Parish chiefs to lead in setting agenda for community development planning

Government Chief Whip and Ruhinda Constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has said, Parish Chiefs will take the lead role in designing the community development agenda under the Parish Development Model (PDM).

Previously, money would come to the district and be channelled to the sub-counties where officials would make decisions about projects in remote parishes; this is different with the parish model.

Tayebwa said, the central government expects that by giving power to local policy makers, it will shape rural economy by focusing on their competitive advantages. He said people will be making decisions themselves.

“People should know that the government has stopped giving free things. Like the Emyooga fund, where you borrow and pay back, people who will borrow money under PDM have to pay back to the community,” Tayebwa said.

Tayebwa added that just like the Emyooga fund, PDM fund is also a revolving fund that will help communities improve their household income and eradicate poverty.

Recently, about 30 legislators visited one of the model farms in Rwengaju sub-county Kabarole district belonging to Richard Nyakana, who has utilized one acre by putting up different enterprises, to learn from his success.

Tayebwa said, since this money will be controlled and revolving within the community, it should be given to people who are prepared with the already setup projects.

He said under this model, each parish will be given a minimum of Shs 100m starting the next financial year for five years.

https://thecooperator.news/ict-state-minister-cautions-ugandans-against-criticizing-the-parish-development-model-program/

“People have been complaining that we sit in Kampala and plan for them but this time you will be involved in planning. Our work now is giving you money and you plan for it,” he said.

He appealed to fellow members of parliament not to get involved in the implementation of PDM but rather do the supervision part and their involvement will be at the district level since they are ex-officials in their respective district councils.

The Member of Parliament representing Kashari North, Hon. Bazil Bataringaya said, for the PDM to be effective, in each parish there should be a model farmer/demonstration farm where others can copy from.

“As Members of Parliament, we have come from Kampala to see how Nyakana has managed to utilize one-acre piece of land by putting up different enterprises but someone from my constituency Kashari or other regions cannot manage to come here,” Hon. Bataringaya noted.

He said this will make it easy for farmers to learn from their fellows and practice it at their own farms.

Hon. Bataringaya also noted that government should also look at different enterprises for different regions or parishes where they can do well.

“Just like for Emyooga, the government should at least look at different parishes specializing in different enterprises which are within their reach. For example, one parish can deal in piggery, another one in poultry, another in cattle, like that,” he said.

He however noted that for farmers to access market, the government should ensure roads are worked on for farmers to benefit from this parish model.

“One of the pillars for this model is ensuring farmers get market for their produce and to achieve this, there should be good roads. The government may not necessarily construct tarmac roads but can do good murram roads,” he said.

Bataringaya pointed out Fort Portal-Kijura road that used to reach Nyakana’s farm, which he said is in a sorry state and yet it is used by many farmers in the area.

The Fort Portal-Kijura road connects to big tea factories in the region which Bataringaya said can make it easy for farmers to access market.

This 23Km road is an inter-district road which connects Fort Portal to Kyenjojo, Hoima and Ntoroko. The president has always talked about it while campaigning in the region but has never been worked on.

Richard Nyakana a model farmer who hosted the legislators pointed out poor road network as one of the biggest challenges hindering farmers from accessing market for their produce.

“For example, Rwengaju is the president’s model sub-county but the only main road we have is not worked on and yet most of us are farmers. How can we access the market? We have four big factories in the area but trailers have failed to pass because of bad roads,” he said.

Nyakana also appealed to the government to support farmers who already have something and give them machinery not looking at those who are starting.

Background

The 3rd National Development Plan (NDP3) has adapted the parish model as a strategy for rural social and economic transformation.

The PDM is a strategy for organizing and delivering public and private sector interventions for wealth creation and employment generation at the parish level as the lowest economic planning unit.

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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Kapelebyong district demands for more foot and mouth disease vaccines

KAPELEBYONG – Authorities from the Eastern district of Kapelebyong have demanded for more Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines from the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to achieve a 100% vaccination target.

This was made on Wednesday as the production department concluded the two weeks vaccination exercise against Foot and Mouth Disease.

