Minister intervenes in a family land conflict that stalled an oil road project

KIKUUBE – The State Minister for Works, Fred Byamukama, has intervened in a land conflict that has stalled the construction works of 25.7km Kabaale-Kiziranfumbi critical oil road project in Kikuube district.

Kabaale-Kiziranfumbi is one of the critical oil roads such as Masindi-Biiso 54km, Hohwa-Nyairongo-Kyarushesha-Butole-25km.

In 2019, China Railway Seventh Group was contracted to upgrade them to tarmac. The three years project was projected to cost the government Shs 500billion.

The minister’s intervention follows a petition from the Kikuube Woman MP, Florence Natumanya following a compensation dispute arising from land ownership in one family.

The road stalled for more than two years after the wives of the late Rajab Turyamureba in Kyarwensambya village in Kiziranfumbi town council failed to agree on who should be compensated.

According to the Omuhereza Asiimwe Butamanya, the father to the deceased, his son who died in 2017 left behind a house in Kyarwensambya village which was affected by the road construction works.

After death, the deceased’s wives, Justine Nsimiire Nalongo, a mother of three children and the second wife, Sylvia Twijukye started fighting over the house.

As a result, the contractor had started constructing the road but when he reached the contested house, he could not proceed with works since it was pending compensation.

According to the Omuhereza Asiimwe, Twijukye, who was working in the deceased’s clinic claimed ownership of the contested house and started demanding compensation money.

He told the Minister that, Twijukye who claimed to be second wife forged a document of ownership of the land and claimed that she was a wife to the deceased, yet the family knew her as an employee of their son.

The deceased’s family together with Nsimiire Nalongo (known wife) protested the claims of Twijukye and petitioned several offices which included justice centers, Office of the RDC Kikuube and area MPS.

All these offices attempted to resolve the matter but failed after most of the resolution favored the Nalongo.

The conflict forced Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to put on halt the compensation of the house after Twijukye went to court seeking justice.

However, Minister Byamukama and other local leaders who included area MP, LCV boss, Peter Banura held a meeting with the conflicting parties at the Office of the Kikuube RDC, Amlan Tumusiime and resolved the impasse.

During the meeting, it was agreed that out of Shs 21.4 million which was valued in the contested house, the second wife (Twijukye) will be given Shs 5milion while the first wife and her children will take over Shs 16m.

Minister Byamukama commended the family for accepting to settle the conflict and challenged the second wife, Twijukye to withdraw the court case to allow UNRA to pay their compensation for the road construction project to resume.

RDC Tumusiime and Peter Banura, the Kikuube district boss blamed the conflict on greedy leaders, UNRA officials and Lawyers who have been misleading the family over this matter.

According to them, several offices attempted to settle the matter but some selfish groups who thought the compensation of the house was about Shs 200 million have been taking the family off truck with the intention of making money from the conflict.

They commended the Minister for his intervention adding that they have hope that the road project construction will soon resume after settling the matter.

MP Florence Natumanya says, there are several other issues related to compensation under this road construction project that needs to be addressed.

She noted some people have been left uncompensated and others were left without access roads to their houses.

Natumanya also complained of dumping sites which are situated near people’s houses adding that soon they may turn into death traps.

Juliet Oyera, Head of Land Acquisition at UNRA said that 90% of the persons affected by the road construction project have been compensated adding that the remaining 10% have issues of ownership.

https://thecooperator.news/businessman-arrested-for-oil-roads-fuel-theft/

She commended the leaders and the Minister for resolving the matter adding that once the family makes a consent agreement, UNRA will pay the compensation money to the family.

The widow, Nsimiire Nalongo and her father in-law Butamanya expressed gratitude about the resolution saying that children of the deceased have received justice.

However, when asked to comment about the resolution, Twijukye, the second wife, refused to talk to the media.

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Museveni castigates court on Ekalungar murder case

ENTEBBE – President Yoweri Museveni has castigated the Courts of Law for what he called a lenient sentence in the murder case of Francis Ekarungar.

Museveni says, the sentence of life imprisonment given to Mawa Muzamir, who took lead in the murder of the accountant is very lenient and a source of provocation.

Museveni also protested the continued court resolution to grant bail to suspects in murder cases, challenging the position of making bail a right.

