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Swedish Energy Agency Terminates Carbon Credits Agreement with Green Resources

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The Swedish Energy Agency (SEA) is terminating its agreement to purchase carbon credits from the Norwegian forestry company, Green Resources—finally recognizing the devastating impact the company’s plantation has had on local communities in Kachung, Uganda.

Citing the ongoing legal dispute over land and the inability for farmers to graze their cattle within the forest, the SEA’s decision comes after five years of research and advocacy by the Oakland Institute, documenting forced evictions from the land locals depended on for agriculture, grazing, and forest produce.

The Institute’s first report in November 2014, The Darker Side of Green: Plantation Forestry and Carbon Violence in Uganda, exposed the devastating impact of the Green Resources pine plantation. But it was only after the Institute’s third report, released in August 2019, along with the actual eviction notices served to the local farmers, that the SEA announced its suspension of payments, and eventually termination of the agreement in March 2020.

“Despite solid evidence and documentation, Green Resources and its financiers, including the SEA, callously, not only turned a blind eye to the victims of their ‘green’ fraud, but also dismissed our findings,” said Anuradha Mittal, Executive Director of the Oakland Institute. “If they had paid heed to the concerns raised in 2014—which should have been obvious to the SEA if due diligence had been done from the get go—Green Resources could not have gotten away with causing hunger, displacement, and distress amongst the population of 17 villages for this long,” Mittal continued.

On March 10, 2020, Development Today reported that the SEA terminated the agreement because of concerns over the ongoing land dispute and the unresolved issue of cattle grazing not allowed in the plantation. The SEA claims the work done by the Oakland Institute did not impact its decision, however, their findings are in line with its past research and advocacy. Hans Lemm, CEO of Green Resources, however, blamed SEA’s decision on the Oakland Institute.

“Land grabbing from Ugandan villagers to set up non-native pine plantations is a false climate solution, designed to allow polluters in Northern countries to continue with business as usual. This is the cautionary tale that Mr. Lemm should learn from, instead of placing blame elsewhere,” was Mittal’s response to the CEO.

Despite ample hard evidence, public investment funds of Norway and Finland—Norfund and Finnfund—are the primary shareholders of Green Resources since 2018. They have financed the company over US$62.5 million (NOK 600 million) . The question is now how long Norfund and Finnfund—supposed investment vehicles for developing countries—will remain complicit in its wrongdoing.

The SEA’s decision is another step towards justice for local communities. The Oakland Institute renews its call for Green Resources and its financial backers to be held responsible. The protracted misery inflicted on Kachung’s communities can only be rightfully addressed with the immediate end of this devastating project, so that they can reclaim their land and livelihoods. (SOURCE : OAKLAND INSTITUTE )

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Do not charge for registering SACCOs, minister warns.

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The Minister of State for Microfinance, Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune has cautioned district officials against charging community members for registering Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs).

Minister Kyeyune issued the warning on Friday March 13, 2020, at Hotel Leslona, Moroto while launching the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job creation (EMYOOGA) in Karamoja region. Under the initiative, government will provide funds for cooperators in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to boost their incomes.

The warning followed complaints by several local community members that some district officials demand money from members before registering their SACCOs, a service that the minister says ought to be free of charge.

“This is a serious offence, and whoever is found charging members of the public for registration of their SACCO will be dealt with,” Kyeyune said.

He also advised the leaders of Karamoja region against politicizing the Presidential Initiative saying that would affect the core objective of the program which is to lift Ugandans out of poverty.

“This initiative is for everyone, regardless of where you belong; it is non-discriminative,” he said.

The regional launch was attended by district LCV chairpersons, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), District Commercial Officers (DCOs), Political leaders, District Internal Security Officer (DISO) and representatives from the business community in Karamoja region.

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Karimojong, Turkana pastoralists lobby for regional beef factory

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Pastoralists from Karamoja and Turkana have called on the governments of Kenya and Uganda to establish a regional beef factory at the border between the two communities.

The demand, made on Monday last week at a cross border peace meeting between the Turkana and Karimojong held in Kenya’s Loima district, re-echoed a recurring plea by leaders of the pastoralist communities in every joint meeting they have held in the recent past.

Turkana peace group dances at the peace meeting. Photo by Patrick Odongo

They say the proposed factory will enable them add value to their products and improve on their welfare.