The outbreak was confirmed in November 2019, resulting into numerous cattle deaths in the sub counties of Acowa, Akoromit, Alito and Obalanga.

After close to two years of waiting for vaccines, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) dispatched them this month to vaccinate the cattle in the affected sub counties.

Emmanuel Opio, the Kapelebyong district Communications Officer told theCooperator that the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries delivered 7,000 doses of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines to the district which were shared amongst the affected sub-counties.

He said that they have vaccinated only 7,000 cattle from the four sub-counties which are the hot spots, according to the ministry.

However, he noted that the vaccines were inadequate to meet the overwhelming numbers of cattle and they have requested for more vaccines to reach at least 70% target in the affected sub-counties.

Statistics from the office of the district production department indicates that the four sub-counties of Obalang, Alito, Acowa and Akoromit have more than 20,000 heads of cattle.

Meanwhile, Raymond Ekita, the acting District Veterinary Officer (DVO) revealed that his office has written to the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries asking for more vaccines.

He appealed for calm among the livestock farmers as the district waits for feedback from the ministry in regards to the request for more doses of the vaccine.

Charles Obongo, a resident of Ajeleiki village in Acowa sub-county said the concluded vaccination exercise is a relief to the farmers in the district.

“Since the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak was detected by MAAIF officials in November, 2019, we have been losing livestock which are our only source of livelihood,” said Obongo.

Simon Opolot, another livestock farmer from Alito sub-county said the vaccination exercise had been long overdue and they were running out of patience.

WHAT IS FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD)?

Dr. Robert Ojala, the Veterinary Inspector in the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries in charge of Teso-Karamoja regions describes Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine.

It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. FMD is not recognized as a zoonotic disease.

According to him, the disease spreads very quickly if not controlled and because of this is a reportable disease.

Causes

Dr. Ojala said that foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus of which there are seven ‘types,’ each producing the same symptoms and distinguishable only in the laboratory.

“The interval between exposure to infection and the appearance of symptoms varies between twenty-four hours and ten days, or even longer. The average time, under natural conditions, is three to six days,” he said.

Dr. Ojala explained that the virus survives in lymph nodes and bone marrow at neutral pH, but is destroyed in the muscle when pH is less than 6.0.

https://thecooperator.news/nwoya-under-attack-by-the-foot-and-mouth-disease/

He added that Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks have been linked with the importation of infected meat and meat products and that the disease can also be spread by people, vehicles and other objects that have been contaminated by the virus.

On the side of the symptoms, Dr. Ojala outlined fever, blisters in the mouth and on feet, drop in milk production, weight loss, loss of appetite, quivering lips and frothing of mouth. Cows may develop blisters on teats and lameness as some of the symptoms the affected cattle presents.

Prevention

According to the Cattle Site, Foot and Mouth Disease is one of the most difficult animal infections to control. Because the disease occurs in many parts of the world, there is always a chance of its accidental introduction into an unaffected country.

Export restrictions are often imposed on countries with known outbreaks.

FMD outbreaks are usually controlled by quarantines and movement restrictions, euthanasia of affected and in-contact animals, and cleansing and disinfection of affected premises, equipment and vehicles.

Infected carcasses must be disposed off safely by incineration, rendering, burial or other techniques. Milk from infected cows can be inactivated by heating to 100°C [212°F] for more than 20 minutes. Slurry can be heated to 67°C [153°F] for three minutes.

Rodents and other vectors may be killed to prevent them from mechanically disseminating the virus.
Good biosecurity measures should be practiced on uninfected farms to prevent entry of the virus.

Vaccination

Vaccination can be used to reduce the spread of FMD or protect specific animals.
Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines must closely match the serotype and strain of the infecting strain.

Vaccination with one serotype does not protect the animal against other serotypes, and may not protect the animal completely or at all from other strains of the same serotype. Currently, there is no universal FMD vaccine.

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Nebbi farmers shun cotton growing over short term crops

NEBBI – For the last three years, cotton growers in Nebbi district have shunned cotton growing for short term crops like rice due to consistent fluctuations in the price of cotton. Most farmers say it has only contributed to their prolonged life in poverty.

