On October 1, 2023, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, issued a directive to beneficiary groups that had received government hand tractors.

The beneficiaries were required to attend a four-day training session at the Namalere Agricultural Technology Center starting January 16, 2024. The training was scheduled for all districts that had received the tractors, focusing on how to operate the walkerble tractors.

Two years later, some beneficiaries who spoke with our reporter from Otuke district claimed that their names were accredited for the training, yet they did not participate.

Peter Awany from Ogor sub-county, a member of the Notte en Teko Farmers’ Group, was among the beneficiaries. He accused woman MP Susan Abeja of using their group’s name to access the tractors, including the names of beneficiaries who were supposed to attend the training.

However, different people went instead. “Our group is called Notte en Teko, but another group called Can Onotto wa Group received these tractors,” Awany stated.

Bonny Ongom from Orum sub-county, under the Orum Farmers’ Group, whose name was selected to represent his group, claimed that none of their members, including himself, attended the training.

“This should be the last time our leaders use our names to fulfil their missions. I call upon every group leader in Otuke district not to sign any forms to avoid this kind of embarrassment. How could our names be selected and then we are knocked out?” Ongom lamented.

Robert Okwir from Otuke town council told tndNews, Uganda, that he received information that Otuke district had received hand tractors and that selected beneficiaries were chosen for the training, himself included.

“Unfortunately, I did not participate in the training, and neither did any of our members. These tractors came from the government, not from any politicians, as some leaders wanted to claim ownership,” Okwir said.

Muna Ayoo Mina from Ogor sub-county stated that their group did not benefit from the tractors, although they sent a representative named Okullu for the training on how to operate the tractor, which took place in Agwata sub-county, Dokolo district.

Ayoo added that Okullu attended and acquired knowledge on operating the tractors, but the tractors were never given to their group.

Other leaders who added their voices include Benson Ogwang, former Olilim town council LC3 chairperson. He stated: “These tractors came while I was still in office. The condition was to send one representative per sub-county, including town council, for the four-day training on how to operate the tractors.

“We were initially informed that the training would take place in Kampala, but people were later taken to Agwata in Dokolo district.”

Ogwang added that operator Tonny Opio was selected for the training, but since returning that year, Opio has never seen a tractor under the Wek Dong Paco Group.

Ogwang accused some people who connect government programs of being corrupt, stating that some individuals want their relatives to be among the beneficiaries even when their names are not on the rightful list.

He, however, appreciated the government of Uganda under the leadership of Gen. Yoweri Museveni Kaguta for maintaining peace and ensuring that his people use the tractors to boost their farming productivity and networks.

Tonny Awio, chairperson of NRM Olilim sub-county, said that since the tractors were distributed in 2024, no one from his area has benefited from the project.

Awio alleged that most of the people benefiting from the tractors are relatives and agents of MP Abeja who supported her during the election period.

“This is a government asset, and we do not want segregation among users. Let us not bring party, tribe, or religion into government programs,” Awio emphasised.

Thomas Okello, chairperson of NRM Okwongo town council and also the chair of all NRM chairpersons in Otuke district, said that according to the government program, all sub-counties across the country were supposed to receive tractors to boost farming, and Otuke district was among them.

He lamented that when the tractors arrived, the program changed to target farmers’ groups. MP Abeja then instructed him to pick someone to represent their group for the training.

“Apart from these tractors, MP Julius Acon Bua, the Otuke East Member of Parliament, noted that both he and MP Abeja jointly lobbied for a full-size big tractor from the Ministry of Agriculture during the 2023–2024 financial year.

“Unfortunately, it is disheartening to note that Hon. Abeja has failed to hand over the tractor to the rightful beneficiaries in Otuke East. As a leader, I am deeply disappointed by her actions. How could she fail to ensure that the tractor reaches the right people?”

Meanwhile, MP Abeja, when contacted at 12:50pm on Sunday for a comment on the matter, another woman received her phone and said: “She has gone for some workshop.”