Tobacco Farmers in Hoima have shifted their guns from the British American Tobacco Company limited, to their group leaders, who they accuse of swindling their money.
More than 3,000 farmers have over the past four years been demanding over 7 billion shillings from British American Tobacco Company Limited as payment for their tobacco supplies to the cigarette manufacturing company.
The tobacco farmers sued British American Tobacco Company limited accusing them of failing to pay. Early this year the farmers won the court case and the company was ordered to pay them.
But the battle over their payments took a dramatic twist on Monday, when more than 100 tobacco farmers from Kitoba Sub County stormed the office of the Hoima Resident district Commissioner accusing their leader of swindling their money.
The farmers accused Jimmy Birungi, their group leader of conniving with masquerading farmers to swindle their money.
Matayo Byangire, one of the farmers claims that Birungi connived with some people who masqueraded as farmers and signed for their payments from BAT head office in Kampala.
Byangire says that the farmers were shocked to learn that the company no longer owed them any money, because the money was paid out to the alleged masqueraders.
BAT officials in Hoima have declined to comment on the matter.
But James Kajura, one of the farmers wants the RDC to arrest Birungi and to apprehend the suspected masqueraders. They also want the RDC to help them recover their money.
Florence Kiiza claims Birungi and his group received more than 800,000 shillings from BAT meant for her pay. She wants the money refunded and Birungi arrested.
Addressing the farmers later in the afternoon, Martha Asiimwe the RDC said there was little she could do to help, because the matter was already sorted out in court.
The RDC says her work is totally independent and different from that of the judiciary.
