- They say its a conduit to grabb community land in their region.
- The mps claim that they were not consulted.
- The project will promote commercial farming and associated value chains on over 150,000 acres of community land.
Image: courtesy photo
Members of Parliament from Acholi sub region have come out to register their reservations on the Parish-to-Market Model project championed by Prof Otunnu Ogenga and Operation wealth creation in the region.
During his tour in Acholi sub region to mobilize people on investment and wealth creation, President Yoweri Museveni launched this Model,to promote commercial farming and associated value chains on over 150,000 acres of community land in Acholi sub-region.
While interfacing with the the promoter of the project at Parliament,the Mps led by the Vice Chairperson Acholi parliamentary group also Agago West MP Ricky Richard Anywar said that this project was a conduit to grab community land in the region.
The MPs accused Proffessor. Otunnu of hoodwinking the President that they endorsed the project yet they have never taken such a decision.
`` We are shocked to find the Caucus name on the face of the project we have no knowledge about it.'' Anywar noted
Chua west mp Okin Ojara said that although they are not against development, they cannot stand a project that is targeting people’s land which is already threatened by the grabbers.
Chua East mp Margaret Lamwaka wondered how such a project which targets Acholi land can be implemented without consultation of regional Leaders.
However Otunnu urged the mps to shake off their phobia of land grabbing and focus on projects to develop the idle land in Acholi.
Prof.Otunu explained that this model will provide farmers with rural service centre that will provide farmers with mechanization and certified seeds
Otunnu said that Acholis have not benefited from Government programs due to over protection of their land as the region and it has remained poor with fertile soils.
Even after getting a briefing from Prof. Otunnu, legislators remained unconvinced, saying the objectives of the project are not clear at all while its pillars are blurred.
He also defended the idea of working with Gen. Salim Saleh and operation wealth creation which MPs are afraid of.
Otunnu says Saleh came on board to provide financial support to the project as intervention to the poverty levels he discovered during his stay in Gulu.