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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Fort Portal leaders ask traders who lost their businesses to fire to form a SACCO

FORT PORTAL – The Fort Portal Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Irene Linda Mugisa has asked traders who lost their businesses to fire last week to form a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO) to help them mobilize funds.

Hon. Linda said once they organise themselves in a SACCO, it will be easy for those who want to support them channel the money direct to their SACCO not to individuals.

“As leaders, we are ready to support you, we just want you to be organised. We are aware that most of you have loans to pay but we are ready to help you get start-up capital once you are organised,” she said.

Hon. Linda said, she reported to the State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness about the incident and he requested for a report to help her follow up and see how they can help those who lost their businesses.

She noted that together with her colleague Hon. Alex Ruhunda, the MP Central division, Fort Portal City, they will follow up to ensure these people are given help.

The State Minister for Luwero Triangle, Hon. Alice Kaboyo pledged Shs 20m which they will receive after forming a SACCO.

Hon. Kaboyo promised through the Office of the Prime Minister to check with the banks where these traders have loans so that they can negotiate how they can be given a grace period as they try to sort out themselves.

Hon. Kaboyo paid a courtesy visit to the fire victims while in Fort Portal for her other official duties.

She appealed to traders and leaders in Fort Portal City to be vigilant and revise ways of ensuring they have good structures equipped with fire protective equipment.

“Fort Portal is now a city and this fire has been an eye opener to leaders and everyone. You need to prepare because anything can happen at any time. So, you need to look at ways of preventing such incidents in future,” she said.

Background

On Friday, fire gutted timber stores, furniture and spare hubs in Fort Portal City leaving traders and landlords in losses worth millions of shillings.

Four landlords and 66 tenants lost their businesses and are now stranded. Most of these have loans in some banks, SACCOS and other financial institutions.

According to the Rwenzori West Regional Police Commander, SSP Norman Musinga, according to their investigations, fire came from one of the kiosks where the owner could have used a motor and left it hot and there could have been sparks of electricity hence the fire outbreak.

“Most of the things like metals used by these people can be the source of fire. For example, a motor, once in use and there happens to be sparks ignites, fire starts immediately,” Musinga noted.

He said, it was not easy to stop the fire because the place was very congested and the fire brigade vehicle couldn’t easily find a way through.

Musinga apologised for the poor condition of the fire brigade vehicles which had mechanical problems and could not reach in time but they tried their best to do what they could.

“I need to put this clear to you that our fire brigade vehicles are not in good condition and it’s not only here in Fort Portal but in the country but we are doing our best,” he added.

He advised that if traders are to return to the burnt place, there should be a plan of decongesting the area or else there will be another fire outbreak in the near future.

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Ministry of lands rejects Kikuube district Land Board Chairperson

KIKUUBE – The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has rejected the appointment of Ignatius Muganyizi as the district Land Board Chairperson for Kikuube district.

Muganyizi was appointed by the Kikuube council in October last year but his appointment drew protests among residents and leaders of Kikuube district.

During the council session, 11 out of 24 Councillors voted against the appointment of Muganyizi as the Chairperson Kikuube district land board.

The residents and area MP protested his appointment as they accused him of being behind the rampant land grabbing in the district.

According to the residents, Muganyizi who previously served as the Kabwoya sub-county Lands Committee Chairperson from 2009 to 2016 allegedly connived with tycoons and issued titles leading to evictions of people from their ancestral land.

After his appointment, the council submitted Muganyizi’s name and other members on the committee who included Tibeita Tusabe, Sarah Atagwireho, Muzamil Balihamwe and Peterson Kyomuhendo to the Ministry for approval.

According to a letter dated 15-12-2021, which was shared with theCooperator news, signed by Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Dorcas W Okalanyi addressed to Kikuube district local government, it indicates the committee members were approved but Muganyizi’s name was rejected.

According to the letter, the Ministry rejected Muganyizi’s name after residents and some local leaders expressed their discontent about his appointment.

In this letter, the PS advised the district council to appoint another person who will work as district Land Board Chairman in the interest of the public.

“Furthermore, in respect to the gender issue, the district is also advised to appoint an additional female member to the board so as to meet the gender requirement under the land act,” the letter reads.

Chelangat Andrew MiltonKamalingin, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Kikuube district confirmed that the district received this communication from the Permanent Secretary adding that as the CAO, he will advise the Council on how to handle the matter.

