By Ronnie Weswa
The Ministry of Cooperatives has disagreed with attempts by some farmers to block the Annual General Meeting of Gumutundo Coffee Cooperative Limited scheduled for April 9th, 2024.
Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative Limited operates under the Bugisu Cooperative Union (BCU), encompassing over 4,000 farmers from 10 BCU primary societies across the Bugisu region.
Established by a group of farmers under BCU in the 1980s, Gumutindo faced collapse until its revival in 2016 by Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the Chairman of BCU, and other board members.
The primary objective of Gumutindo is to enable farmers cultivating organic coffee under BCU to secure high-priced export markets.
Speaking Friday in Mbale regional block boardroom during a consultation meeting chaired by Rex Acheli, the Mbale City Resident Commissioner, John Wamulugwa, the chief petitioner, expressed the desire for the Ministry of Cooperatives to extend the AGM until they resolve internal conflicts within the current leadership of Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative Limited.
Wamulugwa highlighted instances of illegal removal of farmers and cooperative societies without clear reasons, and he cited the confusion caused by the existence of two parallel chairpersons within Gumutindo.
Patrick Waniaye, the Chairperson of Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative Limited, attributed the removal of societies and farmers to non-compliance with patronage and subscription fee regulations as stipulated by the law. He assured that they still have an opportunity to fulfill the requirements and regain registration after the forthcoming AGM.
Ben Wakikona, a commercial officer from Mbale City representing the Registrar at the Ministry of Cooperatives, emphasized that, according to the law, they cannot suspend or halt the legally organized AGM meeting initiated by the farmers. He underscored the absence of substantial reasons to warrant such action.
Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the BCU Chairperson, cautioned Wamulugwa against adversarial actions towards BCU and Gumutindo, highlighting his non-membership in any BCU primary society. Mafabi suggested that Wamulugwa’s attempt to challenge BCU had failed, and now he was targeting Gumutindo’s leadership in a bid to infiltrate BCU, which he deemed unlikely to succeed.
John Musila, the Vice Chairperson of BCU, encouraged coffee farmers under Gumutundo Coffee Cooperative Limited to participate in large numbers in the AGM scheduled for the 9th of this month.
Rex Achela, the Mbale RCC, urged both parties to engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve their issues as a means of fostering development within BCU and Gumutindo.
