By Juma Nsubuga

Government is likely to lose at least  12 billion shillings in another compensation after a private farmer who was in charge of the Goats Multiplication scheme  in Sembabule district accused the ministry of agriculture for failure to facilitate him to accomplish the set targets of the project worth 7 billion shillings.

While appearing before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee ,Mr Paul Ssembeguya  said that although  the goats’ multiplication project was worth 7 billion shillings, the ministry of Agriculture only paid him 800 million shillings to procure the hybrid goats for the scheme that was expected to benefit other local farmers.

Mr Ssembeguya told MPs that whereas government is now claiming 30, 000 goats from his Ssembeguya Estates Limited, he was only paid money for 3000 goats to be distributed to 108 farmers.

He added that although the government is now demanding 30,000 goats including the off springs, after procurement of the 3000 goats the
agriculture ministry abandoned the project leaving him to incur all the costs of rearing the goats which was not the agreed position in
the Memorandum of Understanding.

According to Ssembeguya keeping the goats at his farm cost him 1500 shillings per goat per night an expense the ministry is not putting
into consideration when demanding for the goats and their kids.

He also said that he doesn’t want to make claims now but if government insists on demanding for more goats he will not hesitate but to also
make claims.

Meanwhile the vice chairperson of the committee Paul Mwiru said it would make economic sense for government to compensate 12 billion
shillings to Ssembeguya for breeding the goats.