Youth in Masindi have toured Sunrise Inspirational farm which in Kijumbura village, Pakanyi sub county, about 20kms from Masindi town. The farm, which sits on approximately 20 acres, belongs to 30 year old Ramadhan Atuhura who deals majorly in bananas, coffee, rice, poultry, goat rearing and horticulture.
Atuhura is a member of an association dubbed “Farmers Talk Uganda” (FTU) which comprises over 140 farmers countrywide. FTU was formed about two years ago.
The farmers frequently visit each other’s farms to share knowledge and guidance on how to improve their yields and become better farmers who can target bigger markets.
While visiting Atuhura’s farm, Charles Rwebembera, the chairperson and proprietor of FTU advised the youth to interest themselves in crops and enterprises whose value does not diminish.
“If you decide to venture in crops like bananas for commercial production, carry out research and invest in improved varieties that will give you value for the money invested. Do land economics and ensure it is utilized fully because land is scarce,” Rwebembera said.
Frederick Isingoma, a member of FTU who deals in coffee and banana growing said, “A kilogram of coffee is always above shs 4000. Some youth opt for crops with quick yields such as maize but they also suffer from very low prices in return. Most of our parents supported us in school using proceeds from coffee.”
Ramadhan Atuhura cleans his nursery bed as other farmers look on. Atuhura practices mixed farming including bananas, horticulture, poultry and grazing. Photo by Priscillar Nyamahunge
Isingoma advised farmers to apply modern farming techniques such as applying manure to cash crops so as to get better yields.
Stanley Wandera, a farmer and chairperson of Gukwatamanzi Cooperative Society, said most youth undermine farming equating it to an enterprise practiced by illiterates.
“Some graduates have ancestral land which is lying idle in their villages but they do not think of investing in agriculture. Some only depend on begging from their parents. Such a mentality should be fought against,” Wandera said.
Ronald Tumuhaise, who was part of the visiting youth said most times many youth are discouraged because of the intensive time needed to invest in agriculture and some opt for enterprises that require less attention.
James Wamani said most youth lack financial literacy and lack basic knowledge about the advantages of investing in cash crop production.
Meanwhile, Atuhura said he plans to invest in value addition with a focus on wine production which will help him tap more income.
“I have mobilised and created a cluster of farmers who are now growing bananas. I sell to them suckers at a reduced price of sh1500 instead of sh2000 and also train them in good agronomic practices. I am sure that those farmers will contribute towards my wine production with supplies as they also uplift themselves,” Atuhura said.
In Eastern Uganda, Bugisu sub region, where literacy remains a substantial barrier to development, radio can reach a large number of poor people because it is affordable and consumes little electricity.
On 9th October 2019, another new Frequency Modulation (FM) radio went on air in Bugisu. Programmes, which are majorly broadcast in Lumasaba (the local dialect) could be heard in two thirds of the Eastern Central areas including Masabaland’s households. There were few programs running in Luganda and English.
The new radio station, BCU Radio, is what the legendary Bugisu Cooperative Union (BCU) farmers have been waiting for, for years.
Broadcasting on FM 100.6, BCU Radio is located on Naboa Road, adjacent to Shine On Hotel and Bank Of Uganda (Mbale branch). The radio station is owned and managed by BCU.
Established in July 1954, BCU is a Ugandan agricultural cooperative union, privately owned by coffee farmers from Bugisu subregion. Based in Mbale town, Eastern Uganda, the cooperative union was started by a group of coffee farmers led by the late EV. Samson Kitutu.
Over time, the union has thrived, uniting the region and marketing produce on behalf of the coffee farmers in Bugisu.
BCU is led by Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi who also doubles as a Member of Parliament representing Budadiri West in Sironko district.
“The radio is now going to be the ultimate vehicle of delivery and mobilization for the union’s farmers because this is their own,” Hon. Mafabi said during an interview.
The BCU boss is confident that the already strong union is only going to grow even stronger, with the establishment of their own mass media station.
Mr. John Musila, who deputizes Hon. Mafabi said the establishment of BCU radio had been a long time desire of the farmers.
“The decision to come into existence is to avail farmers in Bugisu and our neighbours with an agricultural, informative and farmer educative broadcast,” the visibly delightful Musila told theCooperator.
“We want them (farmers and business fraternity) to know that this is their radio which basically means any form of support in form of adverts, announcements and paying for commercial talk shows by them will make BCU radio even stronger,” Mr. Musila added.