“Bail is not a constitutional right and must not be used to provoke the public. For somebody to kill a person and you give them bail is provocation. It is abominable.” Museveni said.

Museveni, who was speaking at a function at State House Entebbe in which six new judges, Inspector General of Government, Beti Namisango Kamya and her deputy were sworn in, also revealed that the State will appeal in the Ekarungar judgment, pushing for a death sentence for the convict.

Museveni said, someone taking another person’s life and you just let him be in prison for life instead of death is mean.

“These people conspired to kill the accountant, and one was given a life sentence, was the one they killed given a chance to live? Was death sentence abolished? The Case Clinic case will be appealed,” he stressed.

Court sentenced Mawa Muzamiru to life imprisonment for the murder of Francis Ekarungar, an accountant with Case Clinic in Kampala, while his accomplices including his wife Resty Nalunga, Huzairu Kiwalabye and Yiga Deo were sentenced to 5, 25 and 7 years of imprisonment respectively.

President Museveni said the judiciary needs to work on the ideological gap, where bail is granted to murder suspects when even the victim’s relatives are still grieving.

“This bail, what is the hurry? Who are you trying to please? Who said bail is a right? It is not in the Constitution. We are going to work on this,” Museveni said.

The President insisted that the Judiciary needs to address the ideological difference during judgements especially on criminal matters to have justice to the victims, avoid the growth of impunity but also to keep the judiciary relevant in the communities.

Citing a case of Christine Akello, a 43-year-old who was brutally murdered by her husband, Denis Alal in Lira City, although Alal would also later be killed by the mob using the very machete he had earlier used to kill his wife.

Museveni says these are signs that the public have lost trust in the judiciary.

https://thecooperator.news/minister-ogwang-orders-for-arrest-of-corrupt-district-officials/

The six new judges sworn in included; Justices Tweyanze Lawrence Gashirabake Christopher, Chemutai Tom, Alice Komuhangi, Nakacwa Florence, and Justice Wagona Vincent.

Also, the Inspector General of Government, Beti Kamya and Deputies Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria and Ms. Ann Twinomugisha Muhairwe took oath of office at the same event.

The President warned the new office bearers at the IGG’s office of high levels of infiltration, that has facilitated corruption to take a deep root frustrating service delivery.

“Your offices are infiltrated that you should start by cleaning it up and link with the public to collect vital information. Be patient and connect with local people, but do not frustrate whistle blowers,” Museveni added.

The Deputy Chief Justice, Richard Buteera, commended the government for enhancing the budget of the judiciary, a move he says would enable them draw justice closer to the people.

“This increment will enable us go a long way in bringing justice nearer to the people of Uganda. Our dream, in the medium term, is to bring justice to all the people of Uganda within a walkable distance,” Butera said.

The Budgetary allocation of the judicially was increased from Shs. 196 billion in the financial year 2020/2021 to a whopping Shs. 357 billion in the financial 2021/2022.

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Minister Ogwang orders for arrest of corrupt district officials

KIKUUBE – Several civil servants in Kikuube district were made to sweat as the Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Peter Ogwang questioned them for allegedly messing up several government projects.

Ogwang together with Jenipher Kacha Namuyangu, the State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs stormed Kikuube district and had an engagement with the district leaders and civil servants before moving to the field to check on the projects.

The ministers were shocked by the corruption tendencies that crippled World Bank-funded projects, Development Response to Displacement Impact Projects [DRDIP], Agriculture Cluster Development Projects [ACDP], and Covid19 funds among others mismanaged, swindled, or underutilized.

This has resulted in shoddy work and in other extreme cases, no work done at all.

This forced the Minister to direct Kikuube District Police Commander [DPC], Wilson Nabangi to arrest and get statements from the implicated officials.

The officials include; the District Engineer, Emma Arinaitwe, Water Engineer, Hillary Agondeze, and the former Chief Administrative Officer [CAO]Robert Murondo, Nicolas Kwikiriza, the District Health Officer [DHO], Flavia Nabwire, the Officer in Charge of DRDIP projects, Julian Kusiima among others.

Ogwang ordered that Murondo be returned from Kariro district, where is currently working to Kikuube district to make a statement with police for allegedly diverting startup funds worth Shs1.2 billion.