“Right now we only eat the meat and drink milk from our livestock; but if we had a factory, we could pack meat and process leather for sale, which would improve our household incomes,” Timothy Lokuruka, a Turkana elder from Loima District in Kenya said.

Mr. Mathew Mudong, a Karimojong pastoralist from Moroto district agreed, adding that such a facility would allow the Karimojong and their Turkana neighbours to benefit from the East African regional market.

The Karimojong and Turkana peoples have traditionally been fierce rivals, often clashing over water and pasture resources in addition to engaging in frequent cattle raids and rustling expeditions.

Recently, however, efforts to promote peace between the communities have started to bear fruit, a development that Peter Loputhnyang, another Karimojong elder, finds exciting.

“We have decided to stop killing each other and we are very excited by the current peace that has united the Turkana and the Karimojong,” he said. “We are now demanding for joint services for our communities from both governments (Uganda and Kenya).”

Others like Imana Icor, the Turkana Peace Ambassador, called for the establishment of supporting facilities such a veterinary school and meteorological centre within the community.

“In addition to the beef factory, we need a veterinary school for our children to study animals’ medicines, and a facility for weather forecast given the impact climate changes wan have on livestock,” he opined.

John Byabagambi, Uganda’s Minister for Karamoja affairs assured the pastoralists that the two governments would address their demand. “We shall forward your request to the highest authorities so that action can be taken,” he said.

During his 2016 presidential election campaign, President Museveni pledged to set up beef and cement factories in Karamoja, a promise that is yet to materialise.

Once bitter rivals, the Turkana and Karimojong are on better terms now and even share grazing resources. Currently, more than 70,000 Turkana pastoralists with about 200,000 heads of cattle, donkeys, camels, and goats are grazing together with their Karimojong counterparts in the areas of Moroto, Kotido and Kaabong after fleeing from a drought that scorched their pastures and dried up water sources back home in Kenya.

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Cooperators raise alarm over Bundibugyo water crisis

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Residents of Bukonzo County in Bundibugyo district are facing an acute water shortage three months after floods and landslides devastated the area.

Following a spate of ruinous floods that ravaged numerous areas in Bundibugyo in December last year, water supply was disrupted in some parts of the district, especially Bukonzo County.

Among those affected are members of the Abadhingiya Farmers Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd who have raised an alarm over the water situation that has deprived several families of access to clean water.

Rev. Smith Tibamwenda, a member of the SACCO, said in a phone interview that the water situation in the area was worrying.

“For example, Greater Bubukwanga had its main water sources destroyed while the major gravity water flow for the sub Counties of Bukonzo, Kirumya, Bubukwanga and Ntotoro was washed away,” Rev. Tibamwenda said.

“This has left us with only a few, poorly maintained wells whose water is unsafe for consumption. Moreover, the wells are few and very far, making them difficult to access for many in the community,” he added.

Due to the acute water scarcity, residents of the affected areas say the price of water has shot up, with a 20 litre jerrycan now going for Shs 1,500, which is more than most can afford.

“Our only choice is between spending the Shs 1,500 per jerrycan of dirty water to be delivered by a bodaboda, or trekking 3-5kms per day to find water. Since the option of paying is too expensive for most of us, many people end up fetching the water themselves, which is very tiresome and time consuming,” says Juliet Ajuna, another Cooperator and affected resident.

Rev. Tibamwenda says that the water shortage has contributed to an increase in school dropouts since many children who should be in school now have to spend hours daily searching for water to take back home.

Noisy SACCO

However, Richard Sajjabi, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Bundibugyo district, reacted angrily to the outcry raised by members of Abadhingiya Farmers’ SACCO, wondering why a group was “making noise” yet it was not the group, but individual families that had been affected by the water crisis.

“When you see a group complaining, then you know there’s something wrong. But if you want to know the plans for the district, then come on ground [sic] and we plan together,” Sajjabi charged.

But Ms. Ajuna insists that they are merely giving voice to an issue that affects the community as a whole.

“The floods did not affect us- the Cooperators- alone, but rather the entire community. For instance, the lack of clean water has affected mothers at Bubukwanga Health Centre III, where they deliver without water,” she said.

Help coming

For his part, Bundibugyo district Chairperson, Ronald Mutegeki, told theCooperator that locally, they could not do much to restore water supply at the moment since, he said,” local governments depend on the central government for help”, but was optimistic that soon the issue would be resolved.

“Officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and engineers from Ministry of Water and Environment visited the area on a fact finding mission some time ago, meaning that the water problem facing the community will be sorted out very soon,” Mutegeki said.

He, however, admitted that apart from relief items that government distributed to his people shortly after the flooding happened, not much else had been done.

Mutegeki is especially concerned that relocation and resettlement of the at-risk population need to be urgently undertaken to avoid another disaster in the future.

“Despite continuously urging people to shift to safer places as the rains set in, our warnings have fallen on deaf ears,” the LC V boss said.

“We are likely to face an even worse situation this time round if the government’s weather projections come to pass as predicted, since those who had been affected last year returned to their former areas of residence after the camps closed,” he warned.

Among the most affected sub-counties include Bubukwanga, Kirumya and Ntotoro.

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Avoid commercial banks, Minister advises entrepreneurs

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The State Minister for Microfinance, Hon. Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, has advised small scale entrepreneurs to desist from taking high-interest loans from commercial banks, arguing that such rates may cripple rather than boost their businesses.

He made the remarks on Wednesday 11th March, while launching the Presidential initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (EMYOOOGA) at Bomah Hotel in Gulu Municipality.

Minister Kasolo said the interest rates charged by commercial banks on loans to small scale enterprises make them inaccessible for entrepreneurs. Instead, he proposed they borrow from the Microfinance Support Centre Ltd (MSC) which, he says, offers cheaper credit.

“Now that you have your own institution which has been set up by government to support you, avoid accessing high interest loans from banks,” he said. “You don’t even have the collateral or security required for those expensive loans.”

He added that government is rectifying the challenges affecting the effective operations of Microfinance Support Centres (MSC)in order to better serve small-scale enterprises across the country

“We have commercial officers at district level who should mobilise people into groups and link these groups to access financing cheaply through MSC,” he said.

‘Don’t politicise initiative

Mr Kasolo also warned leaders from Acholi Sub region against politicising the initiative, saying this would frustrate its core objectives.

“On issues of development, we are all in it together. I was sent by the president of the country, not the Chairman of NRM; and this is a presidential, not an NRM initiative,” he stressed.

Amuru Woman Member of Parliament Ms Lucy Akello had accused NRM leaders of failing to differentiate between party projects and government initiatives meant to benefit all citizens.

“Let’s think beyond our party when it comes to developmental issues, for the betterment of our citizens,” she urged.

About Emyooga

The Presidential initiative on Wealth and Job Creation, known locally as Emyooga, aims at supporting small scale enterprises as part of government’s commitment to stimulate market-oriented production.

Under the initiative, each SACCO of 30 members or more stands a chance of receiving support of up to Shs. 30 million in initial seed capital.

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Ministry of Agriculture signs MoU to promote cashew nut production

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Cashew nut farmers have reason to celebrate after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to develop the crop’s value chain on Wednesday this week.

Representing government at the signing was Henry Aggrey Bagiire, the Minister of State for Agriculture while growers of the highly prized crop were represented by the Uganda Cashew nut and Trees Limited, under which they are organised.

Hon. Henry Aggrey Bagiire the Minister of State for Agriculture at the signing of the MoU. MAAIF photo

The partnership is expected to boost cashew nut production and promote trade in Ugandan Cashew products both locally and internationally.

In addition, under the MoU, more than 300,000 cashew seedlings are to be supplied to farmers in 42 districts countrywide, particularly in the country’s cattle corridor and in other dry areas.

Although Africa accounts for a significant percentage of the global cashew nut production, Uganda’s own contribution to this figure remains meagre. Today, most cashew production is carried out by small-scale farmers in Eastern and Northern Uganda.

This despite the fact that the country enjoys a long history of promoting the crop, starting in the 1970s. Due to several factors, the cashew nut industry collapsed in early 1980s until its revival in 2004.

However, given its high demand on the international market, Cashew has been identified as a possible source of income for small holder farmers in addition to bringing in much needed export earnings.

Recognising this potential, President Museveni in October 2017 directed that cashew nut be added to the country’s priority commodities, and an engagement be initiated between MAAIF and the Uganda Cashew nut and Trees Limited to develop a cashew nut Value Chain.

Benefits

Cashew nut is widely celebrated for its nutritional benefits, especially for being rich in both proteins and minerals. It is also used in the manufacture of various industrial products including varnishes, tiles, gum, cements and so on.

