By Micheal Atwakiire
Sheema: Kitagata Coffee Farmers platform a group of 78 members hailing from Kashekuro Parish, Kitagata Sub-County, Sheema District told the area Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Frank Kyereere to make sure they meet President Museveni before August.
These farmers led by their Chairperson Steven Mwesigwa said, they have tried their level best through their elected leaders; legislators and ministers to link them up with president Museveni but all in vain.Â
He added that they are lacking crushing
machines and vehicles to transport their products thus a need to meet the
president for a push like any other developmental groups.
“Our group isn’t new that we don’t have what to show him, we usually see
some groups meeting him and share their problems, for example if we get a
chance to meet him, immediately we shall ask him two lorries and a coffee
grilling machine,” Mwesigwa said.
Mwesigwa added that their local leaders
especially the members of parliament have done nothing to help linking them and
lobbing.
“I hear that we have members of parliament, as a group, these leaders from
LCV to MPs, they have totally done nothing to us in terms of development. By
the way that’s why we have decided to use our knowledge to meet president
because our leaders are still in deep sleep,” Mwesigwa added.
Rtd Sergeant Katehangwa Eli also a member of
the coffee platform said, the reason as to why they plead to meet the president
by face is because they last saw elected politicians in 2016 during elections.
“For Sheema, we escorted other areas in voting, because our leaders are
very busy in their offices hence no time to come back to grass roots. They are
good people when they need something from you because I witnessed this in 2016
when I last saw them in this village, He said.
The area RDC blamed them for having not notified him earlier because he’s the only person who would connect them to the president.
He also said, some people have grievances
with the area MP Prof Ephraim Kamuntu the best friend to president Museveni and
advised them to stop political grievances and concentrate on developmental issues
“Many times you people bring problems to yourselves, Kamuntu who would
have connected you, don’t love you as well because you exclusively vote his
opponents, that’s why at the beginning of this year when he chose people from
Sheema South to meet president Museveni, he picked only one person from this
side while other areas were represented by over 15 people. Stop blaming your
leaders that they refused to take you to State House, just blame yourselves because
of what you did to them. I will help you and I call minister Kamuntu here, you
apologize before him and then he will do everything for you.” Kyereere
Said.
This group or platform has more than 150 members although it is alleged that only 78 are active. It is also alleged that they harvest not less than 70 tons of coffee every season.