It is alleged in 2018, Kikuube district received Shs 1.2 billion from the Ministry of Local Government to construct the district administration block and equip it with furniture but the money was diverted to other things which were not in the guideline.

According to the information the money was used to buy 10 acres of land at a cost of Shs270 million, two double cabin vehicles at the cost of Shs400 million, construction of police structures at cost of Shs80million and also painting of the former Kiziramfumbi Sub County headquarters, that are now being used to house the district headquarters at cost of Shs150 million.

Meanwhile, Emma Arinaitwe was also ordered to make statements at police over his failure to supervise work on several projects such as the construction roads like Kabwoya- Rwetahi road, which was found with several concerns.

According to the findings, the road which cost Shs70 million was only 9.5 kilometres but in the documents, the road was supposed to be 11 kilometres.

In the document, the road was supposed to be 7metres wide but on ground it was only 5.4 metres.

This road was meant to have a murram, according to the Bill of Quantities [BOQ] but on ground, the murram was missing yet the documents indicated that it was completed and commissioned.

Engineer Arinaitwe and Julian Kusiima were questioned about the Shs1.8 billion Nyairongo Seed Project.

This is after the ministers found the project incomplete with several defects, yet the contractor, Quick Builder Construction Company was paid 95 percent of the money.

The other official who is on the spot is the Water Engineer, Hillary Agondeze who is being investigated for doing shoddy work on the Kigozi shallow well at a cost of Shs5million in Kiziranfumbi town council.

This well was completed in June 2021 but it has no flowing water and residents are said to have provided materials for its construction although the government had released funds for its construction.

The District Health Officer [DHO], Nicholas Kwikiriza was also on the spot after allegedly failing to pay the Village Health Teams [VHTs] per village Shs300, 000 as the government had allocated and directed.

Kwikiriza was accused of not following the guideline as he paid the VHTs per month, yet the money is supposed to be paid once. It was discovered that Kwikiriza is keeping the money in a bank with the intention to accumulate interest.

Ministers Ogwang and Namuyangu warned police against mismanaging the files of the officers, adding that the officers must be produced in court to answer the charges of corruption and neglect of their duties.

He noted that these officers have made the government lose a lot of money that would help to deliver services to local people.

Minister Ogwang, also directed forensic audit in the implementation of DRDIP project in Bunyoro region, adding that the project has a lot of issues.

“I will be a bad person to the corrupt but will be a good person to those who want this country to develop. I want to challenge you the corrupt that your days are numbered. You either accept to do what is within the law of the country in line with the public finance management act or resign,” said Ogwang.

Minister Namuyangu, commended Minister Ogwang on the exercise; adding that there are a lot of rots in all districts in the region that needs to be addressed and promised to continue following up on the issues.

Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner [RDC], and Peter Banura, the Kikuube District LCV boss said that such monitoring exercises help the government to realize gaps in service delivery, corruption and improves service delivery.

They appealed to the central government to at least have such kind of exercise of monitoring every financial year to complement the district’s efforts in supervising and monitoring government projects to ensure good service delivery.

Steven Asera Itaza, MP Buhaguzi East constituency, expressed concern that the government has lost billions of shillings to corrupt officials because district leaders are undermined by corrupt officials and called on the government to continue supporting district leaders to oversee service delivery.

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I am not sick – IGP Ochola refutes Police reports

The Inspector-General of Police [IGP], Martin Okoth Ochola has finally spoken out regarding his health condition, insisting that he is not sick, but rather fit enough to discharge his duties in the Force.

Ochola, who has been reported to be down with multiple ailments including; high blood pressure scoffed at the media for trivializing his personal health and making it a matter of public debate.

“I am as fit as fiddle. I am as energetic…” said the career Policeman.

This follows a couple of days’ media reports indicating that the IGP has been bedridden, following a decision by the Police forces to grant him sick leave due to bad health that was only deteriorating.

Ochola failed to attend the burial of his Deputy Lt. Gen Paul Lokech last month, delegating other officers, an incident that sparked off talk that he was seriously sick.

Ochola has reportedly snubbed several summons to Parliament to answer queries raised by the Legislators regarding Police Management and Operations.

