February 2020 - The Uhuru Institute for Social Development

Ministry of Agriculture Moots Tougher Quality Control Measures for Milk

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State Minister for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama has revealed that his ministry plans to propose amendments to the National Dairy Development Act, to introduce tougher sanctions against those undermining the quality of Uganda’s milk.

While addressing dairy farmers at Sembabule District headquarters last week, Rwamirama expressed concern that Uganda was losing external market for its milk due to poor handling habits within the local supply chain, noting that it was time to start enforcing stricter quality controls.

According to figures from the Dairy Development Authority, Uganda has seen a surge in Dairy exports in the last decade, from $5million in 2008 to $130million at the end of 2017. In the same period, the country saw local milk production grow to nearly 3billion liters per annum, of which 300million liters are exported annually making Uganda the leading exporter of milk and milk products in the region.

Now, Rwamirama fears that these gains risk being eroded by unscrupulous actors in the Dairy value-chain. He pointed out in particular that there has been a tendency by milk suppliers, dealers and processors to dilute and contaminate milk with water and other chemicals to increase quantity and lessen perishability.

He warned that such practices were eating away at Uganda’s “legendary” milk purity, affecting its quality, while posing a big health risk to consumers.

“These(unscrupulous) players are taking advantage of the current law which is lenient. But now, we (the ministry) are proposing penalty reforms ranging from three-month to seven years’ imprisonment, which we hope will be deterrent,” he said.

Rwamirama also noted that Uganda needs to increase local milk consumption, arguing that impressive export receipts need to be anchored on an equally strong local consumption.

According to the World Health organization, it is recommended that an ordinary person should averagely consume 200 liters of milk annually, while Uganda’s average mil consumption per capita is 40 liters, the lowest in East Africa.

The post Ministry of Agriculture Moots Tougher Quality Control Measures for Milk appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Government donates tractors to cooperatives in Kasese

/0 Comments/in Africa, Agricultural Credit, Agriculture, Analysis, Animal Welfare, Ankole, Apple Growers in Uganda, Banks, Banyankole Kweterana, boda boda, Boda Boda cooperative, bribes, Buganda Kingdom, Busia, Business, Busoga, Central, Cereals, Chickens, Church, city centre, Coffee, Coffee Cooperative, Coffee farmers, Coffee farming, coop, Coop Bank, coop week, Cooperative, cooperative accountability, Cooperative Governance, Cooperative society, Cooperative Union, cooperatives, Cooperatives & Communities, Cooperatives Governance, cooperators, Coopertives, coopweek, Cotton farming, Counter-Strike, court, Democracy, Development, Diaspora, donations, DroughT in Uganda, EAC, East Africa, East African Community, Eastern, economic, Elders, Entertainment, Fake agro-inputs, Famine, Farmers, farming, Featured, Finance, Finance & Banking, Financial, fishing, food, Foods, Fraud, Frontpage Article, Gambia, global, government, Green Revolution in Africa, Housing, IK Musaazi, Images, International Coffee Day, Interview, Irrigation, Irrigation schemes, Kabaka, Kampala, Kasese, Kenya, Kilimo Trust, Legal, Life Style, Loans, Lwengo, Maize, Market Information, Masaka Elders Cooperative Union, Masindi, matatus, Micro-finance, MicroFinance, Microfinance Support Centre, Middlemen, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water and Environment, motorcycles, MTN, Music, Mwalimu National Sacco, NAADS, National Coffee Bill, News, nigeria, Northern, NSSF, Oil, operation wealth creation, Opinion, Opinions, Organisations, OWC, Parliament, Pesticides, Politics, Post harvest loses, Preservation of Bean, President Mnangagwa, Quote, Regional, registration, Report, Rhino Camp ginnery, Rice farming, roads, Rwanda, Rwenzori Apple farmers, Sacco, SACCOs, standards, storage of cereals, strike, sugar cane out-grower, Tanzania, tax, teachers, Technology, tractors, Trade, Transport, TV, UCDA, Uganda, Uganda Coffee Development Authority, Uganda Cooperative Alliance, Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority, Uhuru Institute, umeme, Uncategorized, Western, World, World News, Youth, zimbabwe/by tc

In a bid to boost agricultural production, government through Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) has donated three tractors to three cooperative societies in Kasese district. The donation comes at a time when the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is prioritizing agricultural mechanization.

