NAADS board members denied fresh contracts

By Ronald Kalyango

Agriculture Minister, Tress Bucyanayandi has declined to renew contracts of all board members of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme.

This follows the expiry of their term of office on May 29, 2012.

According to the letter dated 30th May, 2012, Bucyanayandi informed the former board chairman, Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe that their contracts were not renewed because government was reviewing the NAADS programme for better performance.

He explains that when he learnt about the expiry of their contracts, he tabled the matter before the ministry's top policy management (TPM) for discussion and decision-making.

"It is unfortunate that the ministry's TPM decided not to renew the board's mandate because government was already reviewing the NAADS organization for purposes of improving its performance and the NAADS Act of 2001," the letter reads in part.

"I therefore take this opportunity to thank you for the job done," he says in the letter which was copied to the three ministers.

They include Prof. Zurababel Nyiira (State for agriculture), Ruth Nankabirwa (State for fisheries) and Bright Rwamirama (State for animal husbandry).

He also copied it to the ministry's permanent secretary, Vincent Rubarema and the former NAADS acting executive director, Dr. Francis Byekwaso.

The former board members include, Prof. Victoria Mwaka, Dr. Emily Twinamasiko, the director general of National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Dr. John Mugisha and Benard Simon Opeded.

Others include Okeny Bukenya, Charles Rutaro, Jotham Misango, Geoffrey Mugenyi, Molly Otim, Christine Ntege, Cheborion Herric, Abdul Muwanika and Maloba Okuku.

During their tenure they [board] steered the restructuring process of the programme and this gave birth to the second phase currently under implementation.

The programme's second phase will see NAADS together with NARO implement a five-year joint programme titled, 'Agricultural Technology and Agribusiness Advisory Services (ATAAS).

The project hugely funded by the World Bank, is fully aligned to the National Development Plan and the ministry of agriculture's development strategy and investment plan.

Over a period of five years, NARO will be charged with the responsibility of developing agricultural technologies and strengthening the national agricultural research systems.

NAADS on the other hand will be given resources to strengthen the national agricultural advisory services and supporting agribusiness services and market linkages.

The board in September last year steered the processes of recruiting new staff members for the NAADS secretariat.

By the time of their tenure's expiry new staff members including the executive director, Dr. Sam Mugasi had joined the organization.