All verified tobacco farmers in the West Nile sub-region will be paid this week, State Minister for Trade David Bahati has announced, bringing relief to hundreds of farmers who have waited months for their dues.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Arua, Minister Bahati confirmed that the verification process had been completed and funds were now ready for disbursement.
“We have completed the verification process, and I can confidently say that all verified tobacco farmers in West Nile will be paid this week,” he said.
Addressing Parliament earlier, Bahati explained that the delay in payments had been caused by technical challenges.
“The delay was due to issues related to the payment system, which required funds to be disbursed directly into individual farmers’ accounts,” he said. “We had to ensure accuracy and transparency in the process.”
Farmers from Arua, Koboko, Yumbe, and other districts in the region have been demanding compensation for tobacco supplied to companies in previous seasons. Many cited hardships caused by the delay, including loan burdens and a shift away from tobacco farming.
The Uganda National Farmers Federation welcomed the move, describing it as a critical step toward restoring farmers’ trust in the agricultural value chain.
West Nile remains one of Uganda’s leading tobacco-producing regions. The government says it is now working on long-term measures to streamline farmer payments and avoid similar delays in the future.