SEEDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED FOR SECOND SEASON IN GULU CITY

By Desire Alimocan

Gulu city

In a bid to solve the hunger problem that the people of Gulu City and Acholi have been facing because of the long dry spell effect on people’s crops, some leaders have taken it upon themselves to help support the communities of Gulu City with maize seeds to be planted for second planting season.

Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, the Bardege Layibi Division Member of Parliament, says he lobbied for the seeds from Operation Wealth Creation to help farmers from both divisions of the city.

He noted that, “We are bringing 80,000 kilos. Bardege will take 40,000, Laroo Pece will take 40,000. Those are 40 tons. Yes, I got elected from Bardege Layibi, but I’m a leader for all.  That is why Laroo-Pece, the mayor and her team, they have already registered the farmers. And these seeds are going to be given strictly to those from the annexes. And there is no politics about this.” 

While at the Gulu City full council meeting on July 30, 2026, some councilors questioned their exclusion in this exercise.

Akena Geoffrey, the Chairperson Works and Technical Services for Gulu City Council explained that the technical team should verify whether these seeds were meant to be received by the council or Mapenduzi’s office.

“Operation Wealth Creation is an institution that has been put in place by government. And when they are communicating to an institution of government like Gulu City, they communicate in writing. We need this to be clearly guided here, so that we don’t have any political conflicts within this city. I believe that when somebody lobbies for something, it will not come to an institution. It will go to your office, if you do have an office. As you are aware, most of our MPs have their private offices,” he explained.

However, the female councilor V for Older Persons in Gulu city, Achiro Lucy Anywar, urged the colleague members to embrace the exercise.

“If they are bringing the seeds to Gulu City, why should we make noise about it, whether it goes to Bardege-Layibi or Laroo-Pece but there should be proper procedure for distribution of these seeds? Because some people are also bringing in their seeds, so anything that is brought to Gulu City, let us receive and receive in good faith,” Achiro said.

Meanwhile, Dramaku Maleek, the Town Clerk for Bardege Layibi Division confirmed that the technical team is overseeing the distribution. “Seeds shall be delivered and distributed to the farming households of Gulu city. Although more shall be on the side of Bardege-Layibi, part of it shall be on the other side of Laroo-Pece. Other details will come when we reach that level. So, there is formal communication in that regard. As the technical team, we are being involved in the aspects of germination tests. Our production team is taking that lead to try to verify the households who will be able to get the seeds.”

However, according to Mapenduzi, his focus is not who distributes the seeds but who receives is what matters to him, adding that the councilors should instead stop complaining over already sought help but should go and seek more help for the people whom they serve.

In addition to the 80 tons of the maize seeds there will be 15 tons of soya beans that will be distributed equally to make up a total of about 10,000 beneficiaries who are currently being registered by the LC 1 Chairpersons of each cell especially in the annex areas where there are more farmers to avoid waste of seeds or even some people turning them into flour.