OWC gives 4000 kg of beans to Bushenyi locals for planting

BUSHENYI – Bushenyi district has received a consignment of 4000 kilograms of beans for planting from Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

The consignment was received on Wednesday by a number of district officials including; the LCV Chairperson, Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), District Internal Security Officer (DISO), Agriculture Officer, and OWC Officers among others.

While receiving the beans at the district headquarters, Ms Jane Asiimwe Muhindo, the RDC said that the inputs were delivered on time unlike in the past when other inputs had been coming late past the planting season. She noted that the supplies will go a long way in helping farmers eradicate food insecurity.

The NABE 17 beans variety packed in 10kg bags will be given to selected farmers in 14 sub-counties according to Patrick Kamwezi, the District Agriculture Officer (DAO), who added that the beans were certified by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Kamwezi, noted that the seeds shall be taken through germination tests to verify their efficacy since the supply is intended for seed multiplication.

Hassan Basajjabalaba, the Chairman LC V Bushenyi district local government thanked the government for thinking about the wananchi during the planting season when rains have started to flash in the district.

He appealed to the farmers to plant the given seeds rather than thinking about eating them on spot.

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“No one should take these maize seedlings and keep them for food because this is a planting season and planting such maize means you are planting the future food basket because they will multiply and feed many others,” said the district Chairman.

Relatedly, farmers in Rwampara district have been asked to plant the maize seeds that were donated by the government to ensure food security and to fight poverty.

The call was also made by legislators hailing from Rwampara district, Hon. Molly Asiimwe, Woman Member of Parliament and Hon. Julius Tusiime Karuhanga, Rwampara East, Member of Parliament while handing over 9 tons of maize seeds to farmers in the area.

Molly Asiimwe noted that the government is trying to ensure food is available and poverty is eradicated.

“We are fighting with poverty and hunger where you find our people only work for the stomach. Now that we have given you the maize seedlings in time, go and plant these seedlings to chase poverty out of your homes,” Asiimwe said.

In his remarks, Julius Tusiime Karuhanga promised farmers that he will bring experts in agriculture to sensitize them on post harvest handling and to get a market for their goods.

“If you harvest quality seeds then you are rest assured of good money. So, we are going to get trainings for our parish committees to have modern harvesting habits to avoid aflatoxins which kill agricultural markets,” he explained.

During his term of office, Julius promised to work on feeder roads to be motorable for the buyers to access farmers’ produces directly from the farms.

Also, in Mbarara City, Ritah Atukwatsa, the area Woman Member of Parliament called upon farmers to be ready with their gardens for planting as the rainy season starts.

She made the remarks while delivering 3 tons of maize seeds to farmers in Mbarara city on Monday.

Atukwatsa said that to be food secure, farmers need to plant in time so that they can get more yields at the end of the season.

She appealed to the beneficiaries to plant the seedlings but not to sell them.

Kyabwisho Gumisirisa, the Mbarara City North Mayor, promised to distribute the seeds to farmers so that farmers can start early planting.

“We used to get a challenge where NAADs and OWC officials used to estimate wrong season timings for the input deliveries and it would all go to waste. But now that these seedlings have come on time, we shall distribute them to our farmers most especially in areas of Kichwamba, Nyarubungo, Bugashe and Katojo,” Kyabwisho explained.

“We are assured that if the season goes well December-January, we shall be having much maize in the market as a result of such free distributed seedling to us,” he added.

Ketty Atuhaire, one of the beneficiaries from Ruti Ward, Market Cell, promised to plant the given maize seedlings such that she can get what to feed on in the coming months.

She thanked the legislator for thinking about them during the planting season.

“We want to thank our woman MP and pray that if she gets more, she can bring to the people of Mbarara City because this is the exact planting season most especially to us women who are food baskets for our families in this region,” said Ketty.

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Soroti City starts re-allocation of lock-ups to vendors at Soroti Modern Market

SOROTI – Authorities of Soroti City have embarked on re-allocation of lockups in Soroti Modern Market nicknamed as “New Jerusalem” constructed under Uganda Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Project (MATIP-2); after months of disagreement between vendors and city authorities.

The nine days exercise which commenced on Tuesday, August 31st, 2021 is being spearheaded by the Principle Community Development Officer, Damalie Asekenye who doubles as the Market and Agricultural Trade Improvement Project (MATIP) Officer.

According to the road-map, the lockup allocation exercise is expected to end September 8th,2021 and the vendors will commence their operations in the market on the 10th of this month.

This comes after months of disagreements between the market vendors and city authorities over the illegalities surrounding the first exercise.

