Government commissions Shs 8bn new seed schools in Lango sub-region

LANGO – Ministry of Education and Sports have commissioned four seed secondary schools worth Shs 8b in the Lango sub-region.

State Minister for Sports, Denis Hamson Obua commissioned the newly constructed seed secondary schools which include; Apac, Aduku, Ogor and Abia. The schools were established in the sub-counties with secondary schools.

The schools, according to the local leadership will ease access to affordable education and reduce high school dropout rates in both primary and lower secondary education.

The schools are among the 117 constructed by the government across the country under Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers with funding from the World Bank. The eight schools have registered reasonable enrolment and it is expected to overwhelm the facilities.

The modern facilities constructed in the schools include classroom blocks, ICT laboratory, administration blocks, library, science laboratory, staff accommodation, sports facilities, CCTV camera and stances of pit latrines.

There is urgent need for staff recruitment, power supply to the schools, construction of medical units, consideration of the inclusion of boarding sections in the newly built schools and retooling of staff on the new curriculum were some of the challenges tabled before Minister Obua.

According to the headteachers of the schools, the students’ enrolment is rapidly increasing up and if the government delays recruiting teaching staff, the existing human resources will be overwhelmed.

At Apac Seed Secondary School, the student population is 834 (S.1 and 2), Aduku 189 (S.1) and Ogor 480 (S.1-S.4). Before the construction of the facilities, Ogor had only 260 students.

“We want the government to reconsider introducing a boarding section in the school because of the long distance for some students especially girls,” said Christine Adongo, the headteacher of Ogor in Otuke district.

“Some of our students come as far as Abim district and it would be a risk for girls who are as well bound to temptation,” she adds.

Professor John Bosco Okullo, the Chairperson Board of Governor for Aduku, applauded President Yoweri Museveni for fulfilling his pledge to give children from marginalized communities in Lango an opportunity to study.

Prof Okullo who is also a lecturer at Makerere University urged the government not to apply yardstick when it comes to recruitment but should first consider volunteer teachers serving in the school.

Minister Obua who represented the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports said, the seed schools will be constructed in three phases.

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Government earmarks Shs 23b for private teachers

UGANDA – Give Directly, a non-profit humanitarian agency together with government has earmarked Shs 23b to support both private primary and secondary school teachers in the country.

The money according to the Minister of Gender Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi will be channeled under government’s Parish Development Model (PDM) program.

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

Its objective is to take the government to the people in a more effective way through data gathering, community mobilization and mindset change.

Other areas of focus are area-based enterprise selection and development, provision of financial services, coordination of government programs, and feedback by the people on government services and wealth programs.

Each parish is scheduled to receive Shs100m to implement the initiative targeting the rural population.

The minister revealed this development during an engagement meeting with the district LC5 Chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers, Resident District Commissioners, Youth Chairpersons, disability and older persons.

Under her docket, the government is implementing programs targeting youth, older persons, women and disabled persons to economically uplift their social well-being.

The engagement was to brief them on the status of the programs under her ministry and receive proposals on how to ensure the districts benefit.

The districts include; Kwania, Lira, Alebtong, Otuke, Oyam, Dokolo, Amolatar, Kole and Apac.

Amongi, who is also Oyam South legislator advised youth in the sub-region to keep on following up all government projects for a better impact.

“Under the ministry of gender labour and social development, we are committed to ensuring that these projects cause positive impacts by directly supporting both primary and secondary school teachers,” she revealed.

Without explaining the detail, Amongi said each teacher from a private school not government aided will receive Shs100,000.

“I am happy that 17 districts have already uploaded names of their teachers,” Amongi said, adding that they target 300,000 teachers.

The Alebtong LC5 boss David Kenedy Odongo, welcomed the development saying private school teachers suffered more the consequence of COVID-19 lockdown.

https://thecooperator.news/mtic-ps-geraldine-ssali-challenges-commercial-officers-on-parish-development-model/

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Government launches study materials in Lango sub-region

LANGO – As the government prepares to reopen schools, Ministry of Education and Sports has launched home study materials in Lango region to cover both primary and secondary schools.

The home study materials will cater for primary one, four and senior five to ensure continuous learning, remedial learning and reawaken the learners.

State Minister for Sports, Denis Hamson Obua launched the distribution of the materials which will cover Kole, Alebtong, Lira, Kwania, Apac, Dokolo, Oyam and Amolatar districts.

