Uganda suspends agricultural advisory service over graft allegations

Ugandan Preisdent Yoweri Museveni has suspended the funds for the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) after it was discovered that officials were misusing money.

The president noted that the government had released sh48 billion ($27 million) last financial year and over sh60 billion ($34 million) this financial year for the NAADS programme but there was nothing to show for it.

“If that money had been used to buy pigs for farmers, they would not find enough food and instead feed on the people. Or if we had used it to buy birds, the number would overwhelm us. But you cannot see anything done,” he said.

NAADS coordinator in Masaka, Fred Kabango, whom the president asked to explain how much money had been disbursed, said over sh198 million ($112,000) had been injected into the sub-county of Bukukula alone between 2005 and 2008.

“Imagine all that money has been coming to one sub-county. Many officials have been misusing this money, organising one seminar where one person talks and he gives an accountability of sh2 million ($1100),” lamented Museveni.

He called forward the district agricultural officer, Prossy Mutumba, to explain how much money an ordinary farmer would expect to earn from an acre of land if he grew coffee, pineapples, passion fruits or others crops.

He also handed over 150 weed sprayers and pledged to deliver 20 Frisian cows to women who grew pineapple in the area.

The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) is a 25-year programme aimed at improving agricultural activities in the rural areas. The programme was officially launched in March 2002 and has so far been implemented in 79 districts and 710 sub-counties. The Ministry of Agriculture is supposed to supervise the activities of NAADS.

The first phase covers the period 2001 to 2008, the cost of which is estimated at $108m. Sources of funding are the government of Uganda, participating local governments and farmers, as well as foreign partners. Foreign donors, who contribute 80% of the total funds, include the Danish, Dutch and Irish governments, as well as the European Union, the International Development Association (IDA) and IFAD.

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