Nicolas Kiiza, the Secretary for Production, Marketing and Natural Resources headed a committee which investigated the allegation of the residents before the appointment of Muganyizi said, the district is planning to hold a council next month to discuss the matter.

He noted that the council is likely to appoint female members on the land committee as it was directed by the Ministry and thereafter, the council will get one person from the names which were approved as committee members to serve as the Land Board Chairperson.

Alex Byasi, the District Councillor for Kabwoya South sub-county, who was the lead petitioner to reject Muganyizi during the council meeting, commended the Ministry for listening to the people’s outcry.

He noted that as petitioners, if Muganyizi had been approved as the district Land Board Chairman, it was going to be a disaster.

He noted that the integrity of Muganyizi is questionable, adding that having him as the Land Board Chairperson would fuel land grabbing.

Amlan Tumusime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner (RDC) said the rejection of Muganyizi was expected since the public had rejected him.

He noted that Kikuube is one of the districts in the region with the highest rate of land conflicts hence appointing someone with questionable integrity as Land Board Chairman would make matters worse.

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Poor on-farm practices responsible for tick resistance, says NDA’s spokesperson

KIRUHURA – Farmers in Kashongi Kiruhura district have been advised to put more emphasis on good farm practices to address the challenge of persistent tick resistance on their farms.

This was revealed by National Drug Authority (NDA) during a forum dubbed “Farmer’s parliament” where both crop and livestock farmers in Ankole sub-region are engaged to share their challenges and forge solutions on the farm.

During the meeting, Eric Rutahigwa, one of the successful livestock farmers in Western Uganda, tasked the NDA to explain why ticks have persisted on their farms despite several interventions in place.

Rutahigwa further blamed NDA on failure to control fake acaricides entering into the country through porous borders.

“During 1963, farmers were using the same drugs we are using today and their animals could not suffer from tick related diseases. Now, should we think today we have fake drugs entering through Congo and elsewhere?” he asked.

In response, Abiaz Rwamwiri, the Spokesperson NDA confirmed that tick resistance has been terrorizing farmers especially in the cattle corridor since 2012 especially in districts of Ankole and Nakasongola.

However, he warned farmers in Kiruhura district to start good farming practices to address issues of tick resistance in the area.

“Even if we protect the supply chain when the on-farm-practice is not good, it can make the drug not work and it’s that consistent misuse that creates the resistance,” says Rwamwiri.

Some of the farm practices include; types of pressure pumps used, the crash and mixing of acaricides.

“When some people are told to mix a litre in 20 litres, they think it’s a jerrycan, yet most jerrycans’ contents are more than 20 litres which means the drug will get diluted and it will not work effectively.”

Working with the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Rwamwiri says NDA is coming up with mechanisms of supply chain to track fake acaricides entering into the Ugandan market.

“Of course, we had engagements with Hon Frank Tumwebaze and he assigned a team two weeks ago. We are also going to meet the importers of the veterinary drugs to strengthen our operations because whereas we release good quality drugs on the market, we cannot say that there are no counterfeits. We know there are wrong elements that are counterfeiting the drugs and unfortunately some of these guys are professionals who have been helping farmers that started mixing the acaricides,” he explained.

“We release drugs when they are of good quality, safe and their efficacy is okay and now we want to make sure that the supply chain is protected keeping the drug in the intended condition because a good drug if not handled well, its quality can deteriorate and will not serve the intended purpose,” he adds.

Rwamwiri also says, NDA will extend village trainings especially in areas of Kiruhura where tick resistance has become a growing concern.

“We have made a commitment in Kiruhura because we realized they have more challenges yet with the highest number of cattle that produce close to 2 million litres of milk a day. Starting with mid-February this year to the end of March, we will be having intensive trainings in each of the sub-counties working with the DVO,” says NDA’s spokesperson.

“We shall be meeting farmers, identifying key farms that have the highest resistance and diagnosing because as National Drug Authority, it is our concern when people are losing their animals to preventable and treatable diseases like East Coast Fever, Anaplasmosis, and Heartwater,” he added.

Rwamwiri also warned farmers that mixing acaracides with agrochemicals is detrimental to both humans and animal health.

“Of course, there are issues of mixing agrochemicals like the dudus, the two in one pesticides that farmers are talking about shouldn’t be applied on animals because animals are like humans and their bodies are so sensitive that is why they are getting blind and infertile,” says Rwamwiri.

However, Rutahigwa insists that a number of government authorities have failed on the role of controlling fake acaricides which has sparked a common norm of tick resistance in the cattle corridor.