The disagreement stemmed from reports that the market leaders led by George William Eriebat, had double allocated themselves lock-ups including their close relatives leaving out more than 2,000 people who had applied for space in the new market.

A number of vendors complained that the allocations were based on relations with the technical people and the majority refused to take up lockups allocated to them by the city authorities.

This forced the Resident City Commissioner (RCC), City Clerk, Ambrose Ocen and the City Mayor, Joshua Edogu to halt the allocation of Lock-ups.

After the process was halted, an independent committee was formed to investigate the allegations that Eriabat and his team had double allocated lock-ups to themselves.

During the investigations which lasted for a month, the committee found out that allegations raised by a section of vendors against the leadership of the Market vendors were true.

However, the Principle Community Development Officer (CDO), Damalie Asekenye told theCooperator that the issues that affected the first re-allocation exercise have been resolved amicably.

She said the ongoing lock-up allocation exercise is being conducted by a 24 man’s team representing the 12 sections in the market.

According to Asekenye, by September 1st, 2021, a total of 38 vendors from Solot-Avenue and Adams road had successfully got their lock-ups without any grievances registered.

“As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the then Soroti Municipal Council and the vendors, the priority is given to the vendors (Landlords), their tenants, people operating businesses and those whose leases could have expired by the time of market construction,” said Asekenye.

Richard Opiding, the chairman allocation committee assured the vendors that their commitment is to see that the lock-up allocation is done in a transparent manner.

“My committee and I don’t want to repeat the same mistakes which were done by the leadership of the market vendors and top city management because those mistakes made the vendors protest the first allocations,” he told theCooperator.

Josephine Akayo, one of the smoked fish dealers applauded the government for giving Soroti City such a unique facility.

According to her, the market is not only a pride for Soroti district but Teso as a region.

“It will go a long way in creating job opportunities for vendors,” she summed up his happiness.

Meanwhile, Ambrose Ocen, the Soroti City Clerk said that the new market has 1,390 facilities, including stalls and retail stores which ought to be allocated to the low-income earners to operate inside the market, including the vendors.

“Absentee landlords who may want to buy space have no place here,” the City Clerk told theCooperator in an interview on Wednesday.

He highlighted that the market will boost development in Teso sub-region and Soroti in particular, hence making it a regional business hub.

https://thecooperator.news/why-roko-failed-to-complete-construction-of-mbarara-central-market/

Ocen added that Soroti Main Market will not only boost trade in Soroti but also local revenue collection in Soroti City hence improved service delivery to the city dwellers.

Soroti Main Market was constructed by TECHNO 3-Uganda Ltd at a tune of Shs 24 billion, with a loan acquired from African Development Bank (ADB).

It was commissioned by the President H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on November, 2020.

Geoffrey Ettedu, the National Coordinator, Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Project (MATIP-2) said the markets constructed by the ministry in the districts of Hoima, Gulu, Moroto and Lira don’t measure to Soroti Modern Market in terms of scope, design and standard.

“Soroti market project is the biggest of all the markets constructed under the Market and Agricultural Trade Improvement Project (MATIP-2),” he added.

In addition to stalls and lockups, the new market has CCTV cameras linked to the Soroti Central Police Station, 500,000 litre water tank, butchery, chicken cages, cold rooms and service centres: tailoring, pharmacies, financial institutions and small-scale value addition units.

The new modern market also has prayer rooms, restaurants, day-care facilities, meeting rooms, and a Police station.

Soroti Modern Market is powered by solar energy for lighting to enable storage of fresh foods and vegetables to avoid losses caused by constant electricity blackouts in the city.

The facility is also connected to the solar water pumping system that is independent of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation.

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Hoima District Referees SACCO suffers financial distress as a result of Covid-19

HOIMA – The mandatory Covid-19 lockdown has finally taken its toll on referees as games and sports resumed under strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Last week, Hoima District Referees Saving and Credit Cooperative Society’s (SACCO), Board of Directors convened a meeting and made several resolutions to save the SACCO from distressing financial challenges.

Speaking to theCooperator, the referees SACCO Board Chairman, Patrick Kunihira explained that the board meeting agreed that the SACCO suspends the giving out of new loans to the members.

He added that during this period, the SACCO will only give members their savings. Members will be allowed to get half of their savings to ensure that the SACCO continues to survive.

He further added that the board also agreed to reduce on the expenditures which the SACCO office has been incurring such as allowances.

Kunihira explained that during the meeting they also resolved to cut the salaries of their workers and allowed workers to work in shifts.

He also said that some members are failing to save or pay back loans largely due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown.

