• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • Finance
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Op-Ed
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Showbiz
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Motorsport
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • People
  • Travel
  • Video
  • Luganda
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • Finance
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Op-Ed
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Showbiz
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Motorsport
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • People
  • Travel
  • Video
  • Luganda
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Agriculture Ministry officials frustrating horticulture-Farmers and exporters complain

watchdog by watchdog
11 months ago
in Agriculture, Business
6 0
Agriculture Ministry officials frustrating horticulture-Farmers and exporters complain

Hon Rwamirama(L), Hon Kyambadde (C) and Hon Ssewungu during the meeting with the Speaker

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Farmers and exporters of fruits and vegetables want the Ministries of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and that of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to weigh in on the officials frustrating the sector.

According to Aguse Kalimba, a farmer and strategic exporter of hot pepper to the European market, officials at the Agriculture Ministry continue to show less interest in promoting quality and concentrate on acquiring commissions.

“The will of the officials at the Ministry of Agriculture is not about serving the country but about themselves. One official told me that we shall not have anything processed,” said Kalimba.

Hill Water

He observed that officials who inspect farms for crop quality assurance often chargel over shs600,000 and do not issue any certification documentation.

Francis Mawejje, an exporter of fruits and vegetables said there was undocumented inspection and facilitation fees paid to inspectors of goods much of which goes un-receipted.

“We know that we are tax free as per Government regulations on exporting, but these are fees that have been created by individuals in the Agriculture Ministry,” Mawejje said.

He called on Parliament to prevail and have investigations of the officials and bring them to book, ‘so as to check on the bureaucracies affecting the export of fruits and vegetables from Uganda’.

The concerns were raised in a meeting with the Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga who received a petition from farmers and exporters of fruits and vegetables on Tuesday, 18 February 2020.

Presenting the petition, Hasifah Tushabe, the project coordinator for Horticulture Promotion Organization of Uganda said that they are also faced by challenges of management of pests and diseases.

“The responsibility of managing pests and diseases is on the Agriculture Ministry and thus we still need technical assistance to manage all these conditions. ,” said Tushabe.

She also called on the Ministry of Agriculture to establish a seamless predictable and user friendly system for inspection and issuance of phytosanitary certificates.

The State Minister for Animal Industry, Bright Rwamirama expressed concern over the failure by inspectors to issue inspection reports to farmers.

“In as much as I have heard, it is a problem of individual and I promise to take up this matter and address it. We should be helping farmers to keep standards and export their produce,” said Rwamirama.

The Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde proposed that an inter-ministerial committee is established to check on the challenges faced by exporters in the country and create standard procedures of doing things.

“The committee should comprise the Trade, Agriculture and Foreign Affairs Ministries and exporters so as to solve all these issues that have been raised,” Kyambadde said.

Kadaga commended the exporters for presenting their concerns which she said needed urgent attention by the stakeholders in charge promote Uganda’s economy.

“Hon. Rwamirama will give us a report in 14 days on areas of intervention and processes that will be engaged in. We need to protect their businesses,” Kadaga said.



Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com

Share1Tweet1Send
Previous Post

MP Abala: Despite release of funds to fight locusts, no intervention has been made in Teso

Next Post

OP-ED: Haters leave Rema alone, showbiz works best under controversies 

Next Post
What a woman wants from her man

OP-ED: Haters leave Rema alone, showbiz works best under controversies 

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Our news in your inbox. Subscribe to receive Watchdog Uganda news in your email at no cost.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Plot 23, Yusuf Lule Road
PO Box 7661 Kampala, Uganda
Office Line: +256 777 286 815
Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

© 2020 Watchdog Uganda

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • Finance
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Op-Ed
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Showbiz
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Motorsport
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • People
  • Travel
  • Video
  • Luganda

© 2020 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In