“Doctors of NDA must accept that you have failed your role to control and regulate animal drugs. And there are three people who have killed us, that is NDA, NMS, and those in Agriculture expertise like NAGRIC rather than blaming us farmers that we are using poor farm practices,” Rutahigwa emphasized.

Robert Kabatereine, the Coordinator of Farmers Parliament says, the forum is seeking government support to farmers to improve on the farming systems, boost product capacity and market for the products.

“We intend to fill the gap between farmers and the government. We bring experts like from NDA to identify the challenges of farmers for adequate solutions. Like if there is an issue of fake drugs in the market how do we resolve it, and all this will be exposed through the farmers’ parliament,” Kabatereine said.

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Masindi demonstration farm cows stolen

MASINDI – Cows belonging to Masindi district demonstration farm in Labongo sub-county in Masindi have reportedly been stolen following a lay off at the center.

The center was established to serve as an agricultural demonstration farm for the district.

Wahid Babyesiza, the area district Councilor says, six out of the nine cows that were at the center disappeared under unclear circumstances.

“This is negligence by the district leaders and the caretakers of the center which could have led to the collapse of the center that was meant to be a demonstration to the farmers in the district. Despite the theft of the cows from the center, no one has been arrested in connection with the crime. This makes me believe there could have been connivance by some concerned officials in district,” the angry councilor told theCooperator.

He adds that all workers were laid off by Masindi district without paying them.

Job Byaruhanga, the District Agriculture Officer Masindi admits that some of the cows have been stolen by unknown people who beat the center security officer.

“We have not yet ascertained who could have been behind this. We’re still investigating the matter,” he said.

Byaruhanga added that the district has plans to revive the facility and make it a true demonstration center for the district such that people can always go and learn new agronomic practices.

Cosmas Byaruhanga, the district Chairperson also confirmed the incident to theCooperator saying, something is being done to find out the people behind the theft.

However, he dismissed Babyesiza’s allegations of nine cows at the facility, yet they were six.

“There were only six cows at the demonstration farm and only three are the ones that were stolen,” Byaruhanga clarified.

“A case has been filed at Masindi Central Police Station (CPS) for investigation. All the people who used to work at the center were laid off during the latest restructuring of government workers in the country. The district executive has resolved to sell off the remaining 3 cows as part of the plan to revive the center into a better facility that will serve the entire Bunyoro sub-region,” the politician explained.

None of the authorities could tell when they were stolen.

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APG disunity affecting fight against land grabbers

ACHOLI – The apparent disunity between members of the Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) is jeopardizing efforts to address land grabbing in the sub-region, Norbert Mao, the President General of the Democratic Party-DP has said.

For example; currently there is an undeniable disagreement between the Chairperson, Anthony Akol and Gilbert Olanya, the former Secretary of the group with the former accusing the latter of failing to hand over tools of work and infighting which affects the group and the sub-region at large.

Mao said, disunity has negatively affected the fight against land grabbers as well as following up government promises to the people of Acholi.

Mao identified some of the land rights abuse and grabbing cases as, 10 square miles of land which was surveyed under the protection of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) in Got Apwoyo, Nwoya district which now is being occupied by a handful of government officials. Another 46,000 hectares of land in Aswa ranch with unclear ownership and suspicious land takeover, the compensation of land used for the establishment and hosting of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) among others.

“The threats to land especially in the Acholi sub-region has been eminent with several approaches to grab land from the sub region. If our leaders don’t unite, we are going to continue losing to the few greedy rich people who come and brainwash the community,” Mao said.

Mao further said, while in Parliament under the leadership of Livingston Okello Okello, they defended the land and rejected any suspicious programs which targeted land in Acholi because they were united unlike the current leadership which seems scattered.

“During our time, we united and fought all agendas that we deemed a threat to our community, looking at Apaa where we refused for Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to gazette the area as a game reserve before it became part of Adjumani. One would wonder why they first came to Gulu, Aswa ranch, Lipan, Got Apwoyo, the food security’s first program of 2005. They wanted our people to remain in the camps and each person to get 2 acres; one would wonder where the remaining chunks of land would go, all these were things we fought because we were united,” said Mao.

“Now when you look at the current Apaa issue, every leader wants to be seen to be at the forefront instead of uniting. We have investors abusing land rights in Nwoya, Amuru, and other districts, yet our leaders seem disjointed in their approach,” Mao noted.