Mr. Musila, who doubles as Manafwa district Local Council 5 chairman, said that although the region already has over 15 radio stations, BCU Radio will be distinguished by principles, among which include: farmer community ownership and management, and farmer community participation.
Enhancing effective extension, education and communication services amongst its members are some of the key benefits the union expects from their new broadcast project, for: sustaining agricultural growth, strengthening food security and combating hunger and malnutrition in the area.
A BCU board member in charge of the radio operations, Mr. James Kutosi alluded to the fact that the radio project is seen as a lifetime blessing by both farmers and the board.
“We have been spending a lot of money on other commercial radios, in mobilization and educational activities but now that we have our own, we will not have to continue spending a colossal sum of money, contracting over 10 radios to pass the same massage to our farmers,” the overjoyed Mr. Kutosi stated while wearing an irresistible smile.
Mr. Kutosi continued: “It will be a requirement for our farmers to always listen to BCU Radio for all official communications of the Union, unlike in the past where everyone listened to the radio of their preference.”
Inyukha Hasi show presenters Muduwa wo Bbaaba and Joe Emmah during their show.
According to Mr. Kutosi, BCU was spending approximately 150 million shillings annually on local radios, newspapers and television stations, for mobilization activities, an amount he says will now be minimized by the existence of BCU Radio.
Mr. Julius Musungu, a farmer in Manafwa district says they expect the radio to be the voice of farmers, which will also inspire farmers to observe weather patterns.
According to Mr. Musungu, farmer education through radio programmes will be another key aspect for quality coffee production.
“I suppose the radio will provide employment opportunities for some of our children who end up doing journalism and mass communication at university or institutional level,” Mr. Musungu said.
The majority of BCU farmers have profoundly welcomed their newly established radio with hope that it will provide a proactive and a farmer dedicated voice to the community, many of whom are rural coffee growers and dealers.
Listenership is already building up for BCU radio, which has also managed to attract majority of Bugisu’s eminent radio personalities.
The newsiest radio station has recruited over 15 staff members including a support team and experienced presenters among whom are: Mr. John Kennedy Wasikye alias John K and Mr. Richard Welishe alias Brigadier Ragga Chief who formerly worked with Step FM and Big FM in Mbale town, respectively.
Other presenters at BCU Radio are: former Elgon FM sports presenter, SK Godfrey Kakungulu; former Step TV news anchor, Imam Saudi Masalu; Vinikhet Manana formerly with IUIU FM; former Rock Mambo’s Racheal Namarome; and former Open Gate FM English news anchor, Emma Namonyo alias Joe Emmah.
Despite being just weeks old in a town which has got over 15 locally based radio stations, BCU Radio’s Wasikye is optimistic that they will be at the top of the sub region’s airwaves very soon.
“Our recruitment has been very good, so far. We have the experienced and most followed radio presenters in town, coupled with talented and promising journalists,” the enthusiastic Ragga Chief said.
The Ragga Chief emphasized that BCU Radio has something new in the programming content which communities near and far.
The broadcasting content of BCU Radio is increasingly becoming popular to a local audience because the kind of content had been overlooked by the predominant commercial broadcasters.
“It is a truly people’s radio that perceives listeners not only as receivers and consumers, but also as active citizens and creative producers of media content. The listeners determine what should be on air,” John K, one of the senior staff members explained.
The radio’s most listened shows thus far are: the Inyukha Hasi show – the morning show hosted by Joe Emmah, John K and Muduwa Wo Bbaaba, the Coffee Tree which is presented by the former Mbale Municipality MP aspirant and veteran radio presenter, John Kennedy Wasikye alias John K, and the Bira Mbire show, hosted by another veteran presenter Ragga Chief along with Racheal Namarome.
The other shows include Imbago Y’omulimi loosely translating as the hoe of the farmer hosted by Vinikhet Manana, and Manyama Busilamu presented by Soudi Muhamadi Masalu and, the Golden Medal sports show, among others.
Programming is locally focused, using indigenous knowledge to build on local cultural and agro-ecological diversity, blending with technology and scientific innovation.
On their official Facebook page their pioneer fans have commended the radio management for a great service.
“Great programming coupled with professional presenters is what has been missing on radio!” commented a one Moses Masuba on the BCU Radio 100.6 FM Facebook wall.
