Hon. Huda Oleru, the state minister for veteran affairs, has urged Parliament to approve a supplemental budget of Shs30 billion for the Food and Animal Feeds Security Project.
The project attempts to increase food security to prevent impending shortages.
On Wednesday, February 01, 2023, she made the decision while testifying before the Committee on Agriculture.
Oleru claims that the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs was given the responsibility of allocating money from its budget to carry out the project.
“We were handed the money on paper but not in cash. Our technical staff searched for some cash, which we have been spending to buy the goods, but we haven’t received payment yet,” she stated.
The project’s primary organisations are the Chieftaincy of Production and Welfare (CPW), National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), and Veterans Cluster.
Of the overall funds, Sh14.2 billion was given to the Chieftaincy of Production and Welfare, which used Sh9.8 billion to pay for operations during the planting season, which runs from August 2022 to March 2023.
6,542 acres of maize, sorghum, and soya beans were planted in the previous planting season, according to Maj. Gen Sam Kiwanuka, who oversees the project under CPW, with a target of 10,000 acres projected for the 2023 planting season.
“We desperately need a combined harvester to allow speedy harvest and mechanization equipment to open up area for the new planting season,” Kiwanuka added. “Part of the targeted field has not been harvested.
According to National Enterprise Corporation’s managing director, Simon Terwane, they received Shs 8.26 billion and used Shs 4.26 billion for agricultural storage, harvesting, and post-harvesting.
4,568 metric tons of agricultural production are anticipated from farms in Katonga and Kyankwanzi, he continued, adding that a total of 2,084 acres were planted with maize, beans, and soybeans.
“We ask Parliament to ring-fence markets through governmental entities and internationally through Uganda’s overseas missions to source high-end markets for the produce being grown,” Terwane added.
According to Mike Mabonga Wambi, the commissioner in charge of rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and resettlement, the veterans cluster received Sh7.39 billion.
He said 4,706 acres of maize and soybeans were planted and harvested with Shs6.8 billion.
The salaries and quality of life of the veterans who are reintegrating into the communities and other community members improve as a result of employment along the value chain, according to Wambi.
The agencies were given a mandate by the committee’s Deputy Chairperson, Hon. Atim Agnes Apea, to provide information on a clear exit strategy to guarantee food security in the nation.
Hon. Stella Isodo (FDC, Ngora District) emphasized the need for the initiative to have the right technologies, which the communities could then utilize to boost farming.
According to Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Ministries of Defence and Education should construct a framework to create markets in order to address the issue of market access for food products.