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Kasese War Veterans receive Shs 60 million, accused of hypocrisy

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It was a bitter-sweet experience as war veterans in Kasese were accused of hypocrisy on the same day they received a 60 million cash injection from government to boost their development initiatives.

All started well this Tuesday when State Minister for Luwero Triangle, Dennis Ssozi Galabuzi presented the long awaited grant to Kateebwa –Kyabarungira War Veterans Development Association (KAKWAVENDA) at Kasese Multi-Purpose Hall, in Kasese town.

Addressing over 800 veterans in attendance, the minister clarified that 50m of the sum was meant to boost the group SACCO while10m was a contribution to member’s joint fish pond investment.

“This is just a small contribution to get you started as government looks into your other issues,” the Minister said, calling for transparency in the association’s leadership if it is to help members develop.

The minister further advised the association’s leadership to seek technical advice and support from the RDC and other line civil servants on how best the monies received can be used to benefit all the group’s members.

Keep your promises

However, Kasese deputy RDC Joshua Masereka took issue with the veterans for being less than candid in perennially committing themselves to support government, and then doing the contrary come Election Day.

“You have all the structures at the village and parish levels but we have been getting zero [votes] even at some polling stations where you have been; and yet you are here committing total support [to government]. Are you really being genuine?” Masereka wondered.

Earlier, children to the veterans had denounced government for ignoring their plight and called for its intervention if the NRM party is to regain popularity in the district. Once a bastion for the ruling party, Kasese has in the last couple of elections emerged as an opposition stronghold.

Grace Biira, of Mahango sub-county, also a veteran’s daughter, requested government to consider setting up a loan or bursary scheme to support the children of veterans in their pursuit of education so that they can ably compete with the rest of the population, who “enjoy the fruits of their parents”.

“I pray that government soon delivers on the land it promised to veterans, and sets up an education loan scheme for us,” she said.

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Heavy rains ravage banana plantations in Ntungamo

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Farmers in Ntungamo district are counting losses following a heavy down pour on Tuesday, which destroyed both crops and property.

The heavy rains, which started on Monday evening, affected the bigger part of Ruhaama and Rushenyi counties in Ntungamo district. Sezi Babigumira, a resident of Nyamabare village, says the rains were characterized by heavy winds and lasted several hours.

Especially affected were banana plantations which constitute an important food source for the local population.

Josephine Kyakunzire, an affected farmer in Kaboroga village, says that the locals, many of whom rely solely on bananas for survival, are worried about their next course of action.

“We don’t know what we are going to do,” said Kyakunzire as she surveyed the damage inflicted by the downpour on her plantation. “My banana plantation has been everything to me.”

Isaac Niwagaba a resident of Murambi Parish in Rweikiniro sub-county fears that the area faces a looming food shortage unless affected families receive some form of support from government and well-wishers.

Ntungamo district Production Officer, Albert Mugabe says that the leadership has already tasked a team to assess the magnitude of the damage on the ground as they forge a way forward.

Meanwhile, Mupenzi Ashel the Rweikinoro sub county LC V Councillor called on farmers to avoid farming practices harmful to the environment, saying they could have been a contributing factor to the increase in hostile weather events.

Earlier this week government issued a public advisory warning that this year’s first- season rains would be heavy and above normal in several sub-regions of the country.

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Ntungamo farmers stranded as supplier delays to deliver seeds

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

Farmers who enrolled under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP) in Ntungamo district are worried that they may incur losses after Green Firm Africa (U) Limited, the supplier contracted to supply bean seeds, failed to deliver them on time.

While other farmers are taking advantage of the rains to do their planting, the over 1000 farmers enrolled under the project are stranded as they wait for seeds to plant. Many say they had already prepared their gardens anticipating that the seeds would be delivered on time.

ACDP is a six-year intervention partnership between the government of Uganda and the World Bank intended to boost commercial production of five prioritized crops in 42 districts. The crops are maize, beans, cassava, rice, and coffee.

The project focuses on raising on-farm productivity and production of marketable volumes of selected agricultural commodities in specified geographical clusters

A lorry belonging Green Firm Africa (U) Ltd.

Inputs delayed

Ntungamo District Agricultural Officer Esther Atwiine says the contracted supplier is yet to deliver seeds to the district two weeks after the agreed date.

“Due to this delay, farmers are likely to miss out on the first rains which are key for a good harvest,” she says.

