Frank Ssekiziyivu, who uses part of the Ssenya village to prepare vegetables, trees, and flower seedlings for commercial purposes, told Uganda Radio Network that the city enforcement teams only managed to evict a few people who were cultivating near the main road.
Professor Vincent Kakembo, the University's Vice Chancellor says they have set out to make a direct contribution to the community through the provision of appropriate guidance to farmers’ groups with an aim of reversing the dire effects of climate change in the area.
Disan Muwanga, a Food and Agricultural Researcher and Chairperson of Matooke Growers Association in Greater Masaka Region says the current situation demands that farmers revive the growing of traditional food crops that are known for supporting communities through times of famine resulting from long droughts.
Alice Nannungi, the Masaka City Women Councilor representing Nyendo-Mukungwe demands that as the government commits funds to finance the PDM projects, it also makes deliberate interventions to secure markets and attractive prices for the produces that will be generated from the beneficiary groups.
The ugx35m-machine is a donation from Vi-Agroforestry, a development organisation fighting poverty and climate change in collaboration with farmer’s groups and organisations, advising and training farmers in sustainable agricultural land management.
Reverend Father James Ssendege, the founder of Masaka recycling initiative says the total tonnage of plastic waste materials has been accumulated in the last four years they have been operating in the greater Masaka districts.
The affected persons are mainly pastoralists and peasant farmers occupying more than three square miles of land in Kasange-Kigga village, Kiteredde, Musajja, Muddu, Komoni, Biriinzi, Lutukuma, and Kigo.
At least 100 households use the land for settlement and grazing. The land is a subject of contention between over 200 residents and Nakigga Ranching Farm Cooperative, which comprises 37 subscribers.
Frank Tumwebaze, the Chairperson on Masaka Market Vendors Cooperative says that the failure by the contractors to complete and hand over the market has frustrated vendors, who are tired of operating in open space.
But Fred Kuhubwa, Cooperative Society Chairperson has petitioned the Masaka City Town Clerk demanding for an inquiry into Mugerwa’s actions, which he argues are out of malice and dishonesty.
Moses Muliisa, the general secretary of the association has petitioned the city council authorities demanding that they take interest and set a standard price for milk resale for purposes of protecting the traders from highly exploitative distributors, whom they also accuse of compromising the quality of milk on the market.
During her visit to the market in Friday, the Local Government State Minister, Jenifer Namuyangu asked the contractors to use the extra two more months to complete the market so that the vendors can use it.
According to the contract duration, the market was meant to be handed over for utilization by venders in November 2019, but the construction works have dragged on without completion even after the four extensions so far granted to the contractor.
Vincent Ssempijja, the Minister of Agriculture, says that whoever dries any crop on bare ground will be arrested. He says that the Police, Parish and Sub County Chiefs have been told to be on the lookout.
Doctor Lawrence Mayega, the Masaka District Production Officers says in addition to the obvious challenges of general crop failure and low farm production, they have also learnt of serious threats the abrupt changes in season patterns are posing to bee-keeping in the area.
The driver of the Fuso truck identified as Aggrey Muzaya, the turn boy and a woman suspected to be the owner of cargo died on the spot. The injured people include the driver of the trailer identified Amis Baheza and his turnboy Salim Tenywa and two women-only identified as Monica and Tunamuhikire.
The summoned property owners are those controlling properties said to be among those left behind by Asians who were expelled from Uganda by former president Idi Amin in 1972.
The leaders of the two sub-counties have already passed council resolutions supporting the relocation of Masaka district headquarters to Kyanamukaka sub-county headquarters.
