TEREGO – More than 100 tobacco farmers from Wandi, Terego district protested against Continental Tobacco Company, demanding a total of Shs.7.9 billion from the company. The money accrued since 2018 from the supply of tobacco leaves from more than 1500 farmers.
Last week, the farmers held a peaceful procession at the office of the company that shares premises with West Nile Cooperative Society. The peaceful demonstration according to the farmers was aimed at attracting government’s attention to their plight.
Santos Adriko, one of the tobacco farmers who is demanding Shs. 5.2 million for tobacco leaves he supplied to the company between 2018 and 2019 says, he has never received any money for what he supplied.
Adriko says, every time he goes to the office demanding for his money, he is told to wait and that his money will be paid along with his other colleagues.
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“Between 2018 and 2019, I supplied tobacco leaves to Continental Tobacco Company, they have never paid me. Every time, I come to their offices to ask for payment, they tell me to wait. I am told my money is being processed along with other farmers in the district,” Adriko.
Luiji Bayo, another aggrieved farmer who is claiming Shs 4.5 million says, they have waited for too long for their hard-earned money to be paid by the company. Bayo wonders why the government is intervening in concerns of other areas like Bunyoro and not West Nile and Terego district in particular.
According to Bayo, he was forced to borrow money to help him with burial expenses of a son, he recently lost yet Continental Tobacco owes him Shs 4.5 million which should have helped him.
Wilfred Saka, the LCV Chairperson Terego district told theCooperator that several attempts to engage the company to pay the farmers have been in vain.
Saka says, the issues were raised on the floor of parliament and several other platforms including getting the attention of the President but Continental Tobacco Company has remained silent since 2018.
“We have had several discussions and dialogues, the matter has even been raised on the floor of Parliament but to date, no conclusive decision and payment has been made to the farmers. From what it looks like now, the operation of the company is turning into fraud,” Saka noted.
Saka also condemned the recent remarks by Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja who said, the government will pay tobacco farmers in Bunyoro who are also claiming for their money from the same company.
“If you want to intervene and pay the farmers, why should you discriminate? All the farmers are suffering the same wrath of not being paid by the company,” Saka asked.
Peter Waigera, the West Nile Area Manager, Continental Tobacco Company (CTC) says the delay in paying the farmers has been due to low business. He says, the company has been struggling in recent times which has seen their branch in DRC closed due to lack of finances.
“We are currently having very low sales, which has affected our financial capacities, we have even closed our offices in DRC due to lack of funds. I want to call for a little patience from the farmers because we are looking for money so that we clear them,” Waigera explained.
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