Ochola says, he skipped a couple of State and internal events, because he has empowered a functional system he has created in the force, allowing them to work with no supervision.
Earlier this week, the Director for Medical Services in the Police Force, Dr. Moses Byaruhanga told the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs that, the career Policeman is bed-ridden with high blood pressure.

Now, Ochola has scoffed reports by his juniors saying, he is as fit as a fiddle and quite energetic contrary to the reports.

“I have a physician at Mulago National Referral Hospital and he checks on me. My health issues are between me and my physician. I have not shared it with anyone even in the police,” scoffed Ochola.

Ochola also disowned the Police’s Director of Medical Service and Joint Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen Jack Bakasumba, who reported that the IGP suffered from unstable blood pressure and other ailments.

“My health issues are personal and I have not even shared with anyone even in Police,” he confirmed.

Byaruhanga had told Parliament that the IGP has not been stable since the demise of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Paul Lokech, which prompted the medical department and his personal physician to advise him to avoid long meetings as a way to achieve health stability.

Ochola instead trashed this and told the media that he just had a break for few weeks, but returned to office on time, and has since been working diligently.

He says once his functional system works, he would be at liberty to let others perform on different levels including policy, tactical and operational levels.

At sixty-three (63) years old, IGP Okoth Ochola took over office from the embattled Gen. Kale Kayihura in 2018, whom he had deputized for over 10 years.

On assuming office, Ochola was praised as a sober and committed officer, who was viewed as one that would instill the lost professionalism, discipline, and sanity in the force.

Ochola has since had two deputies, Sabiiti Muzei and now the late Lt. Gen. Paul Lokech.

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Ker Kwaro Acholi wants local leaders oriented on the Parish Development Model program

ACHOLI – Ker Kwaro Acholi (KKA), the Acholi Cultural Institution has appealed to the government to consider orienting local leaders if the Parish Development Model (PDM) is to succeed in the region.

In May this year, Parliament approved the implementation of the Parish Development Model, with activities rolling out in phases, including the recruitment of Parish Chiefs, setting up a Community Information System (CIS), training and establishing Parish Development Committees, as well as massive mobilization of the public both locally and nationally.

Rwot David Onen Acana II, the Acholi Paramount Chief says, with the failure of several government projects including; NAADs, NUSAF, among others, there’s need to psychologically prepare the local leaders who will be at the forefront of implementing the new project that will see the government investing Shs 100 million per parish for the next five years.

Speaking recently, President Museveni urged the National Resistance Movement MPs to approve a proposal to increase the funds from the current allocation of Shs 200 billion to Shs1. 9 trillion.

Acana says that cultural institutions must be included among those who are to receive orientation since most of them are key opinion leaders in the community.

Ambrose Olaa, the Ker Kwaro Acholi Prime Minister said that, already the cultural institution is engaged in a series of community projects and having members of the institutions along with local leaders oriented on the program will help in shaping the mindset of the communities towards embracing it.

According to Olaa, the people need to understand their role in the Parish Development Model so that they own the program.

Recently, the government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa said that local leaders such as Parish Chiefs will take the lead role in designing the community development agenda under the Parish Development Model (PDM).

https://thecooperator.news/parish-beneficiaries-to-lead-in-setting-agenda-for-community-development-planning/

Santa Okot, the MP for Aruu North constituency, Pader district says, with the increasing rate of corruption and misinformation regarding government programs, the Parish Development Model will also fail if the mindset of the targeted beneficiaries are not changed through mass sensitizations and community engagements.

“We have seen several programs either failing or struggling to succeed in the region, this has been mainly because there was no orientation from the initial stages of the projects. so, for this Parish Development Model to succeed, the government needs to orient the community members and leaders on their roles so that it is easier to monitor and account for the funds,” Okot explained.

Richard Todwong, the National Resistance Movement Party (NRM), Secretary General says, that the concerns of the cultural institutions and leaders will be discussed. He also rallied the local leaders especially those from the NRM party to disseminate information regarding the Parish Development Model.

The Parish Development Module has been adopted into the 3rd National Development Plan as a strategy for rural and socio -economic transformation. The parish will be the epicenter of multi-sectoral community development planning, implementation, supervision, monitoring and accountability.

