Matia Lukwago, a resident of Kasanje village, says the community is living in fear due to threats of eviction to accommodate the oil palm project. He claims that shortly after the project was announced in 2021, some unscrupulous individuals, including those in positions of authority, rushed to process lease titles on the identified land, leading to threats of eviction against the long-time occupants.
This small irrigation project, valued at 300 million Shillings, was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries in the 2024/25 financial year to support 15 farmers from various sub-counties.
Sammy Yiga Muwonge the Project Coordinator at Uganda Quality Coffee Traders and Processors Association defended the involvement in enforcement operations saying its intended to protect and promote the quality of coffee in the market.
“The Q3 release aligns with our efforts to reallocate resources from old priorities to key growth drivers. Our focus remains on promoting technical efficiency and ensuring service delivery at the lowest cost,” said Ggoobi.
The Bungokho-Bumbobi road, which spans 11.6 kilometers, is among the key beneficiaries of this funding. According to Gorge Wanakina, the Mbale District Production Officer, the funds have already landed on the district accounts, and construction is expected to begin before the end of January.
Stephen Tibaijuka Byantware, the Commissioner Crop Protection has said the only chemicals on the Ugandan market are those that have been approved globally and nationally.
Doctor Angelo Ssali, the Sembabule District Veterinary Officer says the disease outbreak was confirmed last week, and it has since killed over 25 cows and 2 people in Nabitanga sub county, after they got in direct contact with carcasses of the dead animals.
With less than a month left before the deadline, Tayebwa revealed that he will be traveling to Brussels next week with five other committee members as part of the EU-Africa Joint Parliamentary Assembly to negotiate an extension.
Oliver Kishelo, a coffee and matooke farmer from Bulambuli, expressed concern over government policies that allow counterfeit agricultural inputs on the market. She noted that many food crops grown with inorganic fertilizers lack the natural taste and aroma that consumers expect.
"Despite being associated with backwardness and primitivity, indigenous crops are the best in addressing the challenge of food insecurity, and produce all year round... hybrid seeds are expensive yet can't be stored for long in case of low market price."
The facility at the border between the sub-counties of Rupa and Katikekile was developed under the Pastoral Livelihood Resilience Programme to boost the trade between Karamojong and the Turkana of Kenya.
The farmers say that they are facing starvation after investing all their resources to plant the sorghum that is taking too long to get ready for harvest. They added that all their colleagues who plated the local variety are already harvesting and experiencing better yields.
During the launch of the 30th edition of the annual Agricultural Show at the Uganda National Farmers’ Federation (UNFFE) offices in Kampala, farmers emphasized the need for strategic investment in the limited budget.
Dr Paul Okullo, the Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research Institute Director said that the idea of walking tractors was conceived after realizing that most farmers had less than five acres of land which is not cost-effective for big tractors.
As per the consent judgment, it was recognized that the number of tea seedlings estimated to have been planted in the specified districts amounted to 106,640,606, valued at Shillings 42,656,242,400. Of this, Shillings 8,237,098,116 had already been paid to eligible nursery bed operators, and NAADS committed Shillings 7,118,326,249 for payment.
Vincent Mugisha, the Ibanda District Surveillance Officer, says that they received information from the in-charge of Kicence Health Center III about two people presenting with symptoms of anthrax. He says that three more cases were reported at Keihagara Health Center with similar symptoms.
At a post-budget meeting where the Economic Policy Research Center released their report assessing of the FY2023/24 agro-industrialization programme budget towards provision of agricultural extension, Lawrence Kasenge who heads the agriculture desk in Ministry of Finance admitted that extension services were not budgeted for.