President Yoweri Museveni closed education institutions last year as a measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 and as a result 15 million learners were sent back home. On the 1st November 2021, the government ordered the institution to resume studies.

Obua said, as they fully plan to re-open schools, stakeholders who include teachers, parents and pupils should prepare so that the exercise doesn’t take them by surprise.

Obua expressed concern over teenage pregnancy in the country saying children are not safe in the hands of their parents except in school.

He said children have become unsafe which means parents have abandoned their responsibility to guide their children.

“If children are not safe because schools were closed as a result of Covid-19, where else do you think they will be safe,” Obua asked.

According to the police and local leadership in Alebtong, 2,190 cases of teenage pregnancies were recorded in the district within the period of January to July, over 2500 in Kwania, 1,800 in Apac, 2,074 in Amolatar and more than 2,000 in Otuke.

“If nothing is done to save the situation, it will be worse in the next few months,” said Alebtong LC5 Chairperson, David Kennedy Odongo who is also the Chairperson of Lango LCV Chairpersons.

He also advised the government to fix the roofs of four primary schools in the district whose roofs were blown off.

“Alebtong district is more than ready to teach effectively if the situation allows next year,” he says.

He identified the schools whose roofs were blown off as Baropiro, Omarari, Amononeno and Amugu quran.

He said the district is setting up village education committees, parishes and sub-counties to mobilize the community to embrace education.

On secondary education, Odongo said if the government is to improve on sciences, they should build laboratories in all the schools in the sub-region and equip them.

“Unless we have functional laboratories in our schools, science will still be history,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/prime-minister-nabbajja-restores-hope-on-bunyoro-university-demands/

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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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Kwania Farmers Sign Sorghum Growing Deal

KWANIA – Farmers in Kwania have agreed a deal that effectively leaps sorghum to the front-of-the-line of crops grown on a large scale in the northern district.

Several farmers signed up to start sorghum growing on an estimated 60,000 acres of land when the rains start in August 2021.

https://thecooperator.news/over-1800-kwania-farmers-enrol-for-acdp/

The agreement was signed on May 24 by Washington Onyum, the general secretary of Kwania District Farmers’ Cooperatives and Global Educational Network in Uganda (GENU) on behalf of 518 members from the sub counties of Inomo, Abongomola, Aduku, Nambieso and Chawente.

The cooperatives and GENU are partnering with Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) and KCB Bank, to promote the growing of sorghum.

GENU is a non-governmental organization promoting sorghum growing in the northern districts of Lira, Dokolo, Alebtong, Otuke, Kole, Kwania, Lamwo, Kitgum, and Pader – largely to alleviate household poverty.

The two year project will see GENU supply over 500 metric tons of quality seeds to Kwania District cooperatives at subsidized prices and later buy at farm gate prices.

Onyum described the move as a big boost to farmers in the district.

“Farmers who are members of the cooperative will harvest their produce, which is bulked and sold to UBL at Shs 1, 500 per kilogram and once the money is deposited on the union account, it will be distributed to farmers and the cooperative gets a commission.” he said.

He urged the youth to join the venture.

Bongomin Zorish Lander, the Executive Director of GENU, said most sorghum farmers in northern Uganda have been growing the local variety mainly for home consumption.

“Most farmers growing sorghum in northern Uganda have been growing the local variety mainly for home consumption. However, with the increased market demand from the brewing industries, farmers should shift to growing hybrid varieties, which are suitable for brewing beer.” he said.

Mike Gulu, an excited member of Kwania District Farmers’ Cooperative, said without modern agricultural equipment like tractors, tarpaulins, most farmers might not reap big profits.

“In 2018 we ventured into growing crops such as rice but it was not profitable, we decided to venture into drying chili for export but it did not work out due to lack of modern agricultural equipment. Now that we have agreed to venture into sorghum, the organization should address the challenge of agricultural equipment,” he said.

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Kwania Farmers Sign Sorghum Growing Deal

KWANIA – Farmers in Kwania have agreed a deal that effectively leaps sorghum to the front-of-the-line of crops grown on a large scale in the northern district.

Several farmers signed up to start sorghum growing on an estimated 60,000 acres of land when the rains start in August 2021.

https://thecooperator.news/over-1800-kwania-farmers-enrol-for-acdp/

The agreement was signed on May 24 by Washington Onyum, the general secretary of Kwania District Farmers’ Cooperatives and Global Educational Network in Uganda (GENU) on behalf of 518 members from the sub counties of Inomo, Abongomola, Aduku, Nambieso and Chawente.

