Coffee farmers from Bugisu are threatening to demonstrate against the decision by Tourism and Trade Minister, Kahinda Otafiire to ban four co-operative societies.
Otafire recently banned the four primary grower's cooperative societies that are registered members of Bugisu Co-operative Union, under unclear circumstances.
The affected societies include Busamaga Co-operative Society which is represented at Bugisu Cooperative Union by the opposition shadow Minister for Finance Nathan Nandala Mafabi.
Nandala is also the serving Chairman of Bugisu Co-operative Union and if Otafiire's decision is implemented he will lose his position and membership in the union
But the farmers claim the decision by Otafiire is political and not in line with the 1992 Co-operative Act. Patrick Miti, a farmer from Bunanoga village in Sironko, says the farmers are ready to demonstrate to protest Otafire's decision.
Miti claims Otafiire wants to destroy Bugisu Co-operative Union because it's being headed by Nandala who is in the opposition.
70 year-old Patrick Wakamui, a farmer from Bumasifa Co-operative Society says the farmers want Otafiire to call an Annual General Meeting of Bugisu Co-operative Union and explain the reason why he has banned the four co-operative societies.
Wakamui who has been a member of Bugisu Co-operative Union since the 50's accuses Otafiire of blocking the only source of household income for families in Bugisu.
// Cue in: iIt's we who elected that#i
Cue out i#rest of the Bagisui //
Another farmer Yusiya Mahonge Muliro says the Bagisu are ready to die in order to save the union from being destroyed by the government.
Muliro says that Otafiire's decision to ban the four societies should be urgently reversed because it undermines government's prosperity for all programs.
// Cue in: iI ask the Minister#i
Cue out i#trying to puti //
Otafiire declined to comment on the concerns raised by the farmers.