The LC2 Chairperson and Parish Chief shall be responsible for political stewardship in the implementation of the parish model in their respective parishes with support from the sub-county and district technical planning committee.

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Kikuube RDC orders the arrest of police officers for acting unprofessionally

KIKUUBE – Several police officers in Kikuube district are in trouble over corruption and failure to carry out their duties professionally.

The accused police officers are; the Officer in-Charge (OC) of Kyarushesha police post, Yosia Kisimba and the OC Kasonga police post, Steven Mawa.

Others are, police officers attached to Kikuube police station.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kikuube, Amlan Tumusime ordered the arrest and transfer from his work station of Kisimba and the arrest of Mawa. He also ordered for the investigation of other police officers from Kikuube police station.

The RDC’s orders come after residents of Bwera village, Kyangwali sub-county in Kikuube district sought his intervention over the continued misconduct of police officers in the area.

In the petition signed by more than 400 residents, the police officers at Kikuube police station and Kyarushesha police post were accused of being corrupt and unprofessional.

During a security meeting chaired by the RDC, in Bwera village on Sunday evening, Kisimba was accused of releasing suspects who were found torturing one of the residents, John Turyamureba.

According to Godwin Munara, the Chairman LC I, Bwera village Butole Parish, Kyangali sub-county, on August 19th, 2021, arrested a group of people who were accused of torturing Turyamureba but a day later, they were released without being charged.

It is alleged that the police officers connived with Pastor Living Kangenyi of Bwera Miracle Church to release the suspects on police bond.

It is alleged that the released suspects on the day they were released connived with the children and wife of the Turyamureba and killed the man whom they had earlier tortured. Turyamureba’s body was found dumped on a farm.

The suspects who included Stephanie Uwimaana, the wife to the deceased, Twekabe James and Richard Musiguzi, sons to the deceased, Samuel Mugisha, Alloys Habineza, John Mbabazi and Jackson Tushabomwe all members of Bwera Miracle Church were arrested after the death of Turyamureba.

After the arrest of the 7 suspects on 21 of August, 2021, they were detained at Kikuube police station; however, 6 of the suspects who included the children and their mother were released on police bond.

In their petition, the residents also accused Steven Mawa, the OC Kasonga of demanding Shs300,000 to carry out a post-mortem for the deceased (Turyamureba).

According to Munara, the release of the suspects and unprofessional conduct angered the residents and petitioned the office of RDC calling for his intervention.

He added that the release of the suspect is giving the residents sleepless nights fearing that the group may attack and kill another resident since the motive of killing a fellow resident was not known.

Munara says that police are not helping the local communities adding that instead of providing security; they (police) are fueling conflicts.

https://thecooperator.news/we-cant-fight-corruption-without-investigators-igg/

In his response, RDC Tumusime ordered for the arrest and transfer of the OC for Kisimba and Mawa from the police post and also ordered for the re-arrest of the suspects. He directed that the police officers accused of conniving to release the suspects be investigated.

“Such police officers are the ones tarnishing the image of police and the government, so the OC of Kyarushesha and Kasonga must be arrested and must make a statement,” the RDC ordered.

However, Daniel Kata Mugisa, the Kikuube district CID Officer explains that, the six suspects were released after one of the suspects, Jackson Tushabomwe confessed to having killed the deceased alone. He noted that Jackson Tushabomwe is currently detained at Masindi prison.

He asked the residents to provide police with more evidence and promised to re-arrest the suspects after investigation and getting enough evidence.

The OC Kisimba failed to defend himself and said that he was misled by Pastor Mugyeni and asked for forgiveness.

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Leveraging Ugandan food systems to attain SDGs by 2030

The Secretary-General of the United Nations will convene a Food Systems Summit in September, 2021 in a bid to accelerate the implementation of the Decade of Action to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The summit will awaken the world to the fact that we all must work together to transform the way the world produces, consumes and thinks about food.

It is a summit for everyone everywhere – a people’s summit. It is also a solutions summit that will require everyone to take action to transform the world’s food systems.

Back home, one needs to ask; is the Ugandan food system positioned to accelerate attainment of the 17 SDGs? Is it working for every one and every segment of society hence leaving no one behind? Is it working for the smallholder farmer? Does it pay a living income to the farmer and living wage to the worker in the farm? Is it nature positive and therefore provides for broader biodiversity concerns?