BCU Radio is the first ever mass media and commercial radio station to be owned by a farmer-based cooperative in Uganda.
https://www.uhuruinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Inyukha-Hasi-show-presenters-Muduwa-wo-Bbaaba-and-Joe-Emmah-during-their-show-300x200.jpg200300tchttps://www.uhuruinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/uhuru-logo-300x218.pngtc2019-11-11 06:03:162019-11-11 06:05:36Bugisu Cooperative Union Opens Uganda’s first Cooperative Radio Station
A police investigation is underway after some members of the Bukwo-based Nyalit Cooperative Society raised a red flag over alleged embezzlement of the cooperative’s funds.
The said money, UGX 69 million, is a compensation from the Uganda National Roads Authority – UNRA for the demolition of the Nyalit Cooperative building in Bukwo district, Sipi subregion. The building in question had been constructed within a road reserve and had been in existence for 3 years.
In 2018, members of the cooperative reached an agreement with officials from UNRA to have the road reserve area (in which the cooperative’s building was housed) freed, in exchange for compensation of UGX 69 million.
A source who asked not to be named in this story for security reasons confirmed to theCooperator magazine that the UGX 69 million was released by UNRA in August 2019.
The source alleges that the money was misused by four of the cooperative’s leaders: the Chairman – Mr. Wilson Cheptoek, his vice-chairman, the treasurer, and the secretary, whom members accuse of selfishly sharing the 69 million shillings without their consent and later claiming that UNRA was yet to effect the payment.
“I called the police because we (members) were getting sick and tired of being treated like fools by our own leaders. We cannot allow anyone to ruin our cooperative which has taken years to build,” the source said.
Grains which were abandoned under the rain at the Cooperative yesterday evening.
At the time our reporter visited the offices of the cooperative on 22 October 2019, the cooperative was close to being non-operational owing to the ongoing dispute. Nyalit Cooperative is now renting office space in Bukwo town Council, after the demolition of their previous premises.
The Sipi subregion Police Spokesperson, Mr. Rogers Taitika confirmed that in the last few days, at least four suspects have been apprehended to help in the ongoing investigations.
“It’s true we have started the investigation into this matter and there is some progress we are making but of course I cannot reveal much at the moment since we are still gathering information,” Taitika said, at his Kapchorwa town office.
Asked to detail the current arrests, the police regional spokesman remained adamant reasoning that revealing such information would jeopardize their ongoing investigation.
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Mwalimu National Sacco members in Western Kenya have threatened to stop their monthly contributions to the Sacco.
The members claim that the Sacco has been making unauthorised deductions from their salaries.On Monday, they stormed the Sacco’s Kisumu branch, demanding the ouster of the branch leadership.
Motorcycle loans
According to some of those who were interviewed by The Standard, the Sacco introduced a loan product where members could purchase motorcycles.But since repayments for the loans began, the SACCO has been making larger deductions from members’ salaries than what was initially agreed on, the members said.John Jagongo, who spoke on behalf of some of the affected members, said many were shocked when they visited their accounts to find there was no money, despite salaries and dividends having been deposited.
“The agreement was that members would take motorcycles from specific shops and they would pay for them through Sacco loans. A few months after the purchases were made, these shops closed,” Mr Jagongo explained.“
As a result, there was nowhere to access spare parts for the motorcycles from, and when we asked the Sacco about it, the managers simply said we will have to keep paying off the loans even if the bikes are grounded due to a lack of spares.”
Jagongo said some of the teachers had taken up to 15 motorcycles, which were being sold at Sh103,000 each.He said the loans still have to be serviced even if the bikes are grounded.“It is sad that the Sacco belongs to us teachers, yet the people we employ to manage it treat us with contempt,” said Jagongo.
Another member, Evans Obuya, said Kisumu branch, with more than 40,000 members, is the most vibrant across the country, serving teachers in Nyanza and Western regions.“Failing to address our grievances could lead to the crumbling of the entire institution,” he said.
“Most teachers in other parts of the country receive their salaries through accounts in commercial banks, while most teachers in Kisumu receive their salaries through the SACCO. That is why we feel betrayed.”
Asset base
Jagongo further said that: “The Sacco has been claiming to have a huge asset base and a committed membership, but it does not reward members with a proper dividend.” In its last financial year, the Sacco declared a dividend of nine per cent.Kisumu Sacco Branch Manager Sam Njoroge refused to comment on the allegations raised by the members when journalists approached him at the institution’s Kisumu offices.
A man who introduced himself as his deputy said he had instructions not to allow anybody into the manager’s office.When The Standard tried to contact the Sacco’s main offices in Nairobi, calls and text messages to managers went unanswered.