Due to the continuous fluctuation of cotton in the world market, farmers have resorted to growing of short-term crops like maize, soya beans, water melons, groundnuts and beans with a sustainable income and result oriented nature which benefit farmers within the period of three months.

The farmers who are reaping from other short-term crops have their livelihoods changed compared to cotton growing where cotton farmers have remained poor for more than 20 years.

According to some farmers, cotton fetched low prices of only Shs 1500 per kilo which many producers say it’s a huge loss compared to the working capital that each farmer spends right from preparing the cotton field.

Oyoma Francis, one of the traditional cotton farmers in Ndhew sub-county, Nebbi district says, last season, he planted more than 5 acres of cotton with a hope of getting profits to send his children to school but ended up getting frustrated with both the yields and price.

“I have never realized any profits from cotton growing for the last three planting seasons due to price and poor seeds quality,” Oyoma said.

The farmers have been battling with low price for cotton commodity for the last five years with the price ranging from Shs 1000 to Shs 1200.

Oyoma further noted that the refusal by most traditional cotton farmers to produce the crop this season, may lead to shortage of cotton commodity since most farmers have opted to grow less tedious crops for easy management.

Another cotton farmer in Atego sub-county, Nebbi district, Franko Wacal says, in 2020, he planted 2 acres of cotton and spent more than Shs 700,000 but only harvested 300kgs which amounted to Shs 450,000 at Shs 1500 per kilo.

“Cotton growing is no longer attractive to farmers due to the production cost incurred by the farmers right from preparing the land up to the harvest time,” Wacal said.

https://thecooperator.news/plummeting-prices-anger-cotton-farmers/

Wacal added that farmers had better soils and they had no reasons sticking to a crop that fetches low returns due to marketability and it’s labor intensive which gives no room to farmers to tap profits at the end of the season.

An official from the Cotton Development Organization (CDO) anonymously said, Uganda has the lowest influence with the price of cotton compared to the world market which has remained a consistent challenge to cotton farmers.

He adds that surprisingly for more than 2 years, cotton farmers have not been realizing good yields and returns due to the outbreak of jessed cotton pest which affected the quality and price of cotton.

“We are getting challenges with continuous fluctuation of cotton prices in the world market with only 5 to 10% of cotton being sold internally in the country but, 90% of cotton was mostly exported to the world market whereby the prices of the cotton are dictated in the world market which has demoralized cotton farmers, ” he said.

He says the country is registering low cotton production due to climatic changes and the fluctuation of cotton prices in the world market during the harvest season which has barred cotton farmers from growing the quantities needed to be exported to the global market.

But this year, the price of cotton has increased from Shs1500 to Shs 2000 and farmers still say, the price is not high enough compared to the workload at the cotton plantation.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC0 Emma Onyango Okol says, cotton was among the top main cash crops in the country for the last 30 years but there has been a problem with prices after harvest which are so demoralizing and contributing to poverty among the farmers since its labor intensive.

Onyango adds that there is need to restore cooperatives society such that farmers’ problems are well managed to avoid exploitation of farmers by the middle men who take advantage of farmers’ ignorance while negotiating prices.

“Cotton farmers should be linked directly to cotton ginneries to avoid exploitation of farmers by middle men who take advantage over them. This has affected their economic transformation; farmers should be encouraged to form cooperatives,” Onyango said.

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Acholi leaders question the contribution of investors in community empowerment

ACHOLI – Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) and Ker Kwaro Acholi (KKA), the Acholi Cultural Institution has questioned the contribution of the several investors in the sub-region on socio-economic empowerment of the community.

This was during last weekend’s Investors Forum organized by Acholi Parliamentary Group held in Vila Kazi in Got Apwoyo sub-county in Nwoya district.

Tony Awany, the APG Secretary for Lands and Investments says, despite the influx of several investors setting up farms and factories in the sub-region, the community has remained poor.

Awany faults some of the investors including Bukona factory which is located in Nwoya East for rallying farmers in larger numbers to plant cassava promising ready market yet they did not buy even a kilo of cassava.