The beneficiary cooperatives are; Abasaija Kweyamba Cooperative Society, Bigando Farmers’ Cooperative Society and Kaveera Barracks Women Cooperative Society.

Handing over the tractors, Hanny Turyahebwa, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kasese district lauded government for prioritizing agricultural mechanization. Turyahebwa has since been transferred to Ntungamo district in the same capacity.

Gideon Ntabose Sanyu, the Vice Chairman Kasese district said that once properly utilized, the tractors will help farmers in the beneficiary cooperatives to boost their production and consequently household incomes.

“We carried out a needs assessment in all cooperative societies during the time Gen. Salim Saleh [Chief Coordinator, Operation Wealth Creation] was in the district. We found out that ploughing was still a major problem to our farmers, and these three cooperatives had the capacity to increase their production if supported with tractors,” Ntabose said.

Julius Baluku, the district Production Coordinator appealed to the beneficiary cooperative to put the tractors to good use. Operation Wealth Creation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the beneficiary cooperatives on maintenance and proper use of the tractors.

Semu Mulimba, Advocacy officer Bigando Cooperative Society, lauded government for the donation. “We are grateful to government for the tractors, this will help ease our work,” Mulimba said.

The Kasese Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Lt Joe Walusimbi implored leaders of the three cooperatives to ensure that all farmers have equal access to the tractors. “Don’t use these tractors on things that are outside the Momorandum of Understanding, but rather stick to the intended purpose for increased production,” Walusimbi cautioned.

The post Government donates tractors to cooperatives in Kasese appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Ssempija roots for Agricultural Mechanisation

/0 Comments/in Africa, Agricultural Credit, Agriculture, Analysis, Animal Welfare, Ankole, Apple Growers in Uganda, Banks, Banyankole Kweterana, boda boda, Boda Boda cooperative, bribes, Buganda Kingdom, Busia, Business, Busoga, Central, Cereals, Chickens, Church, city centre, Coffee, Coffee Cooperative, Coffee farmers, Coffee farming, coop, Coop Bank, coop week, Cooperative, cooperative accountability, Cooperative Governance, Cooperative society, Cooperative Union, cooperatives, Cooperatives & Communities, Cooperatives Governance, cooperators, Coopertives, coopweek, Cotton farming, Counter-Strike, court, Democracy, Development, Diaspora, donations, DroughT in Uganda, EAC, East Africa, East African Community, Eastern, economic, Elders, Entertainment, Fake agro-inputs, Famine, Farmers, farming, Featured, Finance, Finance & Banking, Financial, fishing, food, Foods, Fraud, Frontpage Article, Gambia, global, government, Green Revolution in Africa, Housing, IK Musaazi, Images, International Coffee Day, Interview, Irrigation, Irrigation schemes, Kabaka, Kampala, Kasese, Kenya, Kilimo Trust, Legal, Life Style, Loans, Lwengo, Maize, Market Information, Masaka Elders Cooperative Union, Masindi, matatus, Micro-finance, MicroFinance, Microfinance Support Centre, Middlemen, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water and Environment, motorcycles, MTN, Music, Mwalimu National Sacco, NAADS, National Coffee Bill, News, nigeria, Northern, NSSF, Oil, operation wealth creation, Opinion, Opinions, Organisations, OWC, Parliament, Pesticides, Politics, Post harvest loses, Preservation of Bean, President Mnangagwa, Quote, Regional, registration, Report, Rhino Camp ginnery, Rice farming, roads, Rwanda, Rwenzori Apple farmers, Rwenzori Expo, Sacco, SACCOs, standards, storage of cereals, strike, sugar cane out-grower, Tanzania, tax, teachers, Technology, tractors, Trade, Transport, TV, UCDA, Uganda, Uganda Coffee Development Authority, Uganda Cooperative Alliance, Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority, Uhuru Institute, umeme, Uncategorized, Western, World, World News, Youth, zimbabwe/by tc

