By Karim Were
Iganga, Uganda — Authorities in Iganga have recovered 15 bags of government fertiliser worth approximately Shs2.4 million following an operation targeting the alleged diversion of agricultural inputs meant for farmers under the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project (UCSATP).
The fertiliser was recovered from a store in Kasokoso Cell, Iganga Municipality, where it had allegedly been concealed instead of being delivered to registered beneficiaries in Nakigo Sub-county.
The recovery has since led to the arrest of Muzito Henry, a Community-Based Facilitator (CBF) attached to the Climate Smart Agriculture programme. He is being held at Iganga Central Police Station as police continue investigating the circumstances under which the government supplies were diverted.
According to Iganga Resident District Commissioner Eric Ssewandigi, the operation followed the earlier arrest of another suspect, identified as Waiswa, who was allegedly found in possession of the fertiliser.
“We first arrested one Waiswa with 15 bags of fertilisers which they were hiding in Kasokoso. Upon arrest on Monday, he told us on Tuesday that the bags of fertiliser were given to him by Muzito Henry to store,” Ssewandigi said.
Security officials are now seeking to establish why the fertiliser, intended for farmers in Nakigo Sub-county, was transported to Iganga Municipality instead of reaching its intended beneficiaries.
Each of the recovered bags is valued at about Shs160,000, bringing the total value of the consignment to an estimated Shs2.4 million.
Ssewandigi said the fertiliser will be returned to Nakigo Sub-county for distribution once police complete their investigations.
He credited members of the public for providing information that enabled security agencies to recover the government inputs, urging residents to continue reporting suspected cases of diversion and misuse of public resources.
The RDC warned that district authorities would take firm action against anyone found diverting or selling government supplies, saying such practices undermine programmes designed to improve agricultural productivity and household incomes.
“We shall always ensure that all government programmes are not interfered with, and none of the items should be diverted and sold. We are taking back the bags of fertiliser to the targeted groups in Nakigo Sub-county,” he said.
Ssewandigi also reiterated the district’s zero-tolerance stance on the misuse of public resources, including funds disbursed under the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“We are not sparing thieves, including those who have taken PDM money. Those found culpable have been ordered to pay back every shilling. Government programmes are meant to lift people out of poverty, not to enrich individuals,” he said.
He added that district leaders and security agencies will intensify monitoring to ensure government agricultural inputs and development funds reach their intended beneficiaries.
Police investigations into the alleged diversion remain ongoing at Iganga Central Police Station.