“About three years ago, thousands of farmers were rallied to plant cassava because there was a ready market. But when the cassava got ready, not even a kilo of cassava was bought by Bukona which rallied people to plant cassava,” Awany notes.

According to Awany, several community members, especially those who stay around the factories, have been reduced to casual laborers who are mistreated and in some cases, not even paid their due allowances.

“We have heard cases of investors failing to pay their workers for several months and yet while lobbying for funds from the government; they claim they want to empower the community around them. One wonders whether this is an empowerment or adding more salt to their injuries,” Awany said.

Paska Achiro Menya, the Pader district Woman MP says, despite the government of Uganda through NAADs and the Uganda Development Cooperation (UDC). having supported the investors to set up their investments, the socio-economic status of the communities in the region who are used to lobby for funds from the government has remained miserably low.

In some factories, the owners recruit casual workers from other parts of the country and in some cases import workers from other countries other than training the community members to have the required skills and then employ them, said Achiro.

Anthony Akol, the Kilak North Member of Parliament who also doubles as the Chairperson Acholi Parliamentary Group says, as leaders, they have resolved that if any investor is not ready to employ community members in the Sub Region, they will not be allowed to operate in the sub-region.

According to Akol, as leaders, they want the investors to prioritize local content while employing workers and establishing various corporate social responsibilities.

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“What we want is that for any investor operating or who wants to operate in Acholi sub-region, they must ensure that they have local content as far as their employment is concerned. They should also design some corporate social responsibility activities which cause real time impact not just games per say like some companies have been doing,” Akol noted.

Mohamoud Abdi Mohamed, the Director of Agriculture from Atiak Sugar speaking during the forum says that most of the people around their factory are lazy and often opt out of the jobs even when given opportunity.

According to Mohamoud, depending on various factors, there’s generally low skills level from the community which has forced them to in some cases import workers from other countries. He says that in 2016, they imported 600 welders from India because they could not access highly skilled people in the local market.

Julian Omala Adyeri, the Director of Delight says, in some cases they are constrained by finances which make them struggle to reach the communities.

According to Omala, for Delight, they have distributed Ipads, seedlings among others to more than 3000 farmers in Nwoya district.

Ambrose Olaa, the Prime Minister, Ker Kwaro Acholi, says that in most cases, the cultural institution is left out by the investors which is why in some areas; people have continued to languish in abject poverty.

Olaa says that as the cultural institution, they have a clear demand from any investor who intends to establish an investment in the sub Region that seeks to ensure that the livelihoods of the community members in the areas are elevated.

Recently, a study conducted by Uganda Bureau of Statistics put the poverty level in Acholi sub-region at 68%.

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Government injects Shs 527m towards the completion of two health facilities in Alebtong.

ALEBTONG – Government has committed Shs 527m towards the completion of two health facilities in Alebtong district to improve access to healthcare services.

The health facilities were among the 60 in the country to be upgraded to Health Center IIIs by the World Bank program of Inter-governmental Fiscal Transfer in 2019.

The government awarded the contract to Otada Construction Company Ltd and the State Minister for Sports, Denis Hamson Obua, who is also Ajuri county legislator handed over the two facilities to the contractor.

More than Shs 1.2b was earmarked to undertake the construction and upgrading of Angetta and Awei health centres respectively.

The scope of the work was to construct a general ward, improve the out-patient department, construct two twin houses, and ventilated improved pit latrines and a medical waste management system.

But as time progressed, the work stalled and the contractor disappeared according to the area local leadership and the community.

The company abandoned the work due to lack of funds according to sources. The remaining work was roofing, fixing of doors, windows and painting.

The district LC5 Chairperson, David Kennedy Odongo says, the two Sub Counties had no health facilities and service delivery was being hindered due to long distances to the health facilities and high population in those areas. Angetta has 32 villages and Awei 48 respectively.

Through guidance from government, the district sourced for another contractor, Wangi Gen Company Ltd and started undertaking the work in August.

“Right now, they are at the finishing stage,” Odongo said.

“After completion, it will save our people from travelling long distances to seek health services.”

