Co-operative union opposes Otafiire
Busamaga Co-operative Society has protested a move by the trade ministry to relinquish its membership from Bugisu Cooperative Union.
By Mary Karugaba
Busamaga Co-operative Society has protested a move by the trade ministry to relinquish its membership from Bugisu Cooperative Union.
Through their lawyers, the society said trade minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire had no mandate to interfere in the operations of the union.
A letter from the lawyers said: “The law limits the minister from exercising any major role in the management of a society. The minister’s role is restricted to hearing appeals from the decision of the registrar where the registrar has imposed a surcharge on an officer of the society.â€
“Our clients are concerned about the interference by your ministry. An earlier attempt was unsuccessful. We have advised our client to continue attending and voting at the meetings of the union unless that right is nullified by an order of the court or in a general meeting,†the lawyers added.
They were responding to a directive from the trade ministry last week that Busamaga Growers Co-operative Society should be immediately struck off the membership of Bugisu Co-operative Union.
The lawyers have also warned the commissioner for co-operatives against implementing ‘unlawful directives’ from the minister.
Busamaga society is accused of subscribing to a rival union, Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative Enterprise.
The trade ministry also accused Busamaga society group of failing to streamline its operations within the six-month deadline given by the Annual General Meeting of Bugisu Co-operative in February 2009.
There is fear that the move is aimed at eliminating MP Nandala Mafabi, a Forum for Democratic Change member, who is also the chairman of Bugisu Cooperative Union.
Mafabi is a delegate from Busamaga to Bugisu Co-operative Union. In case the directive is implemented, Mafabi would automatically lose the chair.
On April 6, the Solicitor General defended Mafabi contiued involvement in the two societies because they did not trade in the same produce.
Busamaga Co-operative Society has protested a move by the trade ministry to relinquish its membership from Bugisu Cooperative Union.
Through their lawyers, the society said trade minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire had no mandate to interfere in the operations of the union.
A letter from the lawyers said: “The law limits the minister from exercising any major role in the management of a society. The minister’s role is restricted to hearing appeals from the decision of the registrar where the registrar has imposed a surcharge on an officer of the society.â€
“Our clients are concerned about the interference by your ministry. An earlier attempt was unsuccessful. We have advised our client to continue attending and voting at the meetings of the union unless that right is nullified by an order of the court or in a general meeting,†the lawyers added.
They were responding to a directive from the trade ministry last week that Busamaga Growers Co-operative Society should be immediately struck off the membership of Bugisu Co-operative Union.
The lawyers have also warned the commissioner for co-operatives against implementing ‘unlawful directives’ from the minister.
Busamaga society is accused of subscribing to a rival union, Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative Enterprise.
The trade ministry also accused Busamaga society group of failing to streamline its operations within the six-month deadline given by the Annual General Meeting of Bugisu Co-operative in February 2009.
There is fear that the move is aimed at eliminating MP Nandala Mafabi, a Forum for Democratic Change member, who is also the chairman of Bugisu Cooperative Union.
Mafabi is a delegate from Busamaga to Bugisu Co-operative Union. In case the directive is implemented, Mafabi would automatically lose the chair.
On April 6, the Solicitor General defended Mafabi contiued involvement in the two societies because they did not trade in the same produce.