Museveni orders arrest of COWE officials
Sep 11, 2008
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has ordered the arrest of the officials of Caring for Orphans Widows and Elderly (COWE), who allegedly stole sh300m from residents of Hamurwa sub-county in Kabale.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
in Kabale
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has ordered the arrest of the officials of Caring for Orphans Widows and Elderly (COWE), who allegedly stole sh300m from residents of Hamurwa sub-county in Kabale.
Museveni, who is on a five-day tour of Kabale district, yesterday said the Police would arrest those who steal public money.
“I have been told that COWE stole people’s money. The solution to thieves is to arrest them. I have asked the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ruhakana Rugunda, to arrest the people who collected money in this sub-county and disappeared with it.†Museveni said.
The sub-county chief, Johns Kanyeihamba, told the President that people were skeptical about the Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) because of the COWE experience.
Museveni was addressing a public rally at Hamurwa sub-county headquarters.
“Don’t worry about the COWE people because Rugunda will arrest them. I am encouraging all of your to join SACCOs. Your money will be safe and this will become your local bank,†he said.
“If your child dies, you don’t stop giving birth. If COWE stole your money, you cannot stop saving. Rugunda will arrest those people,†Museveni assured the massive crowd.
Recently, state minister for internal affairs Matiya Kasaija said COWE was deregistered as an NGO, but its proprietors registered it as a limited liability company.
According to Kasaija, COWE, as an NGO, was forced to close after people, mainly from western Uganda, complained that it had swindled millions from them.
“A few NGOs have tarnished the image of the fraternity. I receive messages that COWE is still defrauding people,†said Kasaija in June this year.
“We have already arrested their top leadership and are following the others. We shall bring them to book,†he added.
Kabale LC5 chairman Adison Kakuru yesterday said his people had asked him to move a motion in the NRM National Executive Committee to ask Museveni to stand again in 2011 for a fourth term.
“The people of Kabale are happy with your work and they want you to stand for a fourth term. We request you to respond to our request,†Kakuru said.
Earlier in the day, Museveni visited four model farmers in Hamurwa. Among them was Legis Barisigara, who rears exotic goats and has fish ponds, and John Karugaba, who rears poultry and has four acres of Irish potatoes.
Museveni said the government would select 30,000 model farmers countrywide to develop modern farming.
He said the only way people could get out of poverty was through modern crop farming, fish farming and animal husbandry.
“We should stop the laziness of subsistence farming and move towards commercial farming.â€
He said he was disappointed that out of 20,000 residents in Hamurwa sub-county, only 971 had joined the Hamurwa SACCO.
The President thanked the people for supporting the NRM and urged them to continue supporting it. Museveni addressed another rally at Bubare Secondary School.
Others who accompanied the President on the tour were ministers Beatrice Wabudeya, Hope Mwesigye and Sarapio Rukundo. The MPs were Henry Banyenzaki, David Bahati and Sam Byanagwa.
in Kabale
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has ordered the arrest of the officials of Caring for Orphans Widows and Elderly (COWE), who allegedly stole sh300m from residents of Hamurwa sub-county in Kabale.
Museveni, who is on a five-day tour of Kabale district, yesterday said the Police would arrest those who steal public money.
“I have been told that COWE stole people’s money. The solution to thieves is to arrest them. I have asked the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ruhakana Rugunda, to arrest the people who collected money in this sub-county and disappeared with it.†Museveni said.
The sub-county chief, Johns Kanyeihamba, told the President that people were skeptical about the Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) because of the COWE experience.
Museveni was addressing a public rally at Hamurwa sub-county headquarters.
“Don’t worry about the COWE people because Rugunda will arrest them. I am encouraging all of your to join SACCOs. Your money will be safe and this will become your local bank,†he said.
“If your child dies, you don’t stop giving birth. If COWE stole your money, you cannot stop saving. Rugunda will arrest those people,†Museveni assured the massive crowd.
Recently, state minister for internal affairs Matiya Kasaija said COWE was deregistered as an NGO, but its proprietors registered it as a limited liability company.
According to Kasaija, COWE, as an NGO, was forced to close after people, mainly from western Uganda, complained that it had swindled millions from them.
“A few NGOs have tarnished the image of the fraternity. I receive messages that COWE is still defrauding people,†said Kasaija in June this year.
“We have already arrested their top leadership and are following the others. We shall bring them to book,†he added.
Kabale LC5 chairman Adison Kakuru yesterday said his people had asked him to move a motion in the NRM National Executive Committee to ask Museveni to stand again in 2011 for a fourth term.
“The people of Kabale are happy with your work and they want you to stand for a fourth term. We request you to respond to our request,†Kakuru said.
Earlier in the day, Museveni visited four model farmers in Hamurwa. Among them was Legis Barisigara, who rears exotic goats and has fish ponds, and John Karugaba, who rears poultry and has four acres of Irish potatoes.
Museveni said the government would select 30,000 model farmers countrywide to develop modern farming.
He said the only way people could get out of poverty was through modern crop farming, fish farming and animal husbandry.
“We should stop the laziness of subsistence farming and move towards commercial farming.â€
He said he was disappointed that out of 20,000 residents in Hamurwa sub-county, only 971 had joined the Hamurwa SACCO.
The President thanked the people for supporting the NRM and urged them to continue supporting it. Museveni addressed another rally at Bubare Secondary School.
Others who accompanied the President on the tour were ministers Beatrice Wabudeya, Hope Mwesigye and Sarapio Rukundo. The MPs were Henry Banyenzaki, David Bahati and Sam Byanagwa.