Yesterday, members were attempting to rally each other to paralyse operations at the Kisumu branch through social media.
The Uganda National Students Association(UNSA) has added its voice to the chorus of condemnation towards security agencies for the highhandedness and brutality with which they have handled demonstrating students at Makerere University.
In a letter addressed to the Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj. Gen. Sabiiti Muzeyi, out-going UNSA President Jothan Yamurebire Burobuto expressed dismay at Police’s use of excessive force to brutalize students involved in a largely peaceful protest, urging the Police chief to call on deployed officers to proceed with restraint and caution.
On the night of 24th October 2019, security agencies raided Lumumba Hall – one of the male halls of residence at Makerere in search of suspected ring-leaders of the student demonstration that has been raging at the University since October 22nd and allegedly break into student rooms, indiscriminately beat up students, and injured others. A day before, in a video that went viral on social media platforms, police officers were seen whipping and frog-marching a group of demonstrating students, scenes which have been roundly condemned by several Human Rights and Civil Society groups.
The students are protesting a 15% increment of University tuition, a move by the University Management to enact stricter regulations to govern the process through which students elect their leaders, and the suspension of their colleagues without due process. They’re also calling for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, accusing him of highhandedness.
Chronology of events
As the strike ensued, the University Council on 29th October 2019 held an emergency session and met student representatives including the Guild President and his Vice, the Guild Speaker and his Deputy, and other representatives of the Students’ Guild Representative Council and Cabinet to resolve the stalemate.
In a communique released later that evening, the University Council resolved to among others revise the contested 15% increment on University fees to apply to only tuition. Previously, the increment was applied to both tuition and Functional fees. The Council also resolved to refer the cases of 4 suspended students to the University Disciplinary committee for hearing within two weeks, but allow them to sit exams while their cases remained under consideration.
Additionally, the University Council resolved to set up a sub-committee to investigate allegations of threatening and battering of students involving some members of University Management. The committee is to be led by the University Council Vice Chairperson and former Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly Dan Kidega.
However, hardly a day after the resolutions of the University Council, the University Management moved to suspend 9 other students and warn 26 others, in a move analysts argued was against the spirit of dialogue necessary to resolve the stalemate.
Following the development, students moved to seek the intervention of Parliament. In a petition signed by at least 693 students and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, students demanded for among others the immediate resignation of the University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe together with his Personal Assistant Gordon Mulangira and Prof. Elia Hisali for being “at the center of all torture suffered by students at Makerere.” Students also demanded for the halting of “any further implementation of the 15% tuition increment,” saying the policy was inconsiderate of students and their parents’ financial standing.
On Thursday last week, Parliament debated the petition by students, resolving among others that Makerere University halt the implementation of the contested 15% tuition increment until the Parliamentary Committee on Education reviews the Policy and guides Parliament on whether the University warrants a supplementary budget to meet its funding deficit.
In a reversal of the University Management’s decision, Parliament also resolved that suspended students be unconditionally reinstated at the university saying that they had been involved in a “legal and peaceful protest.” MPs also resolved that the military immediately vacate all student units of accommodation and University facilities.
Way Forward
Following near-unanimous condemnation, theCooperator has learned that the military has since been withdrawn from the university premises and replaced by Police. On Friday, the UPDF Spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire announced that a one Capt. Ronald Rubeera who commanded the violent operation at Makerere had been arrested and detained at Makindye and a commission of inquiry led by Lt. Col. Richard Ochen set up to investigate the conduct of the entire operation.
But it remains to be seen whether the stalemate at the University will be resolved in time for students to sit their end of semester examinations smoothly. The exams are set to begin on November 18th, and on Thursday last week, Nawangwe told journalists that they would go on as planned and that the University was not considering an extension to the semester despite the current stalemate.
Following a University Management Meeting on Wednesday 30th October 2019, the University resolved to request for security enhancement at the University to allow lecturers to proceed in spite of the ongoing protest. Nawangwe said that the University would deploy about 2000 police officers to guard its over 1000 lecture rooms to allow students who wish to continue attending lecturers to proceed.
In the meantime, the students’ Guild leadership has called for a Students’ General Assembly today to resolve the students’ next course of action. In a communique co-signed by Nalukwago
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Community Health Workers (CHW), through their cooperatives, have accumulated Rwf11.2 billion in immovable assets, and Rwf3.5 billion in cash deposited in banks, figures from the Ministry of Health show.