“You know SACCOs survive on the savings of members but because of the Covid-19 lockdown, our members are no longer saving and those who took the loans are not paying back and such challenges are affecting our SACCO,” he said adding that they have hope that the measures put in place will save the SACCO from facing more financial challenges.

He challenged members who are still earning, something in this period to continue saving and appealed to those members who took the loans to try and pay back the loans to secure their SACCO.

Francis Bagonza, Chairman Investments said that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected several investment plans. He noted that the SACCO had a plan of establishing a depot and to have a means of transport but all these plans have been frustrated by Covid-19 because the SACCO is not making money as they anticipated.

He added that the SACCO had started a Sports club bar but unfortunately this business shut down following the closure of bars by the president to reduce the rates of Covid-19 infections.

However, Bagonza said that before the situation worsened, the SACCO had invested in tree planting projects adding that the SACCO currently has five acres of titled land with Eucalyptus trees.

Philip Tibaigana, the SACCO Manager expressed dismay that the SACCO applied for a loan of Shs 50 millions from the Microfinance Support Center (MSC) to boost them but their request was not honoured despite having fulfilled the requirements.

https://thecooperator.news/only-19-of-the-72-emyooga-saccos-have-received-funds-in-hoima-district/

In the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held early April 2021, the SACCO which started in 2015 had registered 112 members and given out Shs 279m in loans.

The SACCO had Shs 330 million in savings and Shs 22 million in shares.

Derrick Matsiko, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Microfinance Support Center, Bunyoro region said, that several organizations including SACCOs are facing financial distress due to the Covid-19 lock down.

He says that, it is high time SACCO leaders ensured drastic measures to avoid the collapse of their organizations; adding that management thought it wise that Hoima district referees put in place measures of saving their SACCO from facing further financial challenges.

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Nebbi Farmers Count Loses As Dry Spell Bites

NEBBI– Farmers in Nebbi district have started counting loses in this first planting season due to the dry spell that has stunted the growth of crops.

They said the affected crops are: maize, beans and groundnuts which have dried up forcing farmers to abandon their fields and others to uproot the withered crops as they wait for rain.

One of the farmers in Oweko parish, Ndhew Sub County in Nebbi district Owachi Ronald said, he planted his maize in the first season hoping to reap in this lockdown but failed to yield due to the dry spell that affected his production.

He adds that in this lockdown, people are committed to farming, but they are being frustrated by the current harsh dry spell which has affected the productivity of their crops.

“I invested heavily all my resources and hoped to reap from farming in this lockdown but my efforts seem not to give me any profits as planned due to the dry spell which has hindered our efforts,” Owachi said.

The LC III Ndhew Sub County Hon Okwai Bosco says, farmers should expect hunger next year since, the first season was wasted due to dry spell which affected the yields of their crops.

Okwai added that farmers should keep close watch on the changing weather pattern by preparing their fields to plant short term crops like sorghum, beans and maize to meet the challenges being faced by farmers.

Okwai said farmers are unable to buy themselves seeds now with the current hardship in this lockdown period which needs government interventions because the livelihood of farmers are affected.

“We should prepare ourselves for hunger next year since our crops are heavily damaged with the current dry spell which have revenged on our farmers,” Okwai said.

https://thecooperator.news/nwoya-farmers-cuts-losses-drops-cassava-crop/

However, Piwa Joyce, the Nebbi District Production Officer advised farmers to replant crops damaged by the dry spell to mitigate the prospects of hunger.

She added that at the moment it’s quite hard for the district to respond to the challenges affecting farmers in this dry spell which has hit the district because it largely depends on Operational Wealth Creation (OWC) to supply seeds to farmers which didn’t happen this year.

“The district doesn’t have capacity to supply farmers with seeds but only gives seeds to some few selected farmers in the sub counties for demonstration plots in the district,” Piwa said.

Urombi Emmanuel, the Chairperson Nebbi district has attributed the need for an irrigation scheme for farmers in order to boost their farming but as head of the district on political side, their hands are tied because of the limited resource envelopes to equip farmers with irrigation scheme.

“Our farmers need to calculate weather patterns before they inject a lot of money in agriculture to avoid the unforeseen weather challenges which are more likely to result into serious droughts and also destabilization of livelihoods of farmers at the grass root level”, Urombi said.

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Drainage Channel Construction at Pece Stream Stalls.

GULU CITY – The construction of 1.5 kilometers drainage channel at Pece Stream in Gulu City has stalled as donor gives an ultimatum to the construction company.

This project funded by Fichtner, a German international organization at the cost of Shs 600 million was meant to widen the stream to avert the outburst of water and floods in the city.

