu Avocado Farmers’ Cooperative Society has embarked on growing Hass Avocado variety; an initiative that will see heavily deforested Acholi sub-region green again and increase income among households.

The Hass Avocado is dark green-colored and has a bumpy skin and a smooth, creamy nutty taste.

It was grown and sold by Southern California mail courier and amateur horticulturist Rudolph Hass, who also gave it his name in 1926-1935.

Gulu Avocado Farmers’ Cooperative Society that was registered in 2021, has more than 70 members spread out in Gulu, Amuru, Agago, Lamwo, Nwoya in Acholi sub-region and Lira, Oyam and Amolatar districts in Lango sub-region.

Pastor Gabriel Lajul, the Chairperson told theCooperator that an unknown number of trees are cut down every year to make space for annual food and cash crops in the region.

“We believe that Hass Avocado is a perennial crop that will bring money into pockets of our farmers and at the same time green the environment,” he said.

Approximately, 4,000 out of 16,000 hectares of forest cover in Acholi sub-region has been depleted since 2016-2019.

According to Our trees we need answers, a pressure group of journalists, researchers and community workers advocating for conservation of trees, majority of the trees are cut down for wood fuel especially charcoal and timber.

Lajul who has planted 5 acres of Hass Avocado in Pabbo sub-county, Amuru district noted that avocado trees could be the solution to unending land conflicts.

“We currently don’t have long lasting landmarks that can help address land conflicts but this can be solved by people planting avocado trees. One can harvest avocado fruits for 50 years if well maintained,” he said.

The group which is positioning itself to join the Hass Avocado export economy like farmers in Kenya, are already investing in learning visits to established farms for farmers to acquire hands on skills to maintain the Hass Avocado trees.

“In 2021, we visited Musubi farm in Mayuge district and will visit another farm in Nakaseke district this month,” Lajul said.

Since it’s difficult for farmers to grow avocado on large acreage of land, the cooperative is sensitizing as many small holder farmers as possible to ensure and strengthen bulking.

Lajul notes that there is available market for avocado considering that much of the fruit is currently supplied by Elgon and West Nile regions.

Challenges

Alfred Komakech, a member of the production committee of the cooperative who has planted 26 Hass trees in Paicho sub-county, Gulu district says, the challenge they are currently faced with is a poor attitude problem among potential farmers who have tried and failed at other crops.

“People keep complaining that they have tried other crops like chia and ginger only to make losses due to lack of market,” Komakech said.

He said, the Hass Avocado seeds are also costly for ordinary farmers and accordingly called on the government to include it among inputs distributed free of charge under existing programs like Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

In May 2021, the then Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Vincent Ssempijja launched a nationwide avocado-growing campaign.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Hillary Agaba, the Director of Research at the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI), said that Uganda aims to produce a million avocado seedlings over the next 12 months, which will be given out to farmers at a subsidized fee of Shs 5,000.

Health experts say, Hass Avocado is nutritious and contains potassium, heart-healthy acids as well as fibre.

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Minister Tumwebaze sets team to investigate fake drugs

KAMPALA – Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has appointed a special team to carry out investigations on the alleged fake drugs in the market.

“We have put up a technical committee to study these issues of supply chain and other factors responsible for improving tick resistance. Farmers buy the drugs from the market but we want to study why farmers do not get value from their acaricides,” Tumwebaze said.

The Minister encouraged publicizing authorized drug shops allowed to sell agrichemicals to the farmers.

“I want to let you know that MAAIF, working with National Drug Authority (NDA), is going to intensify through the district authorities to publicize the registered veterinary outlets and authorized drug sellers and distributors such that farmers take personal responsibility before buying the drugs,” said Tumwebaze.

“If we don’t intensify our registration and publication of authorized drug sellers, fake drugs will continue to litter the market. The low prices will lure farmers and eventually suffocate them with poor outcomes,” he added.

Hon Tumwebaze further said, in the coming days MAAIF and NDA will issue and publicize all the registered pharmacies, veterinary drug stores through mass media and social media.

“We should know the drug pharmacies and veterinary drug shops licensed such that if you buy a drug from there, and it’s not working, you are able to report and we will hold that store accountable so as to crackdown on the entire chain,” Tumwebaze emphasized.

He also threatened to de-register all veterinary drug outlets stocking fake drugs.

