NYAGATARE - Milk suppliers in Rwimiyaga Sector, Nyagatare District say they have not been paid their money for supplying milk to their associations ,over the last one month. The livestock farmers are grouped under Kirebe-Kamate Zirakamwa Farmers’ Cooperative which buys milk from them. “It is a big disappointment to us. We have been supplying milk with an intention of getting paid but all is in vain,” an angry farmer said, adding that normally farmers give the cooperative an 8 day grace period upon which they make payments. A farmer said whenever they seek explanations , the cooperative’s accountant claims that some books of accounts held up in Kigali. Another source from the milk collection centre said that approximately Rwf20 million is missing from the cooperative’s coffers. The manager of UDAMACO- Farmers’ Business Cooperative in the districts of Kayonza, Gatsibo and Nyagatare Fred Muhire, said on Tuesday that he was aware of the problem but measures have been taken to arrest the situation. “Yes, it is true that there was mismanagement of cooperative funds at this milk collection centre but we immediately intervened and dissolved the management committee. We also want to scruitinise further and see how we can recover the loss the cooperative has incurred,” he said. Ends
