In September last year, the company supplied over 300 bags of cassava cuttings from Masindi district to farmers in Palam Sub County. The inputs have since remained wasted at the sub-county headquarters.
A row has
erupted between farmers of Palam Sub County and the NUSAF 3 officials in the
Katakwi district over the procurement of cassava cuttings by Divine Organic
Foods Company.
In September last year, the company supplied over 300 bags of cassava cuttings
from Masindi district to farmers in Palam Sub County. The inputs have since remained
wasted at the sub-county headquarters.
The farmers in Palam claim that the cassava stems were supplied after the
rains. They also argue that the supplier failed to adhere to the instructions
of the cassava variety they wanted.
Naome Ariko, the chairperson of Aleles C Farmer group, one of the beneficiary
groups that had requested for the cassava cuttings says after requesting for
cassava cuttings, the supplier took his time to deliver. She notes that after
dumping the cassava cuttings at the sub-county headquarters, the supplier is
now demanding payment.
Ariko says
the supplier wants 60% payment for the cassava cuttings that dried before
delivery.
Ateso bite;
“We waited for their response until last time when we went to Soroti to
withdraw money. They followed us to the bank to demand for payment of 60% but
we stood our ground. If we are to pay them, may be 40% but if they refuse, we
shall not bend to their demands”.
// Cue in “Idarit isio abongokinet…
Cue out…ikunyari anen”//
Peter Omongin, the General Secretary of Oliango B ox traction group in Palam
sub county says they were forced to take up cassava enterprise when the NUSAF 3
officials declined to take their request for groundnuts. He adds that although
the groups wanted NARO Cass 1, the supplier instead supplied them NASSE 14 and
other varieties.
He explains that the officials have tasked them to either pay the money or miss
out other NUSAF inputs.
Ateso bite;
“We are forced to pay for these cassava stems in order to benefit from other
NUSAF programs. There is a lot of money in NUSAF including oxen and ox-ploughs
at stake if we don’t pay the money. We are told that we cannot benefit from
them without clearing this supplier. We are now in dilemma. First, we didn’t
want cassava, secondly, they delivered them late and thirdly, they brought
mixed varieties and they were dry already”.
// Cue in “Isio abuikinio aitac…
Cue out…aokitos da”//
Deborah Alakas, the NUSAF 3 Community Facilitator in Palam sub-county argues
that although the supplier delayed, the community signed the Local Purchase
Order that the supplier followed.
She revealed that the supplier demands 25
million shillings.
// Cue in “The only mistake is…
Cue out…certain percentage”//
Emmy Ogirot, the Palam sub-county chairperson wants both the supplier and the
NUSAF officials questioned for supplying dry cassava cuttings. He told URN that
the cassava cuttings have since littered the sub-county headquarters when the
beneficiaries declined to take them.
By the time of filing this story, attempts for the comment from the supplier
went futile when the officers declined to share his contact.
