Sacco and group leaders have received a strong warning from the minister of security and Rujumbura County Member of Parliament, Hon. Maj. Gen. Jim Katugugu Muhwezi, telling them that their time is gone and they must now face the consequences.
Minister Jim Muhwezi revealed the information yesterday Wednesday while serving as the guest of honor at the 6th Annual General Meeting of the Kibimbiri Rice Farmers and Cooperative Society, which was hosted at the Rovens Hotel in the Kihihi town council Kanungu district.
Speaking to the participants from the Kanungu district and Bwambara Sub County, Minister Muhwezi explained that it is becoming routine for group leaders to embezzle public funds. He said that as the government, they will now employ an iron hand to put an end to this behavior.
Minister Muhwezi gave a stern warning after learning that the previous leaders of the Kibimbiri Rice Farmers and Cooperative Society had embezzled about Ugx. 100 million in association finances.
Members have been assured by Muhwezi that inquiries into the situation will begin, and that those responsible for the scandal must be detained and their money refunded.
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Minister Jim Muhwezi went on to advise voters to choose leaders who represent the interests of the people rather than those who are chosen based only on their identity.
However, he stated that since the existing NRM leaders in Kanungu and Rukungiri district, respectively, are advancing the interests of the populace, there is no reason to replace them.
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Hon. Midius Natukunda Kaharata, a woman member of parliament for Rukungiri, urged people to pursue commercial farming as opposed to subsistence farming in order to better their families.
According to Hon. Natukunda, adopting a saving culture will enable people to accumulate wealth and provide for their family.
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During the meeting, Hon. Kinshaba Nkunda Patience, the woman MP for Kanungu district, stated that since the Kibimbiri Rice Farmers and Cooperative Society is the only organization that brings together people from the two districts of Kanungu and Rukungiri, they are committed to supporting it as their area MPs.
Hon. Kinshaba recommended association and group members to handle their money with trustworthy financial institutions rather than risky individuals.
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The Kibimbiri Rice Farmers and Cooperative Society’s chairperson, Turyarigayo Christopher, disclosed that although the organization had over 2000 members at the time they assumed control, embezzlements by the outgoing leadership had nearly brought it to ruin.
According to Turyarigayo, among the difficulties faced by rice farmers are a shortage of fertilizers, a drop in price, and a lack of markets for their rice. The government is also working to help them by providing irrigation systems and other means of support.
