Finance ministry accused of frustrating pineapple project
Apr 08, 2010
THE Finance ministry has been accused of frustrating a sh1b pineapple processing project in Luwero district.
By Frederick Kiwanuka
THE Finance ministry has been accused of frustrating a sh1b pineapple processing project in Luwero district.
Funding for the project was ordered by President Yoweri Museveni through the National Agricultural Advisory Services in April 2008.
A committee, which was instituted by the Government to monitor the progress of the project, said the finance ministry had repeatedly turned down requisitions for the money.
They cited the lack of communication between the finance ministry and that of agriculture, which was directed to supervise the project.
The team added that the ministry in February last year, released sh115m which Nature Uganda used to purchase land for the project, expecting an additional sh588m.
It said after accounting for the first installment, Nature Uganda went ahead to requisition for the remaining money, which the finance ministry has failed to release to-date.
The Government, which is jointly undertaking the project with Kasana-Luwero Catholic Diocese, was supposed to contribute 70% of the project cost.
Nature Uganda was to contribute the remaining 30% of the cost through provision of labour and housing for project staff.
THE Finance ministry has been accused of frustrating a sh1b pineapple processing project in Luwero district.
Funding for the project was ordered by President Yoweri Museveni through the National Agricultural Advisory Services in April 2008.
A committee, which was instituted by the Government to monitor the progress of the project, said the finance ministry had repeatedly turned down requisitions for the money.
They cited the lack of communication between the finance ministry and that of agriculture, which was directed to supervise the project.
The team added that the ministry in February last year, released sh115m which Nature Uganda used to purchase land for the project, expecting an additional sh588m.
It said after accounting for the first installment, Nature Uganda went ahead to requisition for the remaining money, which the finance ministry has failed to release to-date.
The Government, which is jointly undertaking the project with Kasana-Luwero Catholic Diocese, was supposed to contribute 70% of the project cost.
Nature Uganda was to contribute the remaining 30% of the cost through provision of labour and housing for project staff.