Kibaale to arrest farmers who boil coffee, Emyooga defaulters

The Kibaale Resident District Commissioner, Mr Godwin Angalia Kasigwa, has directed commercial and production officers to move with police to fast-track recovery of Emyooga funds.

The RDC, who was in uncompromising mood, also "declared fatwa" on farmers who harvest immature coffee and those who boil them, saying they were compromising quality of the cash crop.

Mr Kasigwa says he wants 60 percent of Shs1.2 billion Emyooga funds disbursed in the district recovered in earnest or he proceeds to effect arrest of defaulters.

Emyooga repayment compliance in Kibaale currently stands at a measly 36.5 percent.

In an evaluation and monitoring meeting held at Bwamiramira Sub-county headquarters, Kasigwa said that it's disturbing that a paltry fraction of the Shs1.2 billion has been recovered.

The revolving funds was remitted to over 2,000 beneficiaries in 36 SACCOs dealing in crop, animal husbandry and other enterprises.

"This money from the onset was known to be a revolving fund, so I now direct you police, the district commercial officer and production officer since most of these people who took the money are farmers, work together to ensure this money is recovered," he said.

"I don't want any excuse, the money is supposed to be accessed by other beneficiaries that you know."

However, the Principal Commercial Officer, Sedrack Isingoma, and Matovu Hassana, the principal agriculture officer, informed the RDC how they are finding it hard to recover funds.

The two officials said the defaulters were claiming that Emyooga funds was an offer and appreciation by President Museveni for overwhelming votes in the last elections.

"Mr RDC, we find ourselves in diffcult situations as most of these people failing to say the money was a token of appreciation for the support for NRM," Isingoma said.

Mr Matovu said some of the beneficiaries are area leaders and "they claim to be untouchable".

But RDC Kasigwa would have none of it. He directed that the officials take police, especially to "places where people have excuses".

"Where you go and someone is giving excuses, just arrest them, they will get some sense in their head," Kasigwa said.

"Who told them it was a token? From the onset they were told Emyooga money is a revolving fund."

With the uncompromising mood he was in, the RDC declared intentions to arrest farmers who harvest immature coffee and those who boil it, saying they were affecting value, quality and production.

He directed commercial officers and police to ensure culprits are apprehended and charged.

"I want to know why people harvest immature coffee, who is chasing you?" Kasigwa asked.

"While you are focusing at money, you compromise the quality and the following day our coffee will be rejected on the market. We know the coffee is yours but as leaders we have to guide you and those who don't listen should be arrested."

The beneficiaries of Emyooga funds revealed that SACCOs have flourished and registered success in crop and animal husbandry while others collapsed due to misuse of funds.