Staff Reporter
Members of the Rukungiri District Media Practitioners Association are expressing outrage over what they describe as the fraudulent procurement of goats meant to boost their household incomes.
The controversy arose after a group of members assigned to purchase goats for the association allegedly swindled money and provided substandard animals.
The association, led by Chairperson Isaac Bernard Tushaba, launched an initiative in August 2024 to enhance its members’ financial stability.
As part of this initiative, members agreed to contribute UGX 200,000 each to purchase goats. The task of acquiring the goats was entrusted to four members: John Johns Marura, Kasozi Michael, Derrick Ampereza, Tumukunde Brian, and Dan Basirye.
With a total collection of UGX 7,800,000 from 39 members, the team was expected to purchase quality goats to justify individual contributions. However, many members were left fuming on Sunday, September 1, 2024, when the goats were distributed at Rukungiri Inn Hotel in Rukungiri municipality.
According to reports gathered by our reporters, the recipients complained that the goats they received were of poor quality and did not reflect the value of their contributions.
Speaking to some of the disgruntled members in Rukungiri town on Monday, they expressed their frustration, claiming they had been “cheated to zero.” They questioned the integrity of the procurement process, insisting that the goats they received were worth far less than the UGX 200,000 they each contributed, Others have alleged that the goats are sick, but the purchasing team has challenged this, arguing that the goats are merely adjusting to the new environment. The goats were bought from Buhunga Sub-County in Rukungiri Municipality.
One member, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, “We were promised quality goats that would help us boost our household incomes, but what we received is a joke. These goats are nowhere near worth the amount we contributed.”
The association’s chairperson, Isaac Bernard Tushabe, has yet to issue an official statement addressing the complaints. However, the incident has already sparked widespread discontent among members, who are now calling for an evaluation meeting to discuss the matter and demanding an investigation.
They are calling for accountability from the assigned team and a refund of their money.
The incident has put the spotlight on internal management and transparency within the Rukungiri District Media Practitioners Association, with members questioning how such a significant discrepancy could occur.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the accused team were unsuccessful, as those approached were unwilling to speak with our reporters.
As tensions rise, the association faces the challenge of restoring trust among its members and ensuring that similar issues do not arise in the future.
