Companies Fight Over West Nile Tobacco

Source from:  TABU F. BUTAGIRA & RONALD BATRE KAMPALA/ARUA 08/29/2007

TOBACCO companies in West Nile are wrangling over rights to buy produce from farmers in the area. The wrangle that has sucked in the police, Local Council officials and the Arua Resident District Commissioner Ibrahim Abiriga has worsened in recent days as the marketing season that began in June comes to an end. On Wednesday, a dozen disgruntled tobacco farmers under Continental Tobacco Company led by Dr. Aldo Pariyo, the medical superintendent of Maracha mission hospital opened a case of "theft" of tobacco against British America Tobacco - Uganda at Arua central police station. The complainants allege that Batu on August 20 used police personnel to raid their homes to "buy tobacco illegally" and the law enforcers confiscated over 3, 500 kilograms during the violent raid along Uganda - Congo border. Batu's Leaf Operations Manager for Middle north region, Peter Mukisa however denied any involvement and said his company is not "part of the problem". The production secretary for Oluvu Sub - county Mr Lawrence Matua, who is also the vice chairman Imve cooperatives society in Maracha County; said during the operation, the police seized 34 bales (about 2, 584kgs) of tobacco from Mr Ajio Eroko, took another 800kgs from Mr Bosco Andama alongside 716kgs grabbed from Dr. Pariyo. Mr Joseph Candia reportedly lost 500kgs and there is no word where the confiscated tobacco has been taken. In a dramatic twist, RDC Joseph Abiriga on Friday chased away the aggrieved farmers as they sought audience with him to establish why the police, who are supposed to be neutral, were siding with Batu to terrorise farmers. Mr Abiriga said he expelled the tobacco growers after they accused him of conniving with the police. Enditem