NEWS- The Minister for Security Hon Maj Gen Jim Katugugu Muhwezi has hailed the Kibimbiri Rice Farmers Cooperative Society members for coming together to work towards better opportunities in marketing and selling of their product.
Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi who is also the Rujumbura Constituency Member of Parliament made the remarks on Wednesday, March 27th 2024 while speaking as the Chief Guest at the Annual General Meeting for Kibimbiri Rice Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd which took place at Rovens Hotel in Kihihi Town Council in Kanungu District.
Gen Muhwezi made emphasis that when people come together, they are able to attain a lot of incentives that can help them advance their objectives adding that it is the exact policy that the government is advancing to help the organised groups.
Gen Muhwezi however said that he was perturbed by the reported delay of commissioning of Matanda Irrigation Scheme which whose construction was on the directives of President Museveni but 5 years later it remains non functional yet it was meant to help the farmers boost production and fight poverty and famine.
The Minister was responding to Kinkizi West Member of Parliament Hon James Kaberuka who expressed concern over the delayed commissioning of the Matanda Irrigation Scheme which was a Presidential directive saying that its construction has not benefited the intended people.
The Member of Parliament was addressing this concern about the irrigation to Minister Muhwezi and lamented that when President Museveni visited Matanda at the peak of famine due to dry season in 2017, he directed that an irrigation scheme be constructed to help farmers grow crops without waiting for rain but 5 years later there is nothing to show yet funds were released from State House and Ministry of Water for the same project.
Minister Muhwezi said that he was concerned about the delay of the project and wondered why such an important project which is a presidential project had not been completed 5 years later and warned that heads will roll if there is any corruption related acts that hindered its commissioning.
However, Hon Kaberuka asked the rice farmers to share farming tips in order to produce high quality products that can fetch high prices on the national and international markets and increase their household incomes.
The Member of Parliament called on the Kibimbiri Rice Farmers Cooperative Society members led by Christopher Turyarugayo to work together as team if they are to get higher dividends from their efforts of growing rice and donated Ugx 1 million to help them buy hybrid seedlings to plant next season.
On the issue of poor roads in the district that hamper the marketing of the agricultural harvests, Hon Kaberuka blamed it on the persistent rains but promised that that the collaboration of the district and Central government will continue to use the available funds to ensure that the roads are worked on.
Hon Kaberuka used the occasion to announce the start of the construction of the much awaited electric fence on the periphery of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and assured that this will greatly minimise the human and wildlife conflict in the areas of Kibimbiri, Matanda, Kameme and Nyanga which had become a big challenge over the years.
Hon Kaberuka also hinted about the alleged rampant corruption in the Uganda Police and asked the Minister of Security Hon Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi to look into the matter since he heads the security in the country, he however said that there is an opportunity for every one to change practices for better in order to develop the country.
Earlier, the Chairman of Kibimbiri Rice Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd Turyarugayo Christopher said that although the Cooperative faced several challenges coupled with some members failure to pay back the loans they had taken in past years, it is slowly emerging as an organised group that can help farmers grow high quality rice.
Turyarugayo said that they have over 2500 members drawn from Kanungu, Rukungiri and Mitooma Districts and but they face a challenge of little capital base to run their activities.
The event was attended by Kanungu District Woman Member of Parliament Hon Patience Kinshaba Nkunda, Rukungiri District Woman Member of Parliament Hon Medius Natukunda Kaharata and each contributed Ugx 1 million to Kibimbiri Rice Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd to boost their agricultural productivity.
Other leaders at the function included the Resident District Commissioner Ambrose Mwesigye Amanyire and the Deputy RDC Gad Ahimbisibwe Rugaju and other top leaders from both Kanungu and Rukungiri Districts.
During the function the best farmers who included Byaruhanga Geoffrey, Ben Byakatonda, Tuwasibwe Elias from Rukungiri and Byomugabe Elias, Turinawe Eria and Kateera James were given gifts in form of agricultural tools as best farmers who supplied the highest tonnes of Rice.