Their assets are mainly commercial buildings, farms, forests, and vehicles, Dr. Diane Gashumba, Minister of Health told Sunday Times.
She said the ministry was working with Rwanda Cooperative Agency and BDF to build the capacity of CHWs cooperatives for them to run viable and profitable businesses.
“We have collaboration with BDF, so they are helping us to assess any project CHW cooperatives want to invest in to make sure that it is viable, and to even provide guarantee whenever needed,” she said.
Minister for Health, Dr Diane Gashumba dances with Community Health workers of Busegera. / Sam Ngendahimana
The community health worker initiative started in 1995 as a pilot programme with 12,000 members but because of good results and impact, it was scaled up to over 58,445 CHWs currently.
They are grouped in 488 cooperatives and women make up 65 percent.
Patience Mazimpaka, the president of Community Health Workers in Karongi District which constructed a commercial building called Agaciro Legacy Mall in 2017 told Sunday Times that the building is considered a reflection on the role of the community health worker.
She said that the building is worth over Rwf350 million and it is estimated it will generate about Rwf1.2 million revenues from rent per month.
It is the property of 22 CHW cooperatives in Karongiwith over 1,600 members,.
In Musanze District, more than 1,290 Community Health Workers grouped in 15 cooperatives so far have Rwf161 million on their bank account.
Mathias Nkiranya, the President of their cooperative said they want to request aRwf850 million loan from Development Bank of Rwanda (BRDto set up a livestock processing factory.
“Because we do not have a modern slaughter house in Musanze District, there is a ready market of people who will be bringing livestock that they want slaughtered for meat and they will be paying for such service,” he said.
Talking of the implications of community health workers working in cooperatives, Gashumba said that it helps them to be economically stable so they can take care of their families because they spend a lot of time giving care to the communities.
“It is also a retention mechanism in the scheme. It’s good that they have been volunteering for many years, but the government found a solution to support them [through cooperative model],” she observed. (Source / The New Times)
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The High Court has issued an interim injunction staying the implementation of an order asking embattled Uganda Cooperative Alliance General Secretary Ivan Asiimwe and Board Chairperson Johnas Tweyambe to stay out of office until investigations into the current acrimony at the Cooperatives’ Body are completed.
Through their lawyers, Joseph Masitko and Akantorana Kobusingye, the duo had on 25th October 2019 applied to the High Court seeking a court order barring the Attorney General and the Registrar of Cooperatives from implementing a decision by the latter issued the previous day ordering them to step aside from their respective offices to allow investigations against the General Secretary Asiimwe to proceed unhindered.
Asiimwe is accused of misconduct, fraud, and abuse of office, and Tweyambe is accused of being his accomplice. The two are jointly accused of frustrating the proceeding of investigations into the alleged crimes.
In an October 24th 2019 letter, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Joseph William Kitandwe noted that “Initial findings point to the chairperson of the board and General Secretary of UCA Ltd as being at the center of frustrating the proper conduct of business at UCA Ltd,” adding that “For purposes of conducting a fair and transparent investigation, the two officers are hereby directed to step aside until further notice.”
In their application to Court, the two challenged the credibility, legality, and validity of the Registrar’s letter ordering their suspension, arguing that it was tainted with “bias,” was unfair, high handed and irrational. They also argued that the decision was arrived at in breach of the Cooperatives Act, contravened the rules of natural justice, and asked court to set it aside.
Now, sitting in Kampala on Monday 28th October 2019, High Court presided over by Justice Andrew Bashaija granted the injunction, allowing Asiimwe and Tweyambe to stay in their respective offices at UCA until the main case against which they were evicted from office has been heard.
The order also bars the Attorney General and the Registrar of Cooperatives from conducting further investigations into the issues raised against Asiimwe as had been intimated by the October 24th letter.
But in the latest development, theCooperator has learned that the Attorney General has lodged in an appeal applying that the injunction granted on Monday be set-aside and the respondents – the Attorney General and the Registrar of Cooperatives be allowed to submit affidavits to the original application filed by Asiimwe and Tweyambe on October 25th.
It is not yet clear when the Attorney General’s application will be set for hearing. In the meantime, however, Asiimwe and Tweyambe remain in office. On Monday, theCooperator reported how the two, together with UCA treasurer Fr.Safari forced their way into office, even as they waited for an injunction staying their suspension, from the High Court.
