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Tobacco Farmers in Hoima in Protest Over Delayed Payments

News
More than 3,000 tobacco farmers in Hoima, are protesting against delayed payments for their supplies to British American Tobacco.


On Wednesday, the farmers stormed the Resident District Commissioner's office demanding her intervention in their plight.


The aggrieved farmers mostly from Masindi, Hoima, Buliisa and Kibaale districts, say the British American Tobbacco Company owes them more than eight billion shillings in unpaid debts for the tobacco supplied to the company.


Led by Sedrack Mwijakubi, the Chairman Bunyoro Tobacco Growers Association, the farmers said that the money was accrued from the supplies in 2004, when they sold tobacco to BAT at their Kibati Tobacco buying center, in Hoima municipality.


The farmers asked the RDC to compel BAT to pay back the money.


Earlier, the farmers sued BAT over the payments and the High court ruled in their favor, and ordered BAT to pay the farmers.


But the farmers say that BAT has defied the court order.


Addressing the aggrieved farmers, the RDC pledged to notify the President about their grievances.


The RDC also called for calm saying their money would be paid soon. British American Tobacco Company officials did not attend the Wednesday meeting and have not commented on the matter.


The farmer's protest comes two weeks after two civilians were shot and killed during a workers strike at Kibati.


The over 600 workers were striking over delayed pay by the tobacco company.

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Type Report
Freelance author No
Location Hoima, Uganda
Accepted on 2010-09-23 09:52:34

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Earlier

Thursday 23 September
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Wednesday 22 September
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