Farmers in Bunyoro sub region are crying foul after a tobacco company failed to pay them.
Kibaale district Woman MP, Noeline Basemera told Parliament this week that Continental Uganda has been playing games as farmers in Bunyoro sun-region especially those in Kibaale district continue to count losses.
Basemera said that farmers have been demanding for payment for quite a long time, but the tobacco company has remained adamant.
Michael Werikhe, the State Minister of Trade promised to table a status report regarding payment of tobacco farmers in Bunyoro by the end of this month.
Werikhe said the Ministry of Trade has conducted a verification exercise on affected farmers in the districts of Kakumiro, Kibaale, Hoima, Masindi, Kiryandongo and Nwoya with the view of ensuring that they are paid .
He added that the ministry has put in place stringent measures on none and under payment of tobacco farmers by the companies.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga directed the minister to ensure that tobacco farmers are paid before Christmas so that they can plan better for their families.
The tobacco control and marketing regulation requires that prior to granting an export license, the sponsor must confirm full payment to farmers before getting written consent from the minister.