According to Mao, for the evil plans and demand for land in Acholi to be fought and won, all leaders regardless of position, serving or retired, the religious, cultural and other stakeholders should unite and network.

Mao observed that as a result of the disunity of the top leaders, the community members have continued to miss out on key social services which they have rights to, businesses affected, like in the contested Apaa where businesses, farming activities among others are normally affected during attacks.

But when contacted, Anthony Akol the Chairperson of the Acholi Parliamentary Group noted that there was no fight but rather disagreement in opinion.

According to Akol, their issue with his Kilak South counterpart is purely electoral with Olanya thinking that the current LCV Chairperson Amuru, Michael Lakony is being fronted against him which is totally untrue. These allegations, Olanya denied saying they were untrue and baseless.

At the beginning of the current political term, all the leaders in Acholi were invited for a meeting at Gulu Archdiocese where unity was emphasized for the development of the political leaders.

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Soroti district receives more than 413 bicycles for Local Council leaders

SOROTI – A total of 413 bicycles have been delivered to Soroti District Local Government meant for Local Council I (LCI) and Local Council II (LCII) to enhance service delivery.

The consignment of the bicycles was delivered at the district headquarters by Ministry of Local Government to support service delivery at local council level.

According to the Soroti District Communication Officer, Abraham Ekwaru, all the LC-I Chairpersons of the 359 villages and LC-II Chairpersons of 54 parishes will be given bicycles.

Ekwaru says the bicycles will be distributed to the respective LC-I and LC-II Chairperson upon receiving guidelines from the government.

Ekwaru says, Ben Kumumanya, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government in his letter advised the districts to receive the bicycles and keep them safely until they are advised on the distribution programme in the due course.

He called on the Chairpersons to be ready to receive their bicycles.

Patrick Okumu, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Soroti district acknowledged having received the bicycles which is a fulfillment of the presidential pledge.

He therefore asked the local leaders to deliver services even more effectively because these bicycles are meant to facilitate their work.

Patrick Asonya LC I, Senior quarters ward, Cell H says he has been waiting for this for a long time.

“This is going to change and help us work effectively,”Asonya told theCooperator.

He appreciated the government for all the work it’s doing to make sure services are accessible to all the citizens and promised to make the best use of it once he receives it.

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Will the Parish Development Model end household poverty?

For more than 35 years, the government has come out with various approaches and mechanisms of fighting poverty with the bigger aim of moving the country into a middle-income status.

Some of the interventions include; the Etandikwa, Bonagagawale, Youth Livelihood Program, the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program, recently Emyooga and the latest being the Parish Development Model (PDM) where the government intends to inject at least Shs30 million per financial year to each of the 12,000 parishes in the country.

The objective of the PDM is to provide incentives and support to smallholder farmers to use their land more productively to boost household incomes, strengthen coordination, monitoring and reporting of government programmes, promote Local Economic Development (LED) by guiding and supporting beneficiaries at village level with economic activities through extension services and increase community/citizen participation in development.

In a recent statement by Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister for Information Communication and Technology (ICT) said, the model will see development activities planned for and executed in parishes, at the lowest level for planning and development, as the government moves to advance the benefits of decentralization.

He said the initiative aims to spring the nearly 39% of households from subsistence economy to commercial production.

With just months if not weeks to the launch of the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), in this article, we understand how much the community knows about the model, and whether it can finally sink the final nail on the fight against poverty and the question of corruption.

How much do the community and implementers know about the Parish Development Model?

Godfrey Ojok, the Secretary Gulu East Boda-boda Cyclist’s Association says, he has only heard of the model over radio where politicians talk about it and how it will help in fight poverty.

Ojok says, he is yet to understand how the program will be implemented, what’s the role of people like him in the project and how the money will come and be utilized.

“What I am yet to understand is whether this money is a revolving fund, is it a grant or it will be inform of loans just like other previous government projects like the UWEP, and the Youth Livelihood Fund,” Ojok notes.

“What beats my understanding is, I have heard the technical people coming out clearly to talk about this Parish Development Model. How then will we as the poor people fully utilize it to fight poverty if we even find difficulties in understanding how the program is going to work?” Ojok wondered.

Emmanuel Ocen, a resident of Atoro, in Lakang sub-county in Amuru district just like Ojok has minimal understanding of the Parish Development Model.

According to Ocen, given the distance with the sub-county and district headquarters, they tend to miss out on government programs and predict this could just be among the many programs they have missed.

