The Union came to its knees when cotton growing, buying, ginning and selling were heavily affected rendering the primary societies inactive. Tonny Ogwal, the Lango Cooperative Union Vice-Chairperson says the union leaders are now on the move to revamp and strengthen the societies across the region.
Lango Cooperative Union leaders have resolved to
strengthen the 144 primary societies under Lango Cooperative Union Limited in the region.
Formed
in 1952, Lango
Cooperative Union, opened the primary societies as conduits for pobvery
alleviation and promoting cotton growing. However, the primary societies
became non-functional
due to fluctuation of cotton prices and delays in loan repayments from
microfinance institutions.
The
Union came to its knees when cotton growing, buying, ginning and selling were
heavily affected rendering the primary societies inactive. Tonny
Ogwal, the Lango Cooperative Union Vice-Chairperson says the union leaders are
now on the move to revamp and strengthen the societies across the region.
The primary societies listed for reinstatement include Alira, Aboko, Teilwa,
Alido, and Aninolal all in Kwania district, as well as Opongdwongo, and Ibuje cooperative in Apac
district among others.Ogwal
notes that with 2 billion Shillings funding
received from government under Lango War Claimers, the union plans to promote
fish farming, cassava growing and renovating a starch factory in Lira City once
the primary societies are reinstated.
“In June, this year we received a sum of 2 billion Shillings
compensation of war claimers, we now plan to use part of the fund to
reinstate our primary societies, embrace fish farming in districts
boarding
lakes, among others please let’s come together,” he said.
Luo//Cue in; “Idwe me abicel…
Cue out… so bino karacel.’//
Kwania District Commercial Officer Patrick Bura,
urges the primary societies leadership to focus on accountability, transparency
and good managerial skills for better service delivery. He asked the entire Lango community to embrace and
join the Cooperatives in order to improve on productivity and markets of their
goods.
“I want to tell Langi farmers who were heartbroken
due to the collapse of Lango Cooperative Society that this is the time, the union
has been revived to serve farmers, it’s a high time you joined and embraced the
cooperative to alleviate poverty at grassroots,” Abura said.
Luo//Cue in; “Amito kobi Langi…
Cue out… ni oryemo can.’//
Francis Lima, a farmer from Gwokere-Primary Society
in Nambieso Sub County, Kwania district welcomed with excitement, the move to
reinstate the primary store in his area. Lima blames the collapse of Lango
Cooperative Union on land grabbing and selfish interest. He said the store that has been abandoned for
several years, once reinstated, will ease transportation of goods to markets
since farmers will be able to bulk their goods together.
//Cue in; “People of those …
Cue out… their selfish issues.’//
Another farmer Alex Tino, a widow and a member of
Aninolal Society in Inomo Sub County, Kwania district attributes the collapse
of Lango Cooperative Union to greedy and corrupt leaders. Now that the union is
revamping the primary societies, she wants the government to channel money direct to
small societies’ accounts to prevent the same.
Luo//Cue in: “Amiti adwok pwoc …
Cue out… direct society waa.’//
Lango cooperation Union is among the 22 cooperatives
that benefited from the 162 million Shillings compensation for the
property lost
during various insurgencies to operationalize its activities, according
to Frederick Ngobi, the state Minister for Trade, Industry and
Cooperatives.
Solomon Okabo
Freelancer