MUHANGA – Residents in Muhanga district have been asked to volunteer more information that would lead to the recovery of all the cows which were irregularly distributed under the ‘One cow per household’ program in the area.

Dr. Clarisse Ingabire, an official of the Agriculture Ministry, made the call on Monday during the ‘girinka’ cow programme recovery assessment exercise in Nyamabuye sector.

"There is need for residents to support and cooperate in the repossession exercise by being open,” she said.

Ingabire noted that lack of sufficient information and fear to speak the truth of how the residents acquired the cows was hindering the process of recovering the animals.
Close to 700 cows were distributed in Muhanga district in 2007-2008 through the ministry’s programmes.

Sources say that at least 210 of these cows were irregularly given out and have to be returned and re-distributed. Of these only 161 cows have so far been recovered and given to the rightful beneficiaries not with standing the fact that less than 2 days are remaining against the set deadline.

More cows are expected to be recovered before the closure of the process which ends January 15, and the cooperation of residents has been commendable in some sectors, according to Dr. Ingabire.

Nyamabuye sector leader, Jean Baptiste Mugunga, expressed optimism in the recovery process, warning the new beneficiaries against selling the cows.

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