Ocen says, with the level of scanty information especially for the people in the rural and far to reach areas, this model which requires a lot of engagements and meetings is headed for a failure.

Roselyn Ajum, a 58-year-old resident of Awila village in Akokoro sub-county in Apac district, says that the area LCIII Chairperson has had several engagements with already established groups including women, youth, and other groups to sensitize them on the model.

Ajum is however concerned that the manner in which the information about the model is being released is unrealistic.

“We hear that there’s a booklet on the model which community members should study and internalize to better understand how they can fully participate and mitigate poverty in our communities, but to my dismay, the details about the Parish Development Model are very difficult to access,” Ajum notes.

Michael Lakony, the LCV Chairperson of Amuru district in an interview with theCooperator wondered how the program will be implemented especially at the lower local governments without guiding policies.

“We haven’t read or even seen any clear policy on how the model is going to be implemented, especially by the local government and lower local governments. What we have is the concept of the model and its objectives, implementation is not practical without any guiding document,” Lakony says.

Lakony also noted that in addition to lack of guiding policies, Council as the governing body in the district, has been eliminated in the implementation and supervision of the program.

“Like any other government program, you would expect the district council to have a final say on how any government program or fund will be allocated and utilized upon approval. This is not the case with the Parish Development Model, so how will the monitoring be done?” Lakony argues.

In a recent statement made by Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister for ICT, further sensitizations especially for the community members, the parish development committee members, the Parish Chiefs are among other key stakeholders that will be organized before the eventual launch and implementation of the development model.

Can the PDM give the final punch to the fight against poverty?

Geoffrey Oceng Osborn, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner (RDC) is very optimistic that this model will have a significant impact in the fight against poverty. Unlike the previous government interventions where Oceng says were pushed from Kampala, the Parish Development Model will see the interest of the community funded.

“The reason why other previous programs failed was because the planners sit in their offices in Kampala and think for the people in the rural areas without understanding the scope and the actual challenges affecting the community members,” Oceng explains.

“Under this program, the community members will be in charge of coming out with their area development plans and priorities which will then be funded by the government and this is where I feel if we can plan well, we can definitely eliminate poverty and improve our livelihoods in our respective communities,” said Oceng.

Alfred Okwonga, the Gulu City Mayor, is also optimistic however, he wants the priorities and interests of a given area followed.

According to Okwonga, it would also be necessary for the lower local councils to actively participate in the planning processes so that the plans approved by the development committees are absorbed in the development plans for a holistic development of the communities.

Speaking recently to journalists at the Uganda Media Center, the government Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo said, “Although NRM has rebuilt a vibrant state, it hasn’t hit a decisive blow in the poverty fight. Consumer goods are plenty but there isn’t much creativity, innovation, and productivity at the household and community levels to push socio-economic transformation, sustained prosperity and enjoyment of wealth.”

Opondo contends that for the fight against poverty to be won, there’s a need to have focused, capable, committed, and motivated personnel.

According to Opondo, in recent years, the government and political parties claimed to have large numbers of activists in rural areas, yet there is very limited success in actualizing wealth creation even among those so-called leaders.

“The fundamental solution is for rural areas to rely on their own people and officials. There is a need to make the training of those engaged in poverty alleviation and wealth creation at lower levels a top priority. We should also make this training rotational so as to shift experience from successful areas to those yet to achieve,” Opondo stated on the Uganda Media Center website.

Anthony Akol, an economist by profession, also the Chairperson Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) fears corruption might still eat up the model just like other previous programs where the largest percentage of the funds remained either in Kampala, for sensitization workshops and monitoring and the smallest percentage given for the implementation of the activities.

Akol says, whereas on paper the model seems “clean and legitimate,” the implementation should not be hurried especially the formation of the parish development committees.

“The members chosen must be honest and impartial so that they are not marred by cadres who will just be looking for where to eat money and frustrate government efforts in fighting poverty,” she added.

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Government releases Shs1.5b for two new seed secondary schools in Alebtong

ALEBTONG – The government has released Shs1.5b to kick start the construction of two seed secondary schools in Alebtong district.

State Minister for Sports, Denis Hamson Obua says, the two new schools will be established in Awei and Angetta sub-counties. The two administrative units didn’t have secondary schools since its creation a few years back.

Delivering the good news to LC1 and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders at Angetta Primary School on Saturday 12th February, Obua said, Adwir sub-county created out of Omoro, missed the opportunity because they failed to avail land for the construction of the new school.