To respond to the above questions, in affirmative, would be a great distortion and oversimplification of reality because there is consensus at global and national level that the status of our food system is fragile, unequal, unattractive to the youth, propagates hunger inter-alia.

Therefore, the status quo is not acceptable! There is need for transformation to ensure that the food system contributes to attainment of 17 SDGs by 2030.This requires holistic system and use of integrated approach to food system transformation.

Consequently, we need to focus on food system productivity as opposed to agricultural productivity by emphasizing agricultural intensification and nature positive agriculture.

Apparently, food unites us all as families, cultures, countries and the whole world.

https://thecooperator.news/youth-challenged-to-promote-food-security/

Hence, government agencies, civil society, private sector must unite, around food for meaningful transformation.

One needs to note also that the failures in the food systems are across the entire food value chains and not only on markets.

It’s astonishing, to see that farmers who produce food for all people in the world, are at the same time wallowing in poverty!

The ingredients to transformational food systems are science, farmers experience, indigenous knowledge, innovation and investment, agroecology, postharvest handling, storage, stopping wastage, social protection (scaling up school feeding) inter-alia.

There is food for everyone, unfortunately, 1/3 ($1trillion) of the food produced globally is lost. Whereas the world population is about 7.7 billion, the food produced is for 12 billion people resulting into excess there by impacting negatively on the biodiversity.

Food systems needs not only to be resilient to Covid-19 but also climate change; it should also take care of human rights, fair income distribution and balance of power along the food value chain.

For a better food systems, farmers, government and consumers should act responsibly to have the food systems contribute to the attainment of SDGs.

Key challenges facing the globe including climate change, loss of nature and mounting inequality; are manifested more in the food systems. Hence, a call for decades of action with bold ambition and acceleration to improve food systems by the UN Secretary General.

Are there game changing remedies to transform current food systems?

Yes: strengthen regional and national trade, connect people to markets without middlemen by use of e-commerce, increase markets for farmers through local purchases, scaleup biofortification and fortification, promote inclusive value chains, provide financing to farmers, put resources, technology behind entrepreneurs, facilitate farmers to supply schools under school feeding program, realigning public spending to ensure access to safe, healthy and nutritious food, prioritize agriculture amidst limited fiscal space amidst Covid-19, promote one district, warehouse, factory initiative.

Fred Alex Ahimbisibwe – Rural Economist [ the writer of the article]

Ahimbisibwe.fred@yahoo.com

Microfinance Training & Advisory Services Ltd

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post Leveraging Ugandan food systems to attain SDGs by 2030 appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Leveraging Ugandan food systems to attain SDGs by 2030

The Secretary-General of the United Nations will convene a Food Systems Summit in September, 2021 in a bid to accelerate the implementation of the Decade of Action to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The summit will awaken the world to the fact that we all must work together to transform the way the world produces, consumes and thinks about food.

It is a summit for everyone everywhere – a people’s summit. It is also a solutions summit that will require everyone to take action to transform the world’s food systems.

Back home, one needs to ask; is the Ugandan food system positioned to accelerate attainment of the 17 SDGs? Is it working for every one and every segment of society hence leaving no one behind? Is it working for the smallholder farmer? Does it pay a living income to the farmer and living wage to the worker in the farm? Is it nature positive and therefore provides for broader biodiversity concerns?

To respond to the above questions, in affirmative, would be a great distortion and oversimplification of reality because there is consensus at global and national level that the status of our food system is fragile, unequal, unattractive to the youth, propagates hunger inter-alia.

Therefore, the status quo is not acceptable! There is need for transformation to ensure that the food system contributes to attainment of 17 SDGs by 2030.This requires holistic system and use of integrated approach to food system transformation.

Consequently, we need to focus on food system productivity as opposed to agricultural productivity by emphasizing agricultural intensification and nature positive agriculture.

Apparently, food unites us all as families, cultures, countries and the whole world.

https://thecooperator.news/youth-challenged-to-promote-food-security/

Hence, government agencies, civil society, private sector must unite, around food for meaningful transformation.

