By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE
Two of the four Delegates of Bugisu Co-operative Union (BCU) who have been defying Nathan Nandala Mafabi’s leadership at the Union have sought reconciliation and agreed to work with him.
The two are Muhammad Nabuyobo of Budwale Primary Society under the Central Upper Zone and Swalik Nambuye from Bubyetse Primary Society also of the Central Upper Zone.
In 2005 when Nathan Nandala Mafabi was elected as new BCU chairperson to replace John Wamulugwa, four primary society delegates led by Wamuluga the former chairperson defied the leadership of Nandala.
The four delegates also doubling as petitioners were Muhamed Nabuyobo, Swalik Nambuye, John wamulugwa from Nagawoya Primary Society under Sironko Valley Zone, and Gibson Gidagwe from Nashelo Primary Society under Bukusege Zone.
These four delegates were opposing the current BCU board alleging that it delayed giving them accountability making them suspicious that some money had been misappropriated in the Union.
From 2005 up to day, these four Delegates have been writing a number of petitions to the Ministry of Cooperatives asking the government to suspend the Nandala’s Board and carry out independent audits.
During the Annual General Meeting (AGM) this year at the BCU head offices located at Doho Industrial City Division in Mbale City, Hon. Frederick Ngobi Gume, the Minister of State for Cooperatives expressed his bitterness with these four delegates for continuing to fight the union by always petitioning his office with baseless information about misappropriation of union’s money.
He urged the four to reconcile with the union leadership and work together for the development of Bugisu Cooperative Union since as a government, they see no money which was misappropriated as alleged.
He referred to the four as people with bad hearts who have selfish interests in fighting BCU leadership and he called upon farmers to disassociate from them.
Likewise, in December, 2022, the Minister for the Elderly, Dominic Gidudu met the four aggrieved BCU petitioners at Mount Elgon hotel and pleaded with them to stop with the petitions and reconcile with BCU leadership but all went in vain.
However, while speaking to our reporter on Tuesday, 7th November, 2023 at Elgon fm premises, Nabuyobo said that together with Nambuye, they have decided to leave the fights and chosen to work with the current BCU board to develop Bugisu.
They said ‘’last month the parliamentary committee on cooperatives came and sat at Mbale district local government office located at Malukhu to do audits of all cooperatives but BCU was found clean, so we see no reason why we continue fighting.’’
Nambuye said that they are tired of fighting the current leadership for eighteen years.
They add that their two colleagues John Wamulugwa and Gibson Gidagwe are still hesitant to reconcile over their personal hatred of Nandala.
‘‘I’m not ready to continue fighting wars of malice and mudsling our leaders but ready to work with the BCU board to develop Bugisu,’’ Nambuye said.
Isaiah Sasaga Wanzira, director of Sironko Valley Zone also doubling as legislator representing Budadiri East Constituency in Sironko district welcomed the two delegates for knowing facts but urged the two remaining colleagues to follow the same way rather than continuing to fight the leadership of the union.
“Nagawoya primary society where Wamulugwa comes from currently doesn’t exist after being disregarded by farmers since it has not been remitting coffee to Bugisu Cooperative Union,’’ Sasaga revealed.
John Musila, the Vice chairman of Bugisu Cooperative Union also doubling as legislator representing Bubulo East Constituency in Namisindwa district said that they will continue serving farmers without the two delegates who are still hesitant.
He added that these four members fought them with the aim of failing their work but the board has been clean.
Honorable Musila pledged to work with the two reformed members who have joined them for the good of the union and farmers.
Getting a comment from the two remaining petitioners by press time was futile after not picking our repeated calls.
