Museveni suspends NAADS funding
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has suspended the funds for the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) after it was discovered that officials were misusing the money.
By Eddie Ssejjoba
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has suspended the funds for the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) after it was discovered that officials were misusing the money.
Addressing a rally yesterday at Kyanamukaaka sub-county headquarters in Masaka district, Museveni said after his recent tour in Luweero, he had decided to suspend the NAADS funds until Cabinet sits to review the programme after finding out that the money had not been properly utilised.
The president noted that the government had released sh48b last financial year and over sh60b this financial year for the NAADS programme but there was nothing to show for it.
“If that money had been used to buy pigs for farmers, they would not find enough food and instead feed on the people. Or if we had used it to buy birds, the number would overwhelm us. But you cannot see anything done,†he said.
NAADS coordinator in Masaka, Fred Kabango, whom the president asked to explain how much money had been disbursed, said over sh198m had been injected into the sub-county of Bukukula alone between 2005 and 2008.
“Imagine all that money has been coming to one sub-county. Many officials have been misusing this money, organising one seminar where one person talks and he gives an accountability of sh2m,†lamented Museveni.
He said now that the Kony war was over and the Karimojong situation had stabilised, he would concentrate on the farmers.
“I will get time to give emphasis to the farmers, who will become models and give practical examples to others.â€
He asked the people to join him in the new war he had launched against poverty.
He called forward the district agricultural officer, Prossy Mutumba, to explain how much money an ordinary farmer would expect to earn from an acre of land if he grew coffee, pineapples, passion fruits or others crops.
The President pledged to extend the power line to Dimo landing site in Kyanamukaaka, which he said was vital in promoting fishing in the area.
He also handed over 150 weed sprayers and pledged to deliver 20 Frisian cows to women who grew pineapple in the area.
Museveni was speaking at the first anniversary celebrations for area MP and Speaker of Parliament Edward Ssekandi.
Facts about NAADS
The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) is a 25-year programme aimed at improving agricultural activities in the rural areas. It is meant to develop a demand-driven, farmer-led service delivery system, targeting the poor subsistence farmers, with emphasis to women, youth and people with disabilities.
Its long term development goal is to enhance rural livelihoods by increasing agricultural productivity and profitability. The programme has so far been implemented in 79 districts and 710 sub-counties. The Ministry of Agriculture is supposed to supervise the activities of NAADS.
The programme was officially launched in March 2002. The first phase covers the period 2001 to 2008. The cost for the first phase is estimated at $108m. Sources of funding are the government of Uganda, participating local governments and farmers, as well as foreign partners.
Foreign donors, who contribute 80% of the total funds, include the Danish, Dutch and Irish governments, as well as the European Union, the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has suspended the funds for the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) after it was discovered that officials were misusing the money.
Addressing a rally yesterday at Kyanamukaaka sub-county headquarters in Masaka district, Museveni said after his recent tour in Luweero, he had decided to suspend the NAADS funds until Cabinet sits to review the programme after finding out that the money had not been properly utilised.
The president noted that the government had released sh48b last financial year and over sh60b this financial year for the NAADS programme but there was nothing to show for it.
“If that money had been used to buy pigs for farmers, they would not find enough food and instead feed on the people. Or if we had used it to buy birds, the number would overwhelm us. But you cannot see anything done,†he said.
NAADS coordinator in Masaka, Fred Kabango, whom the president asked to explain how much money had been disbursed, said over sh198m had been injected into the sub-county of Bukukula alone between 2005 and 2008.
“Imagine all that money has been coming to one sub-county. Many officials have been misusing this money, organising one seminar where one person talks and he gives an accountability of sh2m,†lamented Museveni.
He said now that the Kony war was over and the Karimojong situation had stabilised, he would concentrate on the farmers.
“I will get time to give emphasis to the farmers, who will become models and give practical examples to others.â€
He asked the people to join him in the new war he had launched against poverty.
He called forward the district agricultural officer, Prossy Mutumba, to explain how much money an ordinary farmer would expect to earn from an acre of land if he grew coffee, pineapples, passion fruits or others crops.
The President pledged to extend the power line to Dimo landing site in Kyanamukaaka, which he said was vital in promoting fishing in the area.
He also handed over 150 weed sprayers and pledged to deliver 20 Frisian cows to women who grew pineapple in the area.
Museveni was speaking at the first anniversary celebrations for area MP and Speaker of Parliament Edward Ssekandi.
Facts about NAADS
The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) is a 25-year programme aimed at improving agricultural activities in the rural areas. It is meant to develop a demand-driven, farmer-led service delivery system, targeting the poor subsistence farmers, with emphasis to women, youth and people with disabilities.
Its long term development goal is to enhance rural livelihoods by increasing agricultural productivity and profitability. The programme has so far been implemented in 79 districts and 710 sub-counties. The Ministry of Agriculture is supposed to supervise the activities of NAADS.
The programme was officially launched in March 2002. The first phase covers the period 2001 to 2008. The cost for the first phase is estimated at $108m. Sources of funding are the government of Uganda, participating local governments and farmers, as well as foreign partners.
Foreign donors, who contribute 80% of the total funds, include the Danish, Dutch and Irish governments, as well as the European Union, the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).