The distribution of government seeds in Bardege-Layibi Division, Gulu City has sparked a public outcry prompting the Resident City Commissioner’s intervention.
Amir Kamba, the deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Bardege-Layibi Division says his office is following up on the matter to correct the mess for proper implementation of future government programs.
Kamba says engagements are ongoing with local leaders and the production department to inquire what happened to the seeds allocated to initially registered members from the three urban wards of Library, Kasubi and Kanyagoga.
This follows complaints from leaders that the sensitization for the program was poor, leaving many farmers unaware and eventually missing out.
Ayotto Pauline, the LC1 Chairperson of Kasubi Central says her office had registered 1,000 beneficiaries but was shocked when her entire cell abruptly got omitted without proper communication.
She is now appealing to the government to consider distributing livestock such as pigs and chickens to farmers in the affected wards.
Meanwhile Opiyo Denis, the LC II Chairperson of Kasubi, says implementing other government programs in his ward is becoming difficult because people have lost trust in leaders, accusing them of using programs for personal gain.
Last week, while distributing seeds in Patuda and Kweyo wards, Charles Ojwee, the Senior Agricultural Officer for Bardege-Layibi said there was an abrupt change in guidelines for seed distribution.
Ojwee explained that the three urban wards of Kasubi, Kanyagoga and Library were excluded on grounds of being urban areas with limited agricultural land.
Last week, 5,018 farmers in Bardege-Layibi Division received assorted seeds for the second planting season which included 40,000 kilograms of beans, 10,000 kilograms of soya beans, 500 kilograms of simsim, 219 kilograms of sunflower and 1,000 kilograms of groundnuts among others.
By Martin Odong
Leave a Reply