However, a 2017 report by the Ministry of Water and Environment mapped Gulu City among the areas in Northern Uganda that are potentially prone to floods.

Following the development, the former Gulu Municipal Council then recommended widening the water banks at Pece Stream and secured the funding from Fichtner two years ago.

Destiny Construction, a local construction company was awarded a 6 months contract to implement the project since November last year. The timeline for completion of the work has since elapsed by two months.

It is now 8 months since the construction site was commissioned and handed over to the contractor but they have failed to initiate the project.

Towler Robert, the team leader at Fichtner disclosed in a recent interview with Uganda Radio Network that an ultimatum of two weeks was issued to the construction company to complete its work.

Despite the ultimatum, the company has failed to explain the delay in getting the work completed.

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He further explained that the company has breached its contractual obligation to the project and that Fichtner, has no choice but to terminate the contract or withdraw support from the Gulu City.

In his response, Okwonga Alfred, Gulu City Council Mayor noted that Council has received complaints from the donor over the slow progress of work on the stream.

He revealed that a recent meeting by the Executive Committee of Council (ECC) has recommended that another construction company be contracted to complete the project.

“This is a project we can’t lose and we have asked the donor to review the contract before another company takes over the project” Okwonga disclosed.

When contacted, Gudoi Kenneth, the contractor said the project was wrongly designed even before the project commenced.

According to the physical planning of the project, the location which is below Unifat Primary School and next to former Bardege Division offices is a gazzeted ecological wetland park for a recreational Centre to be constructed along the belt and other public offices.

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Nebbi Boda-Boda SACCO Fights Over Emyooga Cash

NEBBI – Fights ensued amongst Nebbi boda-boda riders under their association, Nebbi Municipality Boda-Boda SACCO Limited, over illegal withdrawal of Emyooga cash by the executive members.

Emyooga is one of the government’s initiative that was launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in August 2019 as part of its strategy to economically transform 68% of Ugandan homesteads from subsistence farming to market-oriented production to eradicate poverty.

According to the government, 18 enterprise categories were identified as having not adequately benefited from the previous wealth creation initiatives, and this included: Journalists, Boda-Boda, women entrepreneurs, carpenters, salon operators, and taxi operators, restaurant owners and welders.

Others are market vendors, youth leaders, Persons with Disabilities [PWDs], produce dealers, mechanics, tailors, performing artistes, army veterans and fishermen but, the money has brought in a lot of chaos among Nebbi Boda-Boda riders because they don’t trust their executive members .

The members revealed that, their executive members illegally withdrew Shs 20 million from the SACCO account and purchased three numberless Bajaj motorcycles from DR-Congo using the Emyooga cash which later sparked off a misunderstanding amongst the members.

https://thecooperator.news/pwds-on-emyooga-we-are-left-behind/

According to Parakoch Francis, a member of Nebbi Boda-Boda SACCO Limited; June 10th, 2021, the executive members of the association allegedly used their powers to withdraw Shs 20 million out of the Shs 30 million that was disbursed on the SACCO Centenary Bank account.

“The members were not consulted on the purchase of the motorcycles that’s why there is misunderstanding amongst the Boda-Boda riders,” Parakoch said.

Jakony Cosmas, another group member says three numberless motorcycles were purchased by the executive members at a cost of Shs 3.5 million each totaling to Shs 10.5 million without the consent of the members.

Onegiu Peter, the Chairman Nebbi Boda-Boda SACCO admits that, the idea to purchase three Bajaj motorcycles from DR-Congo was to minimize the cost, since in Uganda the numbered motorcycles Bajaj, are sold at Shs 5 million while in DR-Congo it goes for Shs 3.5 million.

He adds that they bought motorcycles to raise weekly money for the SACCO, which will be deposited on the Boda-Boda account.

However, Onyango Okol Emma, the Nebbi Deputy Resident District Commissioner said it’s a good business idea to buy motorcycles for the Boda-Boda Savings and Credit Cooperative [SACCO], but it was wrong that members were not consulted and called for audit queries of the Commercial Officer who allowed the money to be withdrawn without the guideline of Emyooga.

“We are investigating the motive of Nebbi Municipality Commercial Officer who allowed only the eight executive members of Nebbi Boda-Boda SACCO to withdraw the money and they don’t have their savings,” Onyango said.

Wakwayo Felix, the Commercial Officer Nebbi Municipality, advised members of the Boda-Boda SACCO to use the cooperative and Emyooga principles to help manage their SACCO.