One needs to note also that the failures in the food systems are across the entire food value chains and not only on markets.

It’s astonishing, to see that farmers who produce food for all people in the world, are at the same time wallowing in poverty!

The ingredients to transformational food systems are science, farmers experience, indigenous knowledge, innovation and investment, agroecology, postharvest handling, storage, stopping wastage, social protection (scaling up school feeding) inter-alia.

There is food for everyone, unfortunately, 1/3 ($1trillion) of the food produced globally is lost. Whereas the world population is about 7.7 billion, the food produced is for 12 billion people resulting into excess there by impacting negatively on the biodiversity.

Food systems needs not only to be resilient to Covid-19 but also climate change; it should also take care of human rights, fair income distribution and balance of power along the food value chain.

For a better food systems, farmers, government and consumers should act responsibly to have the food systems contribute to the attainment of SDGs.

Key challenges facing the globe including climate change, loss of nature and mounting inequality; are manifested more in the food systems. Hence, a call for decades of action with bold ambition and acceleration to improve food systems by the UN Secretary General.

Are there game changing remedies to transform current food systems?

Yes: strengthen regional and national trade, connect people to markets without middlemen by use of e-commerce, increase markets for farmers through local purchases, scaleup biofortification and fortification, promote inclusive value chains, provide financing to farmers, put resources, technology behind entrepreneurs, facilitate farmers to supply schools under school feeding program, realigning public spending to ensure access to safe, healthy and nutritious food, prioritize agriculture amidst limited fiscal space amidst Covid-19, promote one district, warehouse, factory initiative.

Fred Alex Ahimbisibwe – Rural Economist [ the writer of the article]

Ahimbisibwe.fred@yahoo.com

Microfinance Training & Advisory Services Ltd

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post Leveraging Ugandan food systems to attain SDGs by 2030 appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Masindi Municipality Councilors question delayed disbursement of Shs 273 million to beneficiaries

MASINDI – Masindi Municipality Councillors have questioned the delayed disbursement of Shs 273 million meant for different groups engaged in different activities in the municipality.

The money was sent to Masindi municipality by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in July, 2021 under the Microprojects Program through the office of Bunyoro Affairs Minister.

During a council meeting at Masindi Municipality Council Chambers, the Councilors argued that their groups did whatever was required but they’re wondering why they are not receiving their funds.

“The group members engaged in farming expected to use the money to prepare for the second season. The season is ending but they’re are not seeing the money. No clear explanation is being given to them,” said Silver Asiimwe, the Male Councilor representing Bigando ward.

The Councilors’ complaints came about after Ronald Businge Kyomuhendo, the Mayor Masindi Municipality told the council members that a report compiled by the Community Development Officer (CDO) has discovered that some groups had files presented with intention to benefit but they were not in existence.

“According to my technical team, some groups are not on ground. It will be bad if we rush to give out the money without correcting the problem. I am requesting my Councillors to be patient as my technical team expeditiously correct the matter,” said Kyomuhendo.

But the Councilors faulted the technical team for going to do the verification without engaging the area Councilors who know the group members better.

“The groups have certificates of registration which were issued by Masindi Municipality Authorities. Why say that they’re none existent?” asked Asiimwe.

Amos Bandoho, the Councilor representing Isimba Ward noted that all beneficiaries and the groups are in existence, adding that the money should be disbursed.

“We have been giving these groups money. You know very well that they’re there. Give out the money as we do the verification later,” Bandoho explained.

Robert Akugizibwe, the Councilors representing Kijura Western ward blamed the technical people for not doing their work saying that the excuses the technical people gave were lame.

“All the files which were presented to the office of the Community Development Officer had the members and the group details. Why didn’t they trace them by that?” Akugizibwe asked.

Earlier on, Betty Kyomuhendo the Leader of Government Business in Council had told the members in her business report that as authorities at the Municipality, they decided that a technical team led by the CDO go on ground and verify all the groups before the disbursement of the money.

“The report is ready and any time from now the existing groups are going to get their money,” said Kyomuhendo.

Deo Kabugo, the Town Clerk Masindi Municipality said that the money came with guidelines attached saying that they should be properly followed before the money goes out to the beneficiaries.