The cooperatives and GENU are partnering with Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) and KCB Bank, to promote the growing of sorghum.

GENU is a non-governmental organization promoting sorghum growing in the northern districts of Lira, Dokolo, Alebtong, Otuke, Kole, Kwania, Lamwo, Kitgum, and Pader – largely to alleviate household poverty.

The two year project will see GENU supply over 500 metric tons of quality seeds to Kwania District cooperatives at subsidized prices and later buy at farm gate prices.

Onyum described the move as a big boost to farmers in the district.

“Farmers who are members of the cooperative will harvest their produce, which is bulked and sold to UBL at Shs 1, 500 per kilogram and once the money is deposited on the union account, it will be distributed to farmers and the cooperative gets a commission.” he said.

He urged the youth to join the venture.

Bongomin Zorish Lander, the Executive Director of GENU, said most sorghum farmers in northern Uganda have been growing the local variety mainly for home consumption.

“Most farmers growing sorghum in northern Uganda have been growing the local variety mainly for home consumption. However, with the increased market demand from the brewing industries, farmers should shift to growing hybrid varieties, which are suitable for brewing beer.” he said.

Mike Gulu, an excited member of Kwania District Farmers’ Cooperative, said without modern agricultural equipment like tractors, tarpaulins, most farmers might not reap big profits.

“In 2018 we ventured into growing crops such as rice but it was not profitable, we decided to venture into drying chili for export but it did not work out due to lack of modern agricultural equipment. Now that we have agreed to venture into sorghum, the organization should address the challenge of agricultural equipment,” he said.

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Sugarcane Out-growers Plant Cashew Nuts

AMURU – Sugarcane out-growers in the northern district of Amuru have broken with tradition – they have added cashew nuts to their outgrowing enterprise.

Atiak Sugarcane out-growers Cooperative Society Limited has grown and supplied sugarcane to Atiak Sugar Factory in Amuru district since its formation in 2016.

However, this year, the cooperative has added cashew nut growing to conserve the environment and swell their purse too.

https://thecooperator.news/pay-dispute-rocks-atiak-sugarcane-plantation/

Cashew nuts are handy drought-resistant perennial trees that take three years to bear fruit and harvests begin at eight years. There are new breeds though, such as the dwarf cashew nuts, which bear fruit within a year and harvests begin after three years.

Joyce Santa Laker, the chairperson of the cooperative, said farmers took on cashew nuts to conserve the environment.

“Cashew nuts are trees, so planting them is like reforestation, which protects the environment against harsh weather. Besides, when mature, the fruits can be harvested for more than 30 years, which will give the cooperative a stable source of income,” Laker said.

The sugarcane outgrowers cooperative has planted 40 acres of cashew nuts in Omoro, Gulu and Amuru districts. The seedlings were supplied by Operation Wealth Creation, OWC, through NAADs.

Background

In 2017, President Museveni directed the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries to include cashew nuts among the main commodities to improve the livelihood of small holder farmers.

In Acholi, large scale cashew nuts growing began in 2018 after President Museveni met some farmers in Amuru and touted the commercial viability of the crop.

After the meeting, the president allowed farmers to travel to Tanzania, where cashew nuts are massively grown, to learn more. Since then numerous farmers in Acholi sub region have gotten cashew nuts seedings from Operation Wealth Creation to open up large farms.

Through the National Agricultural Advisory Services, the government allocated Shs 1bn for the procurement of improved cashew nut seedlings. In 2019, at least 166,960 seedlings were procured and distributed to demonstration farmers who planted 2,000 acres in 28 districts in the sub regions of; Karamoja, Acholi, Westnile, Teso and Lango.

Cashew nuts is used for manufacturing varnishes, paints, typewriter rolls, oil cloths, gum and water proof papers, among others. It has nutritional benefits too, such as magnesium, protein, manganese, zinc, copper and potential source of vitamin C.

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Sugarcane Out-growers Plant Cashew Nuts

AMURU – Sugarcane out-growers in the northern district of Amuru have broken with tradition – they have added cashew nuts to their outgrowing enterprise.

Atiak Sugarcane out-growers Cooperative Society Limited has grown and supplied sugarcane to Atiak Sugar Factory in Amuru district since its formation in 2016.

