Coffee farmers in Lwengo district have accused UPDF officers in charge of Operation Wealth Creation Programme in the district of supplying them with poor quality seedlings.
“These seeds are not of good quality they are supplying seedling that are below the required standard of Uganda Coffee Development Authority guidelines,” said the farmer.
“The delay to give us the seeds on time, and when we plant when the planting season is past, the seedlings dry up in days,” said another farmer before another one supplemented by saying that; “ They bring the seedling in polythene bags and when they are planted, they dry up immediately.”
Some of the farmers are also accusing the UPDF officers of inflating the quantities and costs of the coffee seedlings procured.
“Lt Col Nsobya told me that if I don’t sell him the seedling at Shs100 each, I will not be allowed to supply seedlings again in Lwengo district,” said a coffee seedlings supplier.
Lt Col Nsobya rubbished the claims by saying that him as an army officer he has no authority to purchase the seedlings.
“I cannot purchase coffee seedlings from the nursery without the permission of the regulator, Uganda Coffee development association.”