Government denies Doho rice scheme giveaway
The body of the boy was found ashore a rice swamp in Izilangobi village, Nawaikona Sub-county. File photo
What you need to know:
- Senior Presidential Press Secretary Don Wanyama described allegations that President Museveni wants investors to take over the facility as irresponsible comments.
- Doho Rice Scheme was established by the government with funding from the Chinese government in 1976.
BUTALEJA. The government has denied claims that it gave away Doho Rice Scheme in Butaleja District to an investor.
Farmers recently raised concerns that the district is planning to sell off Doho Rice Scheme to an unidentified investor.
Last month, more than 1,000 rice farmers, protested the giveaway of the scheme to an investor claiming it will render them jobless.
However, the director of crop resources in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Mr Okaasai Opolot, said the ministry is not aware of any such move.
“As the ministry, we distance ourselves from those allegations. It’s a total lie,” Mr Opolot said, adding that the ministry has no intention of getting an investor.
He asked the farmers in the district not to be misled, but to wait for official communication from the ministry. “As for now there is no investor who wants to take over the facility. Let people remain calm,” he said.
He added that the government injected billions of shillings to rehabilitate the facility and therefore can’t give it to an investor. Recently government injected a sum of Shs22b to benefit the more than 20,000 farmers in the scheme.
Mr Gesa Kabasa Nakemea, the chairperson of Doho Irrigation Scheme Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited said a district official informed residents of Butaleja that President Museveni had identified an investor to take over the scheme.
The RDC Mr Richard Gulume Balyaino addressing farmers at Doho Rice Scheme offices in Nampologoma. Photo by Yahudu Kitunzi
The farmers also accuse the district leadership of pushing for personal interests in the venture.
Senior Presidential Press Secretary Don Wanyama described allegations that President Museveni wants investors to take over the facility as irresponsible comments.
“How does President Museveni get investors or sell the scheme which belongs to people.
Butaleja Resident District Commissioner, Mr Richard Gulume Balyaino, said officials from the Agriculture ministry would visit the district to clarify on the matter.
“We want to get right information from the line ministry. We don’t want to hear rumors,” said Mr Gulume.
About the scheme
Doho Rice Scheme was established by the government with funding from the Chinese government in 1976. The scheme has more than 1,000 farmers involved as both out-growers and part of the scheme growers.