He revealed that so far, four SACCO groups have accessed their money while others are in the pipeline pending verification from Micro Finance Support Centre (MFSC).

“The municipal has 18 SACCOs approved and ready to receive the funds but at the moment only four SACCOs have received their money and using the money,” Wakwayo said.

He further called for good team spirit amongst group members to manage the SACCO.

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Victims of Flooding in Kwania Get Food

KWANIA – At least 757 displaced people in Nambieso Sub County in Kwania District whose houses and property were destroyed by extreme flooding last December have received relief food.

Last December, over 1,800 families in the two Sub Counties of Nambieso and Chawente were washed out by extreme flooding when Lake Kwania burst its banks, destroying houses and property.

However, on June 17 district leaders in Kwania distributed 74 bags of beans and 144 bags of maize flour to the flood victims in the parishes of Bung, Ogwil, Ayabi, Anwangi, Acaba, Owiny and Aornga, in Nambieso Sub County.

https://thecooperator.news/lango-cooperatives-hit-hard-by-kenya-maize-ban/

The consignment is part of the 100 bags of beans, 200 bags of maize flour, 500 blankets and 300 pieces of tarpaulins that were sent to the district recently by the office of the Prime Minister.

Albina Awor, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kwania district, said the tarpaulins and blankets will be given out to the most affected victims. He said part of the consignment will be given to families in Chawente Sub County that missed out during the first distribution.

“The floods ravaged a number of villages and left many starving. I went to the Prime Minister’s office begging for help. Part of these items will be distributed to some of your colleagues from Chanwente Sub County,” she said.

Nambieso Sub County Chief, Juliet Atoo, warned the beneficiaries against selling the food items. Feed your families, she said.

A number of residents who received 16 kilograms of maize flour, and nine kilograms of beans lauded the government for giving them a ray of hope amidst all the distress caused by flooding.

Benson Ogwok and James Atim, both residents of Nambieso Sub County, said most families could barely afford a meal or a place to sleep after losing all their property to floods.

“We thank the government for coming in, however we are requesting to be helped with building materials such as iron sheets and cement so that we can construct structures that are resistant to future disasters,” James Atim, one resident said.

Districts near the shores of Lake Victoria, Kyoga and Lake Kwania have continued to battle flood related challenges. Sam Cheptori, the Minister of Water and Environment, attributes the rising lake water levels to prolonged rainfall in the catchment area of the lake sitting in Uganda and East African countries namely Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

According to the minister, Lake Victoria water levels are increasing and are likely to surpass the highest mark ever of 13.42 meters, hit in May 1965.

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Covid-19 Stirs Scramble For Lemon, Ginger

HOIMA – Lemon and ginger prices are climbing higher in Hoima as demand soars for the fruits deemed to have immunity-boosting properties against the rampaging novel Coronavirus.

There have been more than 72,679 confirmed cases of Covid-19. The virus has killed more than 680 people, according to the June 19 official statistics from the Ministry of Health.

Interviewed for this story, Annette Murungi, a lemon seller in Hoima Central Market, said demand for lemons in the district has outstripped supply.

She said lemons are bought from Gwedo sub-county in Buliisa District but when the ban on inter-district movement came into effect on June 10, traders in Hoima couldn’t replenish their supplies.

She noted that transporting a sack of lemon from Buliisa to Hoima is too expensive because police officers lean on the Covid-19 restrictions to extort money from traders.

She said one big lemon costs about Shs 2,000 and a small one costs Shs 1,000.

https://thecooperator.news/beans-rot-in-omoro-as-second-lockdown-bites/

James Murungi, a ginger and garlic trader, said demand for the two has soared.

According to him, ginger and garlic supplies come from Kampala but that stopped after the ban on inter-district movement. He said a cluster of ginger costs Shs 3,000 up from Shs 1000. He added that a cluster of garlic now costs Shs 5,000 up from Shs 2,000.

Julius Ayesiga, the Hoima Central Vendors Association chairman, said the price for a sack of ginger has climbed from Shs 200, 000 to Shs 500,000. He said a sack of lemon has climbed from Shs 60,000 to Shs 300,000.

He added that transporting such produce to the market is very difficult and suppliers who manage to sneak their products into the district end up hiking the prices.

“Prices had to increase since such fruits are not produced in Bunyoro region and the movement from one district to another is not easy yet there is a growing demand from the population,” he said.

Peter Mwesigwa, a resident in Hoima town, said, “I have been using lemons and ginger to boost the immunity of my family but I cannot manage to buy them because I am a low income earner, I tell you lemon fruits are going to remain for the rich families,” he cried out.

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