“If they are the type of vet doctors who go and buy anything from container village yet they are licensed, then they risk losing their licenses and suffer associated legal penalties,” Tumwebaze said.

He appealed to farmers to patiently wait for the possible solutions to the alleged fake drugs.

“Just to let you know, we have not rested, the struggle continues and we are still waiting for the committees’ report to guide us on formulating our policy and regulatory reforms that is backed by evidence from experts,” adds Minister Tumwebaze.

Hon Frank Tumwebaze confirmed that there could be fake drugs used to treat animals in Uganda.

He said that he is shocked with the rate at which farmers are reporting about fake inputs in the Uganda market.

“I want to let you know that Ministry of Agriculture has noted with concern the growing number of reports on counterfeit agricultural drugs. The problem is mainly in the veterinary sector but also to some extent in the agricultural sector and most of the drugs do not have the required levels of efficacy,” Tumwebaze explained.

However, during the Farmers’ Parliament in Kiruhura, Abiaz Rwamwiri, the Public Relations Manager National Drug Authority insisted that the authority ensures that all drugs which are on the Uganda market both human and veterinary are of good quality, safe and working well.

“What we control are either drugs manufactured here or imported, and those we are sure that by the time they are imported, we have analyzed them and they are safer and meet the standards they are supposed to be,” said Rwamwiri.

He also reported that its possible fake drugs are still being sneaked into the country through porous borders.

“It doesn’t mean that there are no issues of counterfeit because some of them actually are smuggled into the country especially through the porous borders of Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania,” says Rwamwiri.

Speaking to James Ndibajuna, the Chairman Abesigana Kashari Dairy Farmers Co-op Ltd, blamed fake drugs on government’s changes in the ministries.

“Initially all acaricides were under MAAIF but today there are some which are regulated under Ministry of Health. Do you think the health of people is equal to the health of animals? ” explains Ndibajuna.

He added that counterfeit inputs have escalated due to the private sector taking full charge of Uganda’s market.

“The government decided that this is a decentralized government, so everyone is free to bring in his drugs and manufacturers. Different companies will produce similar drugs but with a different quality,” Ndibajuna said.
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Arua Central Market authorities allocating stalls to vendors

ARUA – Market authorities of Arua Central Market have started allocating stalls and other business facilities to vendors.

Dott Services Ltd and Joadah Consults built the multibillion market at the tune of Shs34.9 billion.

The modern market will host 5,012 vendors in its lock ups, stalls, banking mall, pharmacy among others. Also the market has other supporting facilities like electricity, water, television sets, cameras and various offices.

Sam Adriko, the Head of Finance Arua City who also doubles as the Market Master and in charge of administration and resettlement of the market vendors in the new market says, they have so far registered more than 4,000 vendors.

Registration and allocation of stalls and lockups are ongoing until it has officially been launched and opened for use.

He further said, the registered vendors include; those who deal in produce, dry fish, meat, second hand clothes, general merchandise among others.

According to Adriko, upon opening for use, the market will reorganize the city especially with the numerous mini markets that have been opened within and in the outskirts of the city.

“We hope that upon official opening of the market, the city authorities will move to regulate the opening and operation of other smaller markets so that customers are allowed to transact majorly in the central market,” said Adriko.

“I want to challenge the fish traders to join the rest of the vendors in the market so that there is uniformity, adding that soon the market at OPM shall be demolished. I also call on the hawkers and vendors along the roads to immediately shift to the new market to avoid inconveniences that may arise from impounding their goods,” Adriko said.

Adomati Dickson, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (DRCC) Arua City says, the government has done its part. And now, it’s up to the vendors to utilize the market to transform their lives.

Adomati says, whereas complaints in stall allocation have already started trickling in, he advises the aggrieved persons to use peaceful methods in resolving their differences.

“We know that during allocation of facilities for vendors at the new multi billion market, complaints and concerns will arise, I want to appeal to the aggrieved people to always approach our offices and use peaceful methods to resolve their differences. We don’t want to see people fighting over spaces. It’s us to grow and fight poverty from our households,” Adomati said.

Adomati also warned city authorities against allocating stalls for themselves, and mismanaging revenues that will be collected from the market.

The Arua Central Market is expected to be officially commissioned by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. A date is yet to be announced.

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