The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempija has appealed to farmers in Rwenzori sub region to embrace agricultural mechanisation as one of improving production.

Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempija. Photo by JAMES ABAL

He emphasised that mechanisation will not only boost production but also improve on the quality of agricultural products. “Government is emphasising mechanisation of agriculture to improve on quality and production.

This is the reason why we partnered with National Agriculture Advisory Services to give out tractors to farmer groups” Ssempija said.

Speaking at the Rwenzori Investment Expo at Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Portal town on Thursday, Ssempija revealed that government plans to establish regional mechanisation centres across the country to offer technical assistance to farmer groups.

Under the theme, “Investment for local economic development,” the Rwenzori Expo, was organised by Operations Wealth Creation (OWC) in conjunction with Uganda Investment Authority (UAI) among other stakeholders. The expo was meant to showcase investment opportunities in the Rwenzori sub region.

Gen. Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator OWC in his speech read for him by his deputy Lt Gen. Charles Angina noted an improvement in agricultural production in the country due to government initiatives.

“Generally, the agricultural sector has registered improved growth rates over the last four years averaging 3.0 percent per annum. The performance across the prioritized commodities has been generally good with significant improvements observed in key strategic and food security commodities” Saleh said.

He said the expo will go a long way in opening up Rwenzori sub region for investment. “As you may all already know, this region has significant investment opportunities in agriculture, tourism, mining etc. This expo will trigger investment in the region by attracting both local and international investors by providing a forum private investors, local governments, central government and other development partners to network” he said.

Exhibitors views

Emmanuel Mutungi, the chairman Kyegegwa Fruit Farmers Association said the expo offered him an opportunity to learn from fellow farmers. “I have interacted with other farmers, shared knowledge, experiences and challenges which may help us [the association] in our daily farming activities” Mutungi said.

Kyegegwa Fruit Farmers Association is one of the groups that received a tractor to boost their production. The association grows and makes juice from watermelons, mangoes, pineapples among others. Since 2014, Operation Wealth Creation has been instrumental in supporting farmers with seeds and other farm inputs to boost production.

The post Ssempija roots for Agricultural Mechanisation appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Police savings association hit Shs 16bn, acquires estates in Kansanga and Gayaza