APAC. Members of Apac Teachers’ Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization are bemoaning the looming collapse of their SACCO due to what they called the mismanagement of the SACCO’s funds by its leaders.
The District SACCO reportedly received Shs.200 million from the Government as part of the installments in fulfillment of the Shs.25billion pledged to be invested in teachers’ SACCOs around the country to improve teachers’ welfare by affording them soft loans to supplement their incomes.
The pledge was made by President Museveni in 2015, following protracted negotiations with the Uganda National Teachers’ Union(UNATU) in which the latter was demanding an upward review of teachers’ salaries.
Consequently, the government agreed to remit the money(shs.25billion) in installments over a five-year period starting with the 2015/16 financial year. It would be channeled through Walimu SACCO – the Umbrella SACCO of all teachers in the country which would then subdivide the installment amongst its affiliate SACCOs across the country.
For Apac teachers’ SACCO however, it appears the money never got to serve its intended purpose. Sources told theCooperator that on receiving the money in 2016, the SACCO’s leaders allegedly shared it among themselves, rendering the Sacco non-functional since there was no money left on the account to serve clients.
At this year’s Teachers Day celebrations at Ikwera Girls’ Secondary School, Kwania district, the District Education Officer, Billy Okunyu confirmed the allegations of financial impropriety on the part of the SACCO’s leaders, warning that they would face arrest if they fail to pay back the money.
“These people (the SACCO’s leaders) lent money among them and are now failing to pay back. But we will ensure that they return the money, or be arrested,” he assured the teachers.
Mr Godfrey Akodo, the chairperson Uganda National Teachers Union(UNATU) in Apac attributed the financial crisis at the SACCO to lack of strident oversight over the management of the SACCO’s affairs, noting that it had eroded any semblance of accountability at the SACCO.
“There’s a leadership crisis. Some few individuals exercise disproportionate power over the SACCO. They have been appointing the executive, and if you do not dance to their tune, you are kicked out,” he said.
Francis Leodong, a teacher at Apac Primary School also bemoaned the lack of democratic decision making and member control of the SACCO’s affairs, arguing that it had enabled the abuse of the SACCO’s funds to go on, unabated.
“When you come up with any complaint during a meeting, they say you are undisciplined and threaten you with disciplinary action. So, we ended up losing interest in the SACCO,” he said.
Akodo warned the SACCO would miss out on further funding if they fail to account for the Shs.200million.
However, when contacted, Peter Otim, the chairperson Apac Teachers SACCO denied allegations that the SACCO leadership had lent the SACCO’s money amongst themselves, and instead blamed “some SACCO members,” who he said borrowed the said money between 2016 and 2017 but have since failed to pay back the loan.
“We were lenient with them thinking they are the people who understand but they’ve since proved uncooperative. Worse still, the creation of Kwania District made some to migrate before paying our money,” Otim said.
He said that he would cooperate with the district authorities in efforts to recover the money and that those who are adamant to pay the loan will be arrested and taken to court. “The last resort will be us going to the RDCs of these two districts to sanction those who fail to pay us,” he said.
Head of Security Services at Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA), Haruna Ssesera has today confirmed the break-in at UCA’s head offices on Nkurumah road by its embattled General Secretary, Mr. Ivan Asiimwe.
Mr. Asiimwe, along with UCA’s Board Chairperson Mr. Johnas Tweyambe were last week asked by the Commissioner for Cooperatives in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to step aside to allow for further investigations into fraud and abuse of office allegations that have dogged the Management and Board of the cooperatives’ topmost body since the beginning of this year.
Asiimwe is among others accused of forging UCA Board minutes to access UCA property and mishandling monies borrowed on behalf of the Cooperatives’ body, all on the watch of Mr. Tweyambe.
Now, in a twist of events, Ssesera told theCooperator that Asiimwe, assisted by his personal Driver, Balam Ivan early this morning stormed the UCA offices, kicked open and forcefully settled himself into the General Secretary’s office which he was ordered to vacate on Friday last week.
Sources told theCooperator that on receiving the Commissioner’s letter asking him to step aside, Asiimwe refused to hand over keys to the General Secretary’s office, forcing the Manager Administration and Finance at UCA to order for a new lock to the office.
The decision to replace locks at the office was part of several security interventions contained in an internal memo issued to all UCA staff and issued on the same day the letter asking Asiimwe and Tweyambe to step aside on 24th October 2019.
The memo, a copy of which theCooperator has seen, noted that henceforth, staff would only be allowed in office between 8am and 5 pm Monday to Friday, and no staff would be allowed to access the UCA premises during weekends.