Angetta was carved out of Omoro Sub County in 2018, while Awei was split from Abako six years ago. The two Sub Counties had no Health Center IIIs and the community were travelling between 10 km to 12 km to access health services.

Besides, they don’t have a public secondary school as per the Ministry of Education and Sports guidelines.

The Angetta LC3 Chairperson, Robert Okullo applauded the government for the timely intervention towards the project.

“We were very disappointed when the company [Otada Construction] abandoned the site and vanished without informing us,” Okullo said.

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“They left the work at the ring-beam and since then, they are nowhere to be seen,” Okullo adds when contacted.

Efforts to reach Otada Construction was futile since their known telephone contacts were not available.

Another health facility, Ogwette Health Center II, in Otuke Sub County whose contract was awarded to the same company but was abandoned, has prompted the district to secure another service provider. Approximately, Shs 600m has been earmarked to upgrade the facility.

Peter Okweda, the Ogwette LC3 Chairperson says, the work started on a good note and they thought when accomplished it was going to address the problem of access to health services.

“One year down the road, it has become another big problem again for us as leaders and the community,” he said.

He says right now, a new contractor has been identified and they are just waiting to start the work.

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Soroti farmers receive 5 tons of seedlings for the new planting season

SOROTI – Soroti district farmers have received 5 tons of beans from the office of the National Agricultural Advisory Services [NAADS] Secretariat under Operation Wealth Creation [OWC] program.

According to Moses Echeku, the District Agricultural Officer, the seeds were delivered to the District Production Department.

Okello said that the seeds will be delivered to all the Sub Counties across the district for distribution to farmers for planting by their extension workers.

“Farmers should plant the seeds immediately and in two months time, they will be harvesting,” Echeku said.

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Osama, the Soroti District Coordinator, Operation Wealth Creation who was present urged farmers never to sell the seeds that they were given.

He advised farmers that if they want to benefit, they should plant without wasting time which will be another way of fighting food insecurity.

Luke Lokoda Lokilo, the Soroti Chief Administrative Office [CAO] appreciated the government for making this kind of move at a time when there is a dire need and the rains are back.

” We are grateful for the support from the government and this will help eradicate the looming poverty and increase household income if used appropriately,” he said.

However, Samuel Enangu, the Soroti district Vice-Chairperson cautioned farmers never to misuse the seeds and instead put them to good use.

” Put beans down and get something out of it; whoever is found selling will be charged accordingly,” he said.

Abraham Ekwaru, the Soroti district Communications Officer, told theCooperator that this is the first batch of beans delivered and they should still expect more.

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He said many people may think of washing the beans so that they can consume them but he advises them against this since these beans are medicated and not meant for human consumption.

Among the Sub Counties to benefit are Arapai, Katine, Ochuloi, Tubur, Asuret, Ocokican, Gweri, Aukot, Awaiwai, Kamuda, Lalle and Tubur town council respectively and the allocation was based on the population size.

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Local leaders, investors demand for inclusion in Karuma power transmission line.

NWOYA – Local leaders and Investors from Acholi Sub Region have demanded inclusion of the Sub Region to benefit from the Karuma Power Project which is nearing completion.

According to the current power transmission plan, West Nile will get 200 megawatts; Lira 143 megawatts and Kawanda 400 megawatts leaving out the Acholi Sub Region.

Williams Olwoch Lalobo, an investor with several investments in the country says that some three years ago, he wanted to establish a water distilling plant in Palenga and failed because he could neither get a transformer nor a stable high grid electricity supply.

He says to date, he has abandoned the plan and moved on to invest in other areas which can only survive on the current electricity supply which is also not very stable.

Tony Awany, the Nwoya County Member of Parliament says that despite having received explanations that the Karuma power will be fed into the national grid before being distributed to other regions; for industrialization to take shape in the region, there’s a need for adequate electricity supply.

“If we are going to industrialize the Acholi Sub Region, it is incumbent on the government to provide adequate power for the Sub Region,” he said.

