Serere, Uganda – Despite President Museveni’s orders against erecting roadblocks along the highways, his directives have not been honored by the stubborn leadership of Serere district local government.
In the whole country, Serere district is the only district that has erected roadblocks on the highway, charging everyone money claiming to be road and produce taxes for the district.
This has affected the household income for the farmers in Serere district in Teso region.
The farmers are being charged a lot of money from roadblocks erected along the major route that connects Serere to Soroti by Atira sub-county authority.
Every farmer who transports produce for sale in Soroti town has to pay UGX 4,000 per bag of maize, sorghum, cowpeas, beans, and soybean, a move farmers are protesting.
This is against the directive from the president, who directed that all roadblocks and illegal taxing of farmers must be stopped.
Geoffrey Okwanlinga, one of the farmers in Serere, said they are wondering why it’s only one sub-county, Atira sub-county, putting roadblocks on the highway and charging people money.
“We pay a lot of money to these people at the roadblock and also go and pay a lot in Soroti town for offloading,” he said.
Stella Achen, another farmer, said from the many sub-counties in Serere district, it’s only Atira where roadblocks have been erected, and people are charged money.
“Is this happening because the district chairperson of Serere is an FDC person trying to tarnish the image of the NRM government because he has done nothing to address this?” he said.
Now they are appealing to President Museveni to intervene in the matter, saying Serere district is defying his directives.
Mr. Stephen Ochola, the district chairperson of Serere, confirmed the development, saying Serere district was losing a lot of revenue from Serere to Soroti city.
He, however, denied that farmers pay UGX 4,000 a bag but they pay something small.
However, the farmers are concerned as to why it’s only Atira sub-county that has put roadblocks and is collecting money.