/0 Comments/in Africa, AGM, Agricultural Credit, Agriculture, Analysis, Animal Welfare, Ankole, Apple Growers in Uganda, Banks, Banyankole Kweterana, boda boda, Boda Boda cooperative, bribes, Buganda Kingdom, Busia, Business, Busoga, Central, Cereals, Chickens, Church, city centre, Coffee, Coffee Cooperative, Coffee farmers, Coffee farming, coop, Coop Bank, coop week, Cooperative, cooperative accountability, Cooperative Governance, Cooperative society, Cooperative Union, cooperatives, Cooperatives & Communities, Cooperatives Governance, cooperators, Coopertives, coopweek, Cotton farming, Counter-Strike, court, Democracy, Development, Diaspora, donations, DroughT in Uganda, EAC, East Africa, East African Community, Eastern, economic, Elders, Entertainment, Fake agro-inputs, Famine, Farmers, farming, Featured, Finance, Finance & Banking, Financial, fishing, food, Foods, Fraud, Frontpage Article, Gambia, global, government, Green Revolution in Africa, Housing, IK Musaazi, Images, International Coffee Day, Interview, Irrigation, Irrigation schemes, Kabaka, Kampala, Kasese, Kenya, Kilimo Trust, Legal, Life Style, Loans, Lwengo, Maize, Market Information, Masaka Elders Cooperative Union, Masindi, matatus, Micro-finance, MicroFinance, Microfinance Support Centre, Middlemen, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water and Environment, motorcycles, MTN, Music, Mwalimu National Sacco, NAADS, National Coffee Bill, News, nigeria, Northern, NSSF, Oil, operation wealth creation, Opinion, Opinions, Organisations, OWC, Parliament, Pesticides, Politics, Post harvest loses, Preservation of Bean, President Mnangagwa, Quote, Regional, registration, Report, Rhino Camp ginnery, Rice farming, roads, Rwanda, Rwenzori Apple farmers, Rwenzori Expo, Sacco, SACCOs, standards, storage of cereals, strike, sugar cane out-grower, Tanzania, tax, teachers, Technology, tractors, Trade, Transport, TV, UCDA, Uganda, Uganda Coffee Development Authority, Uganda Cooperative Alliance, Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority, Uhuru Institute, umeme, Uncategorized, Western, World, World News, Youth, zimbabwe/by tc

The Uganda Police Savings Association Limited (PSAL) has registered a remarkable growth in its savings and asset base. PSAL Chairman, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Edward Ochom told theCooperator that the association’s net worth is now Shs 16bn and a loan portfolio of more than Shs 300 million.

Ochom said due to increased savings, PSAL has acquired land and constructed estates in Kansanga, Gayaza and soon in Bwebajja along Entebbe Road. “Many of our members have not only educated their children and constructed houses due to savings and loans from PSAL,” Ochom said.

PSAL was formed in 1989 as a welfare association to supplement the earnings of police officers. “We all know that our police officers earn little money, yet they have children to look after and also need to develop. It is from these savings that majority of them have managed to educate their children up to university and also buy land and construct houses,” said Ochom.

Over the years, PSAL has endured many challenges that nearly closed its closure. In 1990s, PSAL had more than 14,000 members. However, the membership dropped after the Justice Ssebutinde led Commission of Inquiry that unearthed scandals in the Force. Ssebutinde’s Commission found that majority of the members mainly the low ranking officers were un able to acquire loans, in addition to embezzlement of funds by leaders.

“We had started well in the 1990s. The saving scheme had more than 14,000 members but after some issues, the number reduced to 700. I am glad that now we are rising in numbers once again. We are now 2,271 registered members,” Ochom told theCooperator.

The Force currently has two parallel Savings schemes – PSAL and the Exodus SACCO. The Exodus SACCO that boosts of 27,000 members was formed by the former Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura in 2007.

30th Anniversary

In January this year, PSAL held the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Nsambya Sharing Hall, Kampala that coincided with its 30th anniversary. Speaking at the event, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth Ochola hailed the board of directors for steering the association out of its past troubles.

“I would like to thank the board of directors for the support and dedication in advancing the cause of our officers. You are not only the backbone of savings in the force but also its heart and soul,” Ochola said.

Ochola asked the leadership to stick to the association’s core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. “As Uganda Police leadership, we are delighted to be part of this Annual General Meeting which reflects in a practical way, how police officers can organize ourselves in a proper manner to financially benefit from one another and help to make a difference in our general welfare,” Ochola, who is also a member of PSAL said.

He added, “We support the many positive contributions and initiatives undertaken by PSAL and other saving schemes which are aimed at helping the Police officers and their families in raising their standards of living,”.

The post Police savings association hit Shs 16bn, acquires estates in Kansanga and Gayaza appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Ministry of Agriculture Moots Tougher Quality Control Measures for Milk

Government donates tractors to cooperatives in Kasese

Ssempija roots for Agricultural Mechanisation

Police savings association hit Shs 16bn, acquires estates in Kansanga and Gayaza

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