Farmers reinstate BCU board unopposed

Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Nathan Nandala Mafabi-led Bugisu Cooperative Union (BCU) has clinched another four-year term in office. The board was returned unopposed during the Union annual general meeting held Tuesday at the BCU headquarters.

The other members are John Musila who was returned as Vice Chairperson (Director Lwakhakha Zone), Isaiah Sasaga Wanzira, (Director of Sironko Valley Zone), Michael Lulonde (Director of Lambuli Zone), Joshua Mweru (Director of Upper Central Zone), Eddy Wanambwa (Director for Bubulo Zone), James Kutosi (Director for Tsutsu Zone), and Florence Wanzala (Director Manafwa Zone).

Nelson Wedayila, the Secretary of the BCU Vetting Committee, confirmed that the reinstated board members successfully passed the vetting process, meeting all minimum requirements such as being registered BCU farmers and selling their coffee at BCU. Nandala thanked the farmers for reinstating the board, emphasizing its importance in completing ongoing projects.

He highlighted projects like the upgrade of BCU Musundi house opposite Mbale taxi park into a five-star hotel and the reclamation of Elgon Hotel, which was sold by the former board in the 1980s. The Minister for Cooperative, Frederick Ngobi Gume, commended BCU farmers for selling their coffee at BCU, emphasizing its role in improving coffee prices.

He credited the revival of BCU by Nandala, who has since influenced the increment of coffee prices. Isaiah Sasaga Wanzira, Director of Sironko Valley Zone pledged to ensure the active participation of all primary societies under BCU in bringing coffee to BCU. He asserted that if all primary societies within the Bugisu region sell their coffee to BCU, competitors will automatically be phased out, leading to increased benefits for coffee farmers.

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