“The groups should meet all the requirements needed. They should be with the minutes showing that they sit and they’re active. As an Accounting Officer, I am not going to release money to none existing groups. A thorough verification must be done first because this money must be accounted for,” Kabugo noted.

Masindi Municipality has been getting this money since the Office of Minister Bunyoro Affairs was created in the Office of the Prime Minister in 2012.

In July, the Minister for Bunyoro Affairs commissioned the disbursement of the funds at Masindi municipality headquarters.

She promised to follow up the money.

https://thecooperator.news/bunyoro-receives-shs-4-billion-as-affirmative-action-to-fight-poverty/

“I request the implementers to follow the guidelines to ensure that the money goes to the right beneficiaries,” said Jennifer Namuyango Kacha, the Bunyoro Affairs Minister.

Buy your copy of theCooperator magazine from one of our countrywide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post Masindi Municipality Councilors question delayed disbursement of Shs 273 million to beneficiaries appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Masindi Municipality Councilors question delayed disbursement of Shs 273 million to beneficiaries

MASINDI – Masindi Municipality Councillors have questioned the delayed disbursement of Shs 273 million meant for different groups engaged in different activities in the municipality.

The money was sent to Masindi municipality by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in July, 2021 under the Microprojects Program through the office of Bunyoro Affairs Minister.

During a council meeting at Masindi Municipality Council Chambers, the Councilors argued that their groups did whatever was required but they’re wondering why they are not receiving their funds.

“The group members engaged in farming expected to use the money to prepare for the second season. The season is ending but they’re are not seeing the money. No clear explanation is being given to them,” said Silver Asiimwe, the Male Councilor representing Bigando ward.

The Councilors’ complaints came about after Ronald Businge Kyomuhendo, the Mayor Masindi Municipality told the council members that a report compiled by the Community Development Officer (CDO) has discovered that some groups had files presented with intention to benefit but they were not in existence.

“According to my technical team, some groups are not on ground. It will be bad if we rush to give out the money without correcting the problem. I am requesting my Councillors to be patient as my technical team expeditiously correct the matter,” said Kyomuhendo.

But the Councilors faulted the technical team for going to do the verification without engaging the area Councilors who know the group members better.

“The groups have certificates of registration which were issued by Masindi Municipality Authorities. Why say that they’re none existent?” asked Asiimwe.

Amos Bandoho, the Councilor representing Isimba Ward noted that all beneficiaries and the groups are in existence, adding that the money should be disbursed.

“We have been giving these groups money. You know very well that they’re there. Give out the money as we do the verification later,” Bandoho explained.

Robert Akugizibwe, the Councilors representing Kijura Western ward blamed the technical people for not doing their work saying that the excuses the technical people gave were lame.

“All the files which were presented to the office of the Community Development Officer had the members and the group details. Why didn’t they trace them by that?” Akugizibwe asked.

Earlier on, Betty Kyomuhendo the Leader of Government Business in Council had told the members in her business report that as authorities at the Municipality, they decided that a technical team led by the CDO go on ground and verify all the groups before the disbursement of the money.

“The report is ready and any time from now the existing groups are going to get their money,” said Kyomuhendo.

Deo Kabugo, the Town Clerk Masindi Municipality said that the money came with guidelines attached saying that they should be properly followed before the money goes out to the beneficiaries.

“The groups should meet all the requirements needed. They should be with the minutes showing that they sit and they’re active. As an Accounting Officer, I am not going to release money to none existing groups. A thorough verification must be done first because this money must be accounted for,” Kabugo noted.

Masindi Municipality has been getting this money since the Office of Minister Bunyoro Affairs was created in the Office of the Prime Minister in 2012.

In July, the Minister for Bunyoro Affairs commissioned the disbursement of the funds at Masindi municipality headquarters.

She promised to follow up the money.

https://thecooperator.news/bunyoro-receives-shs-4-billion-as-affirmative-action-to-fight-poverty/

“I request the implementers to follow the guidelines to ensure that the money goes to the right beneficiaries,” said Jennifer Namuyango Kacha, the Bunyoro Affairs Minister.

Buy your copy of theCooperator magazine from one of our countrywide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post Masindi Municipality Councilors question delayed disbursement of Shs 273 million to beneficiaries appeared first on The Cooperator News.