Kampala, (UG):- The Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) has opened up on allegations regarding irregularities in the procurement and utilization of its vehicles dismissing the claims as misleading and ill-informed and aimed at discrediting the initiative as a government programme.
The development comes against the backdrop of a video making rounds on social media in which Kira Municipality MP, Hon. Ssemujju Nganda (FDC) accused OWC of mismanagement, questioning the legitimacy of its Chief Coordinator, Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho Salim Saleh (Rtd).
In the statement released Thursday, November 14, OWC clarified that all vehicles were procured through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) following the guidelines of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA).
“The procurement cost of UGX 28 billion, not UGX 97 billion as falsely claimed, is well-documented and accessible to the public,” OWC emphasized in the statement, criticising the allegations as unfounded and aimed at discrediting the organization’s efforts.
“Gen. Salim Saleh was never involved in the procurement nor a supplier. Claims of inflated costs lack factual basis and are meant to confuse the public,” the statement read. “Statements suggesting personal financial gain by Gen. Saleh are both untrue and baseless. OWC was created to transform the agricultural sector,” it reiterated.
To further refute the allegations, OWC highlighted its decade-long impact on Uganda’s agriculture, citing significant achievements such as the increase in coffee production from 3.24 million 60-kg bags in 2014/15 (valued at $400.49 million) to nearly 8 million bags in 2023/24 (valued at $1.14 billion). Similar growth was noted in maize, milk, tea, and banana production, demonstrating the program’s success in transforming livelihoods.
The Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) was launched by H.E the President in July 2013 as an intervention to efficiently facilitate national socio-economic transformation, with a focus on raising household incomes and wealth creation by transforming subsistence farmers into commercial farmers to end poverty.
These gains, according to OWC are a result of its streamlined operations, which reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and ensure timely distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers.
“Rationalization of agencies like the Uganda Coffee Development Agency ensures resources flow effectively to farmers, enabling them to thrive in global markets,” the statement highlighted.
OWC reiterated that the Chief Coordinator and his team are “committed to the socio-economic transformation of households in subsistence production, providing oversight and supporting coordination for all government programs, not only in agriculture.”
“Our current roles include mobilization, monitoring and supporting the Parish Development Model
(PDM), promoting effective use of all factors of production (Land, Capital, Labour, Entrepreneurship) and related infrastructure such as Technology and Markets, among many other responsibilities assigned by the Commander-in-Chief. We stand by our track record of accountability and transparency and continue to work tirelessly toward a brighter economic future for Uganda,” the statement concluded.
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