Sources inside UCA say the measures were intended to protect all assets of the Cooperatives’ Body and important documents from being maliciously damaged or lost. They also revealed that the General Secretary’s office was specifically restricted to allow smooth takeover and investigation, “such that all staff are present when the office is opened.”
The Interno Memo was followed by a letter by the UCA Board Vice Chairperson and acting Chairperson in the absence of Mr. Tweyambe, Jacan Oyenya Ismail, who asked Asiimwe to comply with the Commissioner’s directive asking him to step aside.
“In implementing the (commissioner’s)directive, this letter is to direct you to handover office and all UCA assets in your possession to the manager in-charge of Finance and Administration in the presence of the Human Resource manager by 2:00 pm on Friday 25th October 2019, without fail,” Oyenya’s letter reads in part.
The same letter notes that Ivan Asiimwe’s suspension would be handled in accordance with UCA policy and by-laws, confirming that during the period of his suspension, Asiimwe would not be expected to officiate over any UCA business.
Despite the several orders and directives, Asiimwe has remained defiant. Sources told theCooperator that Asiimwe accessed office even on Saturday. Today, Ssesera said he(Asiimwe) was at the UCA premises by 7:00 am and was later joined by Fr. Safari the UCA Board Treasurer and Mr. Tweyambe – both known close associates, and the three proceeded to lock themselves in the General Secretary’s office.
Ssesera said he was forced to report to the nearby Nkurumah Road Police Station over the incident, prompting the Officer in Charge of the station to the UCA premises for a spot-check. On arrival, Police however neither sanctioned Asiimwe nor removed him from office.
When contacted, a Police Officer at Nkurumah Road Police station who declined to be identified said they (Police) cannot intervene in fights over office, and would only act in case of physical fight or a court order to enforce the Commissioner’s directive.
By Press time, neither Commissioner Kitandwe nor acting UCA Board Chairperson Oyenya were available for comment on UCA’s next course of action. But a member of UCA’s Management who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity told theCooperator that Mr. Oyenya has proposed a management meeting on Wednesday 30th October 2019, in which an acting General Secretary will be selected. He also said the meeting would pass a resolution seeking for ministerial guidance on how to proceed with the ongoing investigation, in the face of the new developments.
Uganda Cooperative Alliance(UCA) Board Chairperson Johnas Tweyambe and General Secretary Ivan Asiimwe have been asked to step aside from their respective positions amidst ongoing investigations into allegations of fraud, financial impropriety and abuse of office that have rocked the cooperatives’ apex body over the last 10 months.
In a letter dated 24th October 2019 a copy of which the Cooperator has seen, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Joseph William Kitandwe noted that “Initial findings point to the chairperson of the board and General Secretary of UCA Ltd as being at the center of frustrating the proper conduct of business at UCA Ltd,” adding that “For purposes of conducting a fair and transparent investigation, the two officers are hereby directed to step aside until further notice.”
Investigations into the malaise affecting UCA have been ongoing since May this year, when following a petition by members of UCA to the board and later Mr. Kitandwe, the board finally agreed to constitute a 3-member sub-committee to carry out investigations and report back to the board.
Genesis of UCA troubles
In February 2019, senior managers of UCA’s member cooperatives wrote to the board chairman Jonas Tweyambe requesting a meeting with the UCA board to discuss what they thought was the systematic mismanagement of the institution.
In the petition, the staff accused Mr. Asiimwe of forgery, financial impropriety, and abuse of office, which they said were posing a risk to the resources, image, and integrity of the Board of UCA and the entire cooperative movement.
In particular, the petitioners pointed to a resolution by the UCA Board purportedly issued at its 129th meeting, complete with signatures of the Board members, a stamp and signature from the registrar’s office, which Asiimwe had presented to the Uganda National Roads Authority to retrieve titles of UCA’ residual plots, which remained after the passage of the northern bypass.
It turned out the entire resolution had been a forgery. Confidential sources from UCA told theCooperator that in late 2018, Mr. Asiimwe conducted an orientation training of UCA’s new board members, which he later packaged as a formal meeting on the basis of which he concocted the resolution under question. The said resolution suggested that the UCA board had vested all its power in Asiimwe to conduct business on UCA’s behalf, a move industry experts equate to the dissolution of the board.
