Mbale — Bugisu farmers have told the State Minister for trade, Mr Nelson Wambuzi Gagawala to rescind his directive that no politician should be allowed to contest for any position in Bugisu Cooperative Union.

The minister in a letter dated April 17 directed the commissioner for co-operative development to bar politicians particularly ministers, MPs, LC5 chairpersons and sub-county chairpersons from contesting positions in BCU in the election set for May 2.

In a letter to the Minister dated April 20, the farmers say Mr Gagawala is ignorant of the laws governing BCU as a limited company and regulations 25 of the co-operative societies' regulations, by-laws 34, 35 and 40 with regard to eligibility to contest for any position for any registered member.

The letter signed by Bugisu elders Forum chairman, Rev. Bishop Peter Mudonyi, Mr. Charles Mungoma and Mr. J.M Muliro all coffee farmers under BCU, the elders say that the provisions of the co-operative societies and by-laws governing BCU do not bar ministers, MPs, LC5 chairpersons and LC3 chairpersons from contesting for the BCU leadership.

The letter which Daily Monitor has seen, describes Mr Gagawala's directive as baseless, illegal, a calculated attempt to override the law and to divide the Bagisu coffee farmers.

"We implore you to rescind the directive to disqualify our local politicians from contesting for the leadership of BCU," the letter to Mr Gagawala reads in part.

"Allow us space to reorganise our union within the prevailing legal opinion. Your letter is illegal and meant to divide Bagisu coffee farmers and we are prepared to challenge the same should it be implemented."

The farmers say right from the 1960s, politicians like Hon H Kimaswa, Hon. J. G. Muduku, Hon Bernard Wolimbwa and Hon. Charles Wagidoso served concurrently as MPs and also as BCU board members and that they played a pivotal role in the organisation of the union.

The letter says BCU as a limited company defines its membership through registered primary growers' co-operative societies and that as long as one is a member of primary co-operative society and has been elected a delegate he/ she is eligible to contest for any position in BCU.

The exchange of these letters comes at a time when NRM supporters, local coffee farmers and FDC supporters in Bugisu region are embroiled in a row over management of the Bugisu Co-operative Union.

The row has the Minister for the Presidency, Dr Beatrice Wabudeya, Bulambuli County MP, Mr Inyasio Mudimi and the Bubulo East MP, Mr George W Wopuwa on one side and FDC Shadow Minister of Finance, Nathan Nandala and the farmers on the other side.