Tea Nursery bed operators from the greater Mbarara and Rukungiri districts have convened a meeting to find a lasting solution to the issues affecting their business.
The meeting is being held at Rukungiri district council hall.
It follows a series of allegations that money that was to be paid to the nursery operators which was released by the government was swindled by corrupt individuals.
On 17th August 2023, COSASE ordered the arrest of lawyer Kisonco Katabazi over the misappropriation of UGX 39 billion NAADS payment to tea farmers.
This followed a query raised in the 2021/2022 Audit General’s report that revealed that NAADS advanced UGX39 billion to Pathways Advocates to compensate tea nursery operators who had sued the government for failure to procure their seedlings, but there was no evidence furnished to auditors indicating that the intended beneficiaries received the said funds.
Kiconco informed parliament that he was approached by 8 people on behalf of over 711 tea nursery bed operators led by Frank Byaruhanga, Francis Runumi, and Geroge Owakukiriru among others to represent them against a claim they had against NAADS for their unpaid money.
Lawyer Katabazi also admitted that his firm received UGX 39 billion and this was sent directly to the beneficiaries and the only pending payment to the farmers is UGX 1.086 billion.
However, farmers accused the city lawyer Katabazi of not fully compensating them, contrary to his claims in his accountability reports to NAADS.
Addressing the meeting today morning, George Owakukiroru who is among the affected farmers, revealed that the purpose of the meeting is to find a lasting solution to the issues pressing them.
