Dr. Opio Samuel Acuti, Member of Parliament for Kole North Constituency, has launched the disbursement of crop insurance payouts to farmers in the Alito, Aboke, and Okwerodot sub-counties.
The payments were made by Agro-Consortium, a coalition of insurance companies working in partnership with the Ministry of Finance. One of the beneficiaries, Ahubu Omara, told this publication that he had paid a premium of UGX 400,000 and received a payout of UGX 3 million. The losses compensated were due to drought, excessive rainfall, and hailstorms.
MP Opio Acuti stated that this marks the second round of payments to farmers. “The previous payment was UGX 240 million for the 2022 season.
This second payment covers the first rainy season of 2023. More payouts are expected by the end of the year,” he noted, adding that a total of UGX 440 million has been disbursed to Kole farmers over the past two years.
The MP introduced the crop insurance program in Kole North in 2022, following numerous complaints from farmers about the adverse effects of weather on crop yields. Under the scheme, farmers are required to pay premiums amounting to 5% of the market value of their crops. In the event of weather-related damage, field officers assess the impact and calculate the appropriate compensation.
The Government of Uganda currently contributes UGX 5 billion annually to support the programme.
Several beneficiaries described the payments as timely, coinciding with the start of the new school term. Many indicated that the funds would primarily go toward paying school fees for their children.