“Where is the Sub Region in the Karuma power dam transmission equation? Awany asked because it seems the Acholi Sub Region is not catered for. We have been getting some technical explanations from the experts that the power will be transmitted to the national grid. But as Acholi Parliamentary Group [APG], we want the government to be very clear and tell us of the capacity of power that will be delivered to the Sub Region. We have industrializations taking shape, we have got Atiak sugar factory in Amuru, the oil plant in Nwoya and Madhvani will be coming to Amuru, so all these need power,” Awany observed.

Awany further observed that even when the government claims that the Aswa power dam is to supply the region, there are still uncertainties of when the project will be completed. He says that the power is insufficient and can’t satisfy the power needs of the Acholi Sub Region.

“The power project in Aswa is insufficient; it cannot drive the power needs in the Acholi Sub Region. So, it cannot meet our needs in Agago, Pader, Lamwo etc. We just want to make a very just and humble request to the government. The Karuma power project must have an equation for the people of Acholi Sub Region.” Awany noted.

Santa Okot, the Aruu North MP says that Acholi Sub Region can’t be host to the production and transmission lines and not get access to the same power.

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Rwot David Onen Acana II, the Paramount Chief Acholi says there have been several engagements and meetings with top government officials over an improved electricity supply to the Acholi Sub Region in a bid to spur industrialization.

Acana says that many investors have opted to set up their industries where there is a stable and adequate power supply unlike in Acholi Sub Region where factories are forced to produce their own electricity.

Several industries such as Haree investments have in recent times closed operations in Gulu City opting to go to Lira where there is a seemingly stable electricity supply.

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Newly created districts receive 8 motorcycles and printers worth Shs 60m to monitor women programs

The Minister of State for Disability Affairs, Hon. Hellen Asamo has handed over motorcycles and printers to Chief Administrative Officers [CAOs] for eight new District Local Governments [DLGs].

While handing them over at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development [MGLSD] offices, Asamo said the purchased items will support the implementation of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [UWEP].

“Today is yet another monumental occasion as the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development hands over motorcycles and printers to facilitate the smooth implementation of the programme,” said Asamo.

“The eight motorcycles available today are going to the districts of Kasanda, Pakwach, Kazo, Rwampara, Kitagwenda, Madi-Okollo, Karenga and Kalaki, which are in addition to the 168 districts that received their motorcycles in 2019. This completes the issuance of motorcycles to the 176 districts and municipalities in the country,” she added.

The recipient beneficiaries are an addition to 168 districts that received their motorcycles earlier in 2019.

According to Frank Mugabi, Communications Officer, the gender ministry spent more than Shs 60million to support the newly created 8 districts and municipalities under Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [UWEP].

Asamo says the 176 districts and municipalities were previously given high-performance desktop computers and were yesterday handed accompanying printers.

“I am delighted to be here today to hand over essential items to support the district local governments in implementing the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme. This has brought to one hundred seventy-six number of districts and municipalities that have received motorcycles, desktop computers and printers to aid in the implementation of UWEP” she explained.

The minister encouraged the district and municipality civil servants to put the given items to their intended purpose.

“It’s our strong conviction that the motorcycles will greatly facilitate the local government staff, monitor and supervise the UWEP-funded projects and be able to provide technical support for the continued success of the Programme” Asamo emphasised.

David Lubuka, the Chief Administrative Officer [CAO], Kitagwenda district among the beneficiaries, welcomed the ministry’s support that will help the district officials in monitoring women groups under UWEP.

“It will help us in mobility, of course, a motorcycle is used for transport we can go around the Sub Counties looking at the payments under UWEP, visiting those women groups. In fact, it is just facilitation for our office” Lubuka explained.

He tasked the ministry to provide more means of transport to monitor women groups in all the 9 Sub Counties and 4 Town Councils.

“We have staffs at the headquarters but you know the groups are in Sub Counties so it becomes hard to reach them when you don’t have means of transport. Like we have a Community Development Officer [CDO] at every Sub County but of course, they need to be checked every time and we don’t have enough means of transport,” Lubuka emphasised.

Despite transport challenges, Lubuka says the women are doing well in the district, unlike the youths who are still misusing government funds.

“Women are doing well, generally their recovery is above 80 per cent and we are satisfied with their performance; it’s only the youths who are not impressing us,” he said.

