Nandala opposes Otafiire on unions
BUGISU Co-operative Union (BCU) chairman Nathan Nandala Mafabi has rubbished a letter from tourism, trade and industry minister Kahinda Otafiire terminating the membership of Busamaga Growers Co-operative Society in the union.
By Joseph Wanzusi
BUGISU Co-operative Union (BCU) chairman Nathan Nandala Mafabi has rubbished a letter from tourism, trade and industry minister Kahinda Otafiire terminating the membership of Busamaga Growers Co-operative Society in the union.
In an April 23 letter, Otafiire said some members had lodged a petition to the ministry challenging the eligibility of Busamaga as a member of both BCU and Gumutindo Coffee Co-operative Enterprise.
The petitioners said the two organisations were competitors. Speaking on an FM radio talk-show in Mbale recently, Nandala said Otafiire had no powers to terminate membership of a primary society in the union because BCU was not a government company.
Nandala obtained a legal interpretation from the Solicitor General of regulation 25 (2), which Otafiire said Busamaga’s membership contravened.
The interpretation said BCU objectives were to encourage better farming through improved methods of agriculture and land utilisation, while Gumutindo’s objective was to sustainably improve the livelihood of communities and market their organic coffee.
“According to the facts, Bugisu Co-operative Union deals in conventional coffee and Gumutindo in organic coffee. The research conducted from relevant authorities, organic coffee is totally different from conventional coffee in all ways because it is typically natural,†the Solicitor General’s letter said.
The letter also stated that Nandala was a delegate of Busamaga to BCU and that there was nothing barring him from becoming a committee member of BCU where he is now chairman of the board of directors.
Nandala, who is the MP for Budadiri West, was elected BCU board of directors’ chairman in hotly contested polls last year.
BUGISU Co-operative Union (BCU) chairman Nathan Nandala Mafabi has rubbished a letter from tourism, trade and industry minister Kahinda Otafiire terminating the membership of Busamaga Growers Co-operative Society in the union.
In an April 23 letter, Otafiire said some members had lodged a petition to the ministry challenging the eligibility of Busamaga as a member of both BCU and Gumutindo Coffee Co-operative Enterprise.
The petitioners said the two organisations were competitors. Speaking on an FM radio talk-show in Mbale recently, Nandala said Otafiire had no powers to terminate membership of a primary society in the union because BCU was not a government company.
Nandala obtained a legal interpretation from the Solicitor General of regulation 25 (2), which Otafiire said Busamaga’s membership contravened.
The interpretation said BCU objectives were to encourage better farming through improved methods of agriculture and land utilisation, while Gumutindo’s objective was to sustainably improve the livelihood of communities and market their organic coffee.
“According to the facts, Bugisu Co-operative Union deals in conventional coffee and Gumutindo in organic coffee. The research conducted from relevant authorities, organic coffee is totally different from conventional coffee in all ways because it is typically natural,†the Solicitor General’s letter said.
The letter also stated that Nandala was a delegate of Busamaga to BCU and that there was nothing barring him from becoming a committee member of BCU where he is now chairman of the board of directors.
Nandala, who is the MP for Budadiri West, was elected BCU board of directors’ chairman in hotly contested polls last year.