BCU mobilises coffee farmers, offers cheap loans
MBALE-Bugisu Co-operative Union [ BCU ] is engaged in zonal mobilisation meetings with coffee farmers in Bugisu Sub-region as one of the measures to increase the supply of green coffee to the union.
The mobilisation of the coffee farmers is being spearheaded by board members led by Chairman Nathan Nandala Mafabi, John Musila [Vice Chairperson] and Bubulo East MP, and Nathan Mabonga [Treasurer].
Other BCU board members mobilising farmers are; Eddy Wanambwa, James Kutosi, Samuel Wabulakha retired Bishop of Mbale Diocese, Samuel Gidudu, and Sironko district Kadhi representing religious leaders among others.
Yesterday they met coffee farmers of BCU in Lower Central Zone Mbale, Sacco members, and all LCIII chairpersons in Mbale district at Nyondo PTC in Mbale district.
Moses Wambogo, chairman of BCU Lower Central Zone requested the BCU leadership to survey all the land for primary cooperative societies and land titles kept at the BCU head offices.
“Some people are encroaching on the land in Lower Central Zone. We are in court fighting with the land grabbers,” he added.
Wambogo asked the union’s leadership to hire a legal team to help in recovering land grabbed from cooperative societies in his zone.
Nyondo Sub-county chairman, Richard Steven Mukyelule, told Bugisu Intellectual that, the meeting was aimed at mobilising farmers to take coffee in BCU to stay strong.
“We should leave the issues of politics and support the union. It gave the sub-county five scholarships. I believe that if it’s stable we might get more than 20 scholarships,” Mukyelule said.
Chairman Bumbobi Sub-county Martin Muniala said that the meeting was to unite Bamasaba and coffee farmers to sell coffee to BCU, saying the union has their interest at heart as opposed to private buyers.
Nandala Mafabi, the union’s Board Chairperson and MP Budadiri West County told members that he has instructed the lawyers to start investigations into the sale of land belonging to some of the cooperative society societies.
“I want to assure you, those who sold society land, we are going to arrest them,” Nandala said.
He that, “If your parent gave out land to a cooperative society, then it’s for the community.”
Nandala appealed to farmers to continue selling coffee to BCU. He also urged them to save with the cooperative and get loans at as low as 2 percent interest.
The cooperative based in Arabica growing region runs BCU SACCO which serves the districts of Mbale, Sironko Manafwa, Bulambuli, Bududa, and Namisindwa.
https://thecooperator.news/nandala-mafabi-sworn-in-as-bcu-board-union-chairman/
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