Fraudsters conning farmers for training abroad

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, has warned farmers against falling victim to fraudsters impersonating ministry officials. He said the fraudsters rip off farmers by promising them training abroad for a fee.

Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre yesterday, Consolata Acayo, the assistant commissioner of communications and information at the ministry, said the fraudsters not only target farmers, but also extension workers, conning them of up to sh400,000 allegedly for processing documents to go abroad.

She said the ministry learnt about the fraudsters when farmers travelling from various destinations like Kitgum, Bushenyi and West Nile went to their offices to follow up on travel plans, only to be disappointed.

"Some dubious people are going around districts, claiming to be our staff. These people claim that you have been invited for training in countries like Ghana, South Africa and Ethiopia and ask you to give them money. We disassociate ourselves from these people," Acayo said.

Acayo said official communication in writing is made to chief administrative officers of the beneficiary districts, with copies sent to the district production and marketing officers, whenever there are training offers for both farmers and extension workers.

"We never ask participants to pay because visa fees are paid by each participant at the embassy as per requirements of the particular embassy," she said.

"Official government trips get diplomatic notes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, sometimes, the visas are offered free of charge," she added.