With the growing shift to digitized operations across government operations, UWEP developed a Management Information System [MIS] to strengthen UWEP reporting at national and lower local governments with a focus on; timely, complete and accurate reporting, data quality assurance, data analysis and interpretation.

“I am happy to report that comprehensive nationwide training in the use of the system has been conducted for UWEP Focal Point Persons and District Planners. I want to commit that staffs from the programme will periodically visit your districts to enhance your skills in the use of the MIS” Asamo said.

She further says that through UWEP, the Government of Uganda has sought to address the outstanding social-economic challenges faced by vulnerable women in their quest to start up or grow their enterprises.

“Some of these challenges include; limited access to affordable credit from formal financial institutions, limited technical knowledge and skills for business development, limited access to markets as well as information regarding business opportunities,” she further explained.

UWEP is a flagship government-funded programme extending interest-free credit to women for entrepreneurship.

Since its commencement in 2015, the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme has played a key role in strengthening the capacity of local government staff in service delivery through various training, joint programme reviews and provision of tools to facilitate work.

“It’s my pleasure to note that over the last five years, the programme has provided interest-free credit amounting to Shs 96.1 billion to 15,294 women projects across the country. The total number of direct beneficiaries stood at 180,914 women by the close of last financial year, and the number keeps growing per quarter,” Asamo said.

And we celebrate the achievements attributed to the programme including the increased financial inclusion of women, increased income levels, increase asset acquisition, improved financial independence and improved contribution to import substitution by the programme’s beneficiaries, adds the State Minister.

End.

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Atiak Sugar Moves to Mechanization of Sugar Production to Minimize Losses

Horyal Investment Company through their affiliate company Atiak Sugar Ltd seeks to mechanize sugar production at the factory after losing a total of Shs 33 billion worth of sugar due to the limited labour force.

Between 27th and 31st December 2020, the factory lost 7,300 acres of sugar cane ready for harvest and transportation to the crushing site due to minimal labour at the various blocks of sugar plantations.

Despite having more than 6,000 sugar cane out-growers; the company has less than 2000 casual labourers working at the factory to cut and help in transportation of canes to the crushing site.

Speaking during an investment forum organized by Acholi Parliamentary Group [APG] held at Vila Kazi, in Got Apwoyo Sub County, Nwoya district. Mohamoud Abdi Mohamed, the Agricultural Director, Atiak Sugar says despite building residential units for labourers to work within the factory, few people have shown interest to be recruited at the factory.

He says they currently crush around 1.2 tons of cane but need at least 5000 casual labourers to cut canes to meet the 1600 tons of cane cuttings per day. Mohamoud says that having lost canes worth Shs 33 billion, they want to move to mechanized farming which will see them crushing at least 1600 tons of cane with 1500 labourers.

According to Mohamoud, they also need to import high performing machines such as 600 power horse tractors other than the current 75 power horse tractors. He further said, they also want to build a railway of 52 km to ease transportation of cane to the crushing sites.

“The current machines like tractors for example in Uganda have very low output. We have 75 horsepower tractors yet we need 600 horsepower tractors for effectiveness. We also want to build railways which would be able to boost the transportation of canes from the plantations to the crushing site,” Mohamoud explained.

“We also want to put an irrigation machine so that we can have a constant plantation of sugar meaning we won’t have a shortage of supply to the factory,” Mohamoud adds.

Mohamoud also observes that they also want to put up irrigation schemes along River Unyama which has often burst its banks affecting plantations as well flooding in Elegu Town Council.

Joyce Laker, the Chairperson, Atiak Sugar Outgrowers Cooperatives Society says, several of her members have complained of distance from their homes as well as other responsibilities as the major reason why they are not actively participating in working at the sugar plantations.

Recently, the government through National Agricultural Advisory Services [NAADs] gave Shs 3 billion to support the out-growers to prepare and plant sugar cane in their block plantations which saw sugar cane worth 2 billion tonnes ready for cutting and production.