Obua says, four administrative units which include; Amugu, Adwir, Awei and Angetta in Ajuri county have no secondary schools but the government is struggling to ensure that it’s established to help the communities’ access secondary education.

He requested the communities to offer land for the construction of schools to show their seriousness as part of their contribution.

“If there is no land, there will also be no school because the government cannot build the school on air,” Obua tells residents of Angetta.

Last year, Obua wrote to the Permanent Secretary requesting to consider establishing secondary schools in the sub-counties since it’s a government policy to set one seed school for each sub-county in the country.

He also informed the District Education Officer (DEO) to link up with the sub-county political and technical leadership to identify at least five hectares of land within the sub-county where the school will be established.

The Angetta LC3 Chairperson, Robert Okullo said, when he received the communication, he descended on resource mobilization and identification of land.

He says, each household in the sub-county raised Shs 13,000 which made them realize Shs 13.5m within seven months.

“We put our heads together without any resistance and raised the money,” Okullo says, adding that the communities were cooperative and wanted development.

Obua says, he was impressed because the community moved fast and offered land for the project.

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MP Olanya donates a tractor to Amuru farmers

AMURU – Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak South Member of Parliament has donated a tractor to farmers in his constituency.

The tractor worth Shs165 million was received by Rwot Otinga Otto Otuka Yai, the Clan Chief of Lamogi from Parabongo trading center in Odongdak village, Guru guru sub-county in Amuru District.

Olanya says he used part of the Shs 200 million given to Members of Parliament to buy new cars to buy the tractor to boost commercial and large-scale agricultural production.

“Having looked at how our people suffer, tilttinging their gardens using hand hoes which in most cases has very little impact in terms of yields. I decided to use the Shs 200 million given by Parliament to buy new cars to buy a tractor for the farmers in my constituency,” says Olanya.

“For long time I have been supporting them by paying the school fees of their children under the scholarship program in my office, but I thought that if we empower the communities financially, they are able to meet their own needs, rather than transferring the burden to us as leaders,” Olanya explains.

He says more than 10,000 farmers in his constituency will only buy fuel of 50,000 per acre and free of charge for persons with disability.

“We shall tilt freely for persons with disability and other very vulnerable people, but for the able-bodied people, they will give us 50,000 per acre, this will mainly go into buying fuel and feeding the tractor operators,” Olanya hints.

According to Olanya, most of the farmers don’t have money and resources for them to practice large scale agricultural production.

Rwot Otinga Otto, the Clan Chief of Lamogi appeals to the farmers to utilize the tractor to fight household poverty and save money to send their children to school and cater for their personal needs.

“Our people must now start working extra hard since they have some support at a relatively lower cost to achieve their dream of large-scale commercial agriculture. This issue of seeing children at home, not being educated and at the end disturbing the peace and security of the community should be fought through hard work,” Rwot Otinga says.

“I also want to encourage you to start saving as a family for your needs because in most cases when people save individually, the impact of the money is not felt by the family. Hopefully when you have a bumper harvest, you can save and plan as a unit, and this will help in fighting household poverty from our communities,” Otinga appeals.

Lilly Awacango, a resident of Kololo in Lakang sub-county says, currently the demand for tractors has increased and as well as the price for ploughing.

Currently the price of ploughing an acre piece of land is at 95,000, an increase from 80,000 last year.

“There are very few tractors that are tilting for community (Privately owned) land in our areas because most of them are hired to work in large farms. Now the few which tilt our land are also charging us very expensively. We used to tilt an acre of land at 80,000 but this has increased to now 95,000,” Awacango says.

Awacango said, ploughing with hand hoes is no longer productive given the energy required.

“We have used hand hoes for years and can’t do much because many of us are getting tired because we tend to overwork ourselves in the name of tilting bigger chunks of land. With this tractor, at least our aims of starting large scale production will be made easier,” Awacango adds.

Lilly Lamwaka, a resident of Odongdak village in Odur parish in Guru guru sub-county says, at least they can have an increased production which helps in fighting hunger and poverty.

Lamwaka says, with the scarcity of tractors in the district especially for the small-scale farmers, they are forced to dig on a small scale which implies little production.

At the beginning of every new political term, Parliament gives money to Members of Parliament to buy vehicles to ease movement to and from their constituencies as well as other official movements. This new political term, each Member of Parliament was given Shs 200 Million to buy brand new cars.

https://thecooperator.news/ker-kwaro-acholi-moves-to-re-align-the-agricultural-and-business-sector-to-cooperative-societies/

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