Iganga CBF arrested over alleged theft of farmers’ fertiliser

RDC Ssewandigi said each bag of fertiliser is valued at approximately Shs160,000, placing the estimated value of the recovered consignment at about Shs2.4 million.

Police officers escort Community-Based Facilitator Muzito Henry (in a checked shirt) to Iganga Central Police Station after interrogation at the RDC's office over the alleged diversion of government fertiliser.

Iganga, Uganda: The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Iganga, Eric Ssewandigi, has confirmed the arrest of a Community-Based Facilitator (CBF) over the alleged diversion of 15 bags of government fertiliser intended for farmers under the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project (UCSATP).

The suspect, identified as Muzito Henry, was arrested after security operatives traced the fertiliser to a store in Kasokoso Cell, Iganga Municipality, where it had allegedly been hidden instead of being delivered to beneficiaries in Nakigo Sub-county.

Speaking to the DailyExpress, Ssewandigi said investigations began after the arrest of another suspect, Waiswa, who was found in possession of the fertiliser.

“We first arrested one Waiswa with 15 bags of fertilisers which they were hiding in Kasokoso. Upon arrest on Monday, he told us on Tuesday that the bags of fertiliser were given to him by one Muzito Henry to store them,” Ssewandigi said.

According to the RDC, Muzito serves as a Community-Based Facilitator under the Climate Smart Agriculture programme and is currently being detained at Iganga Central Police Station as investigations continue.

“We shall seek answers from Muzito on why he diverted the fertilisers meant for Nakigo Sub-county to Iganga Municipality,” Ssewandigi added.

Each bag of fertiliser is valued at approximately Shs160,000, placing the estimated value of the recovered consignment at about Shs2.4 million.

Ssewandigi said the recovered fertiliser will be returned to Nakigo Sub-county and distributed to the intended beneficiaries after police conclude their investigations.

He commended members of the public for providing information that led to the recovery of the government inputs and encouraged residents to continue reporting cases of abuse of public programmes.

Iganga Resident District Commissioner Eric Ssewandigi addresses journalists on the arrest of Muzito Henry

The RDC warned public officials against diverting or selling government supplies, saying authorities would not tolerate interference with programmes intended to improve household incomes.

“We shall always ensure that all government programmes are not interfered with and none of the items should be diverted and sold. We are taking back the bags of fertiliser to the targeted groups in Nakigo Sub-county,” he said.

Ssewandigi added that his office maintains a zero-tolerance policy against the theft or misuse of public resources, including funds disbursed under the Parish Development Model (PDM).

“We are not sparing thieves, including those who have taken PDM money. Those found culpable have been ordered to pay back every shilling. Government programmes are meant to lift people out of poverty, not to enrich individuals,” he warned.

He said the district leadership, working together with security agencies, will intensify monitoring to ensure agricultural inputs and government funds reach their intended beneficiaries.

By press time, investigations into the alleged diversion were ongoing at Iganga Central Police Station.