However, this year, the cooperative has added cashew nut growing to conserve the environment and swell their purse too.

https://thecooperator.news/pay-dispute-rocks-atiak-sugarcane-plantation/

Cashew nuts are handy drought-resistant perennial trees that take three years to bear fruit and harvests begin at eight years. There are new breeds though, such as the dwarf cashew nuts, which bear fruit within a year and harvests begin after three years.

Joyce Santa Laker, the chairperson of the cooperative, said farmers took on cashew nuts to conserve the environment.

“Cashew nuts are trees, so planting them is like reforestation, which protects the environment against harsh weather. Besides, when mature, the fruits can be harvested for more than 30 years, which will give the cooperative a stable source of income,” Laker said.

The sugarcane outgrowers cooperative has planted 40 acres of cashew nuts in Omoro, Gulu and Amuru districts. The seedlings were supplied by Operation Wealth Creation, OWC, through NAADs.

Background

In 2017, President Museveni directed the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries to include cashew nuts among the main commodities to improve the livelihood of small holder farmers.

In Acholi, large scale cashew nuts growing began in 2018 after President Museveni met some farmers in Amuru and touted the commercial viability of the crop.

After the meeting, the president allowed farmers to travel to Tanzania, where cashew nuts are massively grown, to learn more. Since then numerous farmers in Acholi sub region have gotten cashew nuts seedings from Operation Wealth Creation to open up large farms.

Through the National Agricultural Advisory Services, the government allocated Shs 1bn for the procurement of improved cashew nut seedlings. In 2019, at least 166,960 seedlings were procured and distributed to demonstration farmers who planted 2,000 acres in 28 districts in the sub regions of; Karamoja, Acholi, Westnile, Teso and Lango.

Cashew nuts is used for manufacturing varnishes, paints, typewriter rolls, oil cloths, gum and water proof papers, among others. It has nutritional benefits too, such as magnesium, protein, manganese, zinc, copper and potential source of vitamin C.

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

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Sugarcane Cooperatives Will Save Farmers

MASINDI – On his inauguration day, May 20, Cosmas Byaruhanga promised to use his second term as Masindi District LCV chairperson to get farmers in all sectors in the western district organized into cooperatives, especially sugarcane cooperatives.

“We are going to mobilize farmers to organize themselves into cooperatives because when they are in cooperatives they will be understanding each other. This will also help them have a bargaining ground to demand what is due to them,” said Byaruhanga, who said is serving his last term as LC-V chairman.

He was sworn into office together with all elected district leaders by Masindi Chief Magistrate, Johnson Ssejjemba at the district headquarters.

Byaruhanga also said he wants to ensure that sugarcane farmers are organized into cooperatives.

“Sugarcane is the backbone of Masindi. It pumps more than Shs 3 billion in the district in a year. All the developments you are seeing in Masindi are because of sugarcane,” Byaruhanga explained.

In all, 38 councilors were sworn in from 18 sub counties and town councils, which form Masindi District.

https://thecooperator.news/form-cooperatives-with-a-purpose-masindi-lc-v/

The function was also attended by the newly elected members of parliament; Kenneth Kiiza Nyendwoha for Bujenje Constituency, Ronald Akugizibwe Aled, for Buruli County and Joab Businge, for Masindi Municipality.

They all promised to work with the LC-V to develop the district.

Background

Earlier this year, Byaruhanga pushed for the revival of all sugarcane cooperatives formed by sugarcane farmers in the 1970s.

“Sugarcane cooperatives are so necessary. They would help sugarcane farmers during times of crisis. These sugarcane cooperatives existed and we are now going to trace their registration numbers. I know they are there with the registrar of cooperatives,” said Byaruhanga, who is also the chairperson of Masindi District Sugarcane Farmers Association Limited (MASGAL). He was speaking then during an extra ordinary meeting for Bwijanga Coffee Farmers Cooperative in Bwijanga Sub County.

Byaruhanga explained that they need to revive sugarcane cooperatives so that they can form a union, which will give them a firm bargaining ground to lobby for their own sugar factory.

“If we want to get our own sugar factory, that’s the only way to go. Let’s unite into cooperatives if we are to address our challenges,” he noted.

He added that sugarcane farmers are grappling with many challenges such as over grown cane, spillage, low prices and too much cane.

“These challenges can be addressed when we have got our own sugar factory. We have a lot of cane which can feed it.

According to the statistics from MASGAL, there are over 7000 sugarcane out growers in Masindi district producing around 1.2 million tons of sugarcane.

Byaruhanga is optimistic that with this number they can get a sugar factory and sustain it.

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