Atwiine revealed that although the district hosts the store for Cluster II, comprised of Ntungamo, Sheema, Bushenyi, Isingiro, Rubanda, Rukiga and Kabale districts, inputs for only two districts-Isingiro and Sheema- have so far been delivered to the store.

Tom Kakwangiire, a farmer, wonders why the supplier, who received farmers’ orders early enough, would fail to deliver the seeds in time for planting.

“Our gardens are getting bushy again, meaning that we shall have to invest more money to clear them anew,” he said.

Suzan Twijukye, a resident of Bwongyera sub-county proposes that the supplier be suspended for failing to deliver as promised, thereby causing farmers to suffer losses.

This is not the first time that delivery of supplies has been delayed. In 2019, the inputs, which included bean seeds and fertilizer for coffee farmers, were delivered in late April, resulting in poor yields for affected farmers.

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Banyabindi to boycott 2021 elections due unfulfilled pledges

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Over 10,000 members of the Banyabindi community, a minority tribe in Kasese district have resolved to boycott the 2021 general elections due to unfulfilled government pledges.

The Banyabindi were displaced, without compensation, during the establishment of Mubuku Irrigation Scheme, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Ibuga prisons between 1962 and 1980 by the then governments. They faced further displacement due to the two decades-long Rwenzururu rebellion which ended in 1982. The displacement continues to render them less productive.

Augustine Byabashaija, the Chairperson of the Banyabindi Cultural Trust, says the community has been advocating for resettlement and compensation of their land by government for many years now, and have received several promises in that direction, the latest being an 8th February, 2016 pledge by President Museveni at State House, Nakasero. To date, none of these promises has materialised.

Now, the frustrated Banyabindi have vowed not to support any leader who does not champion their issues.

“No land, no vote”

During their Annual General Assembly held at Muhokya primary school in Kasese district, under their umbrella organization, Banyabindi Cultural Development Trust (BACDET), participants resolved to shun elections should president Museveni fail to honour a 2016 pledge to resettle them.

“This time round, there is nothing for nothing. We have been patient with the government for all these years, in vain. We must get the land that the president promised us in broad daylight!” thundered Augustine Byabashaija, the Chairperson of the Banyabindi Cultural Trust at the weekend meeting.

The Prime Minister of the Bunyabindi cultural institution, Christopher Kitakakire, appealed to members to be resolute in demanding what is due to them.

“I appeal to you to be strong and demand for what is owed us. If others have had their land compensated, why not us?” Mr. Kitakakire asked.

For his part, the Banyabindi’s cultural leader, Mr. Elisha Mugisa Ateenyi, told the members in attendance that if they must vote, they should only elect candidates who can take their plight to heart, adding that their vote should not be taken for granted this time round.

Still no redress

In August last year, the Equal Opportunities Commission directed government to resettle members of the Banyabindi minority group living in displacement in and around Kasese district within twelve months of the date of the ruling. The ruling concluded a two-year-old petition to the commission by the Banyabindi over alleged marginalisation.

However, in an exclusive interview with theCooperator, Byabashaija was bitter that, to date, government has not given them redress despite the Commission’s ruling. Instead, he lamented, they have been shunned by government officials.

‘Nothing for nothing’- Augustine Byabashaija (R), Chairman Banyabindi Cultural Trust called for a boycott of the 2021 elections if their concerns are not dealt with. Photo by Enid Ninsiima.

“You can imagine after winning the case before the Equal Opportunities Commission, none of the leaders want to associate with us,” he said.

“For this function, we invited the Minister for Presidency, who was to represent the Minister for Gender but nobody is here; not even the district leaders. This is an indication that we are on our own and therefore there is no need for us to vote.”

“Be patient”

However, speaking to theCooperator, the RDC Kasese Lt. Joe Walusimbi who was unable to attend the function, called upon the Banyabindi to be patient as government finds a way to resolve their issue, arguing that land compensation is a complex undertaking that cannot be hurried.

“If they boycott the elections and the person who promised them redress is voted out, who will honour their pledges?” he asked rhetorically, adding that the aggrieved minority should participate in the political process in order to get the political representation they have long been advocating for.

According to the 2014 Housing and Population census, the Banyabindi population stands at 16,000. However, the community’s own records put the current number at over 50,000, scattered in different districts in Western Uganda, with 20,000 of them allegedly landless and in need of urgent government intervention.

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