Museveni warns against selling off all their harvest

PIC:Budaka district Woman Member of Parliament, Pamela Kamugo hands over maize seeds to the people. Photos by Paul Watala

President Yoweri Museveni has timely delivered planting materials (Maize seeds) to farmer groups in Budaka district and warned them against selling all off their harvest.

The over two tonnes of high breed maize seeds were on September 27, 2016 delivered to farmer groups by Budaka district Woman Member of Parliament, Pamela Kamugo.

The first phase of distribution was in Mugiti, Naboa and Kamonkoli sub counties under the supervision of district Woman MP and NRM sub county chairpersons.

While handing over maize seeds to farmer groups, Kamugo delivered President Yoweri Museveni's massage warning Ugandans against selling off their food, adding that it exposes their families to famine.

"My massage to people of Budaka and Ugandans is that they should stop selling off all their harvest. The government may not be in position to give free food to all families and that is why we give them seeds to plant," Museveni said.

Kamugo said that maize seeds being distributed were given to all Members of Parliament by President Museveni under the NAADs programme.

He said that it was bad practice for family heads to continue selling off their food and use the money to buy alcohol and marry more women.

Museveni, through Kamugo said that government is determined to reduce poverty among Ugandans through industrialization, agriculture and tourism sectors.

"President has told Ugandans to take advantage of government programmes like NAADS, wealth creation program in order to eradicate poverty from their households," Kamugo said.

She said that Museveni instructed her inform people of Budaka that politics is over and they should take advantage of current rains to plant crops and look after pigs, birds, goats around their compounds.

He also instructed MPs and other local leaders to sensitize their people about the dangers of selling off all their harvest.

Kamugo was also concerned about looming famine in Bugwere land, adding that in the past season, farmers registered poor harvest.

"Please take care and do not sell all the maize to Kenyans who are moving door to door. They have reached an extent of buying maize gardens way before harvest," Kamugo said.

"You are selling the maize at cheaper price but remember that after Kenyans have improved it, you will buy posho at high price," She added.

Kamugo encouraged parents in Budaka to take advantage of UPE and USE to keep their children in schools more especially the girl child.

The chairperson Mugiti women farmers group, Grace Nyemera on behalf of all famers thanked President Museveni for the support, adding that seeds have been timely.

"We also thank our woman MP Kamugo for delivering what president had pledged during campaigns. Most of our MPs in Bugwere do deliver while others give them to their relatives," Nyemera said.

Nyemera appealed to government to extend rural electrification programme to Mugiti sub county, adding that lack of power was affecting their potential to make money and fight poverty in their households.