According to Laker, even if the company recruited more than 8000 casual workers to cut canes at the plantations, it would still take a lot of time and not reduce the risk of fire outbreaks which has already cost them huge sums of money. Laker also blames the slow disbursement of funds to the members of the cooperative societies and other workers to the limited man labour.

“Even if more than 8000 casual workers were recruited by the company, they would not still be that very effective because they will also need to rest which will definitely affect the operation of the company,” Laker noted.

Norbert Mao, the Chairperson of Gem Pacilo Cooperative Society, another sugarcane out-grower that has partnered with Atiak Sugar says, there’s a need for leaders within the Sub Region to mobilize human labour to work at the factory. In 2016, the company imported 600 Indian welders to build the factory structures.

Mao says that if supported, Atiak Sugar will need more sugarcanes meaning more people will earn more money through sugar cane plantations.

“If we can support Atiak sugar acquire the machines they want, this will translate into huge cash for the community members because then more people will form cooperative societies and engage in sugar cane plantation and then sell it to the company,” Mao said.

Anthony Akol, the Kilak North Member of Parliament who doubles as the Chairperson of Acholi Parliamentary Group attributes the limited labour at the factory to laziness, especially among the youths.

According to Akol, many youths cry for jobs but when opportunities present themselves, they instead run away on grounds of being overworked and mistreated by their employers. He says several youths have complained to him of mistreatment and lack of payment by the company.

Akol observes that mechanization of sugar production will mean that more skills training should be organized for the interested people.

Atiak Sugar was established in 2016 in Pacilo in Atiak Sub County in Amuru district.

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Herdman looking after cattle in Aswa Ranch in Pader District-Photo By Simon Wokorach

KIKUUBE – The production of garlic has recently been introduced as an alternative crop to Kikuube farmers who have majorly been producing tobacco and sugarcane for commercial purposes under Itaza Development Foundation [IDF].

Buhaguzi East Member of Parliament, Steven Asera Itaza challenged garlic farmers in Kikuube district to get prepared for Parish Development Model [PDM] program.

Itaza urged farmers to embrace the program by forming groups adding that the program will only benefit interested and organized groups.

He also noted that the government is planning to disburse Shs 100 million to every parish to facilitate farmers in commercial production.

Itaza was optimistic that the PDM will benefit the population more than other programs since it’s planned through the bottomup approach.

He made the remarks while carrying out impromptu visits to garlic farmers in Bugambe and Buhimba Sub-County in Kikuube district.

Buhaguzi East constituency has more than 100 garlic growing groups, with each group comprising 15 farmers. Each group was given a kilogram of Garlic from which they have planted and after the harvest, they will start growing the crop on a large scale.

Itaza, noted that garlic is a commercial crop with high market demand with Ugandans and abroad and he called on more farmers to join the garlic growers’ groups.

He noted that garlic has a lot of functions adding that eating garlic reduces blood pressure and improves cholesterol levels. Since the outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic, most people have resorted to consuming the vegetable which is mainly cooked as a spice. Garlic growing only requires water and organic fertilizers.

Garlic is a perennial vegetable belonging to the onion family grown by farmers using its bulb across the globe including Uganda. According to experts, the crop originated from Central Asia before making its way to Africa and it takes four to six months to grow.

He said that currently, Uganda is having investors with factories manufacturing spices adding that these factories are in short supply of Garlic.

He noted that there is a ready market for garlic adding that the buyer needs 100,000 metric tons of garlic per day and the supply is not enough.

Itaza explained that his foundation is currently in negotiations with an Indian investor from Indonesia and he has promised to establish a factory manufacturing spices in Kikkube.

He was optimistic that after the establishment of the factory, farmers will be introduced to the growing of spices like parsley, turmeric, fennel, coriander, and Jinger among others.

Monday Venasi, a member of Katweyambe garlic farmers from Bugambe Sub-County expressed excitement about the new crop adding garlic growing is going to help farmers to move away from growing tobacco and sugarcane.

He added that the farmers in the area have been growing maize, bean, and tobacco but these crops have not helped them to move out of poverty.

He commended the MP for introducing a new crop in the district adding that farmers have hope that the crop will make a difference and help them to improve on their household incomes.

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