On another board resolution dated 22nd February 2019, Asiimwe was accused of manipulating the board to secure authorization to borrow Shs.200 million from Housing Finance Bank on behalf of UCA, and falsifying the Commissioner of Cooperatives’ signature and stamp to complete the transaction.
Apparently, Asiimwe told the board that the money was needed implement the Vegetable Oil Development Project(VODP), on which UCA had been contracted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries(MAAIF) to train farmers in cooperative best practices to produce better vegetable oil yields. The petitioners pointed out that the said loan was unnecessary because about Shs350 million of the VODP funds had been released in December 2018.
In a related case, the petitioners pointed to another loan of shs.500 million that UCA, through Asiimwe secured, as a performance bond guarantee for another project – the Agricultural Technology and Advisory Services Project(ATAA), in which UCA had been contracted by MAAIF to do country-wide profiling of farmer-producer organizations. The petitioners alleged that when MAAIF eventually paid UCA for their services worth shs.900million in 2018, Asiimwe, instead of paying off the loan, rescheduled it, spreading it over a 17-year period, a decision which the board was not privy to.
Investigations Sub-committee indicts Asiimwe.
But theCooperator has learnt, the meeting requested for was never convened by the board, prompting the complainants to petition Mr. Kitandwe, who by virtue of his position, is in charge of regulating the cooperatives’ sector in the country, and is also an ex officio member of the UCA board.
Following receipt of the petition, the Commissioner wrote to the UCA board chairperson to cause a meeting that would discuss the raised issues. Consequently, the board sat on 2nd May 2019, and a three-member committee was constituted to investigate the allegations levelled against Asiimwe.
On July 22nd, the UCA Investigations sub-committee chaired by Mr. Emmy Sayekwo Geoffrey, the Chairman of Sebei Elgon Cooperative and a magistrate in Kasese District, presented its findings to the board, issuing a damning indictment of Asiimwe that suggested he had “serious criminal” and “administrative cases” to answer.
On the particular issue of the resolution with which Asiimwe had obtained UCA’s tittles from UNRA, the committee found that all board members contest the appearance of their signatures on a resolution they never passed. It concluded that “the said resolution is, therefore, a forged document punishable under the cooperative laws and the penal code Act.”
The committee also confirmed the falsification of the registrar’s signature on account two, and concluded that “the perpetrator is guilty of dishonesty and uttering a false document to the registrar.”
On the handling of UCA loans, the report confirmed the petitioner’s allegations that UCA’s loan liability with Housing Finance Bank had gone up with the addition of the shs.5000million, which should have been cleared after UCA was paid for its consultancy services by MAAIF. It recommended that “more investigations ought to be done in connection to the acquisition of other loans and the required paperwork in SFOAP, and PROFIRA funds.”
Further Investigations
As the UCA countrywide membership waited on the board to take action in line with the investigative subcommittee’s recommendations, the Police Criminal Investigations department based at the Uganda National Roads Authority(UNRA) headquarters in Nakawa picked interest in the matter, following a tip-off by a whistleblower that the roads body may have carried out a transaction with UCA based on forged documents.
In a letter to the UCA board dated July 23rd, the Police Criminal investigations department wrote; “Investigations and Compliance Department at UNRA is investigating a case of suspected forgery of board minutes and powers of attorney.”
theCooperator has learned that on July 26th, Mr. Asiimwe appeared before the Investigations and compliance department for questioning. Since then, several other top officials from the UCA board and management including Mr.Tweyambe have also appeared before the same department, as police seek to get to the bottom of the allegations.
Asiimwe has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying that money transactions at UCA have to be approved by the Board and the treasury secretary. His denials have been collaborated by Tweyambe, who has previously told theCooperator that he is not aware of any misconduct or mishandling of the institution funds by Asiimwe.
But Tweyambe’s critics say he is not a fair arbiter in this matter, accusing him of being “worryingly close” to Asiimwe, with others claiming that the latter influenced his election as board chairperson in 2016. These allegations gained traction when early last month, Mr. Tweyambe and UCA treasurer Fr. Safari wrote to the Police CID officers investigating the matter to drop the investigations, a request that Police denied.
Now, Kitandwe has announced that a fresh investigation will be instituted to get to the root of UCA members’ complaints and called upon Asiimwe and Tweyambe to hand over their offices to their immediate deputies to allow unhindered investigations.
“An Independent and Competent investigations team will be appointed to conduct the exercise(investigation), which should be completed within 60days,” his letter copied to all UCA board members, senior management, and the Ministers of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives reads in part.
