The Ministry of Teso Affairs has haulted the renovation and any other development at Kyere Ginnery in Serere District over continued bickering between Teso Cooperative Union – TCU and the residents.
The Ministry says until the Ministry of Internal Affairs sends ballistic experts to ascertain the alleged presence of mercury in the ginnery, no development either from TCU or residents of Kyere must take place.
Both Teso TCU and the community of Kyere have been embroiled in a bitter fight of alleged presence of the mercury. Whereas TCU contends that there intentions in accessing the ginnery is to renovate, the community insists the management wants to steal the mercury that was allegedly planted during the establishment of the factory.
Kyere ginnery was built in 1936.
On Saturday October 15, 2022, Robert Okurut, 15, a Primary Seven pupil of Moruatyang Primary School was injured after sustaining gunshots while over a dozen people also sustained minor injuries when police tried to disperse the unpleased residents and local leaders who were accusing TCU for trying to steal mercury and other precious metals that were allegedly buried in the building by British colonialists in the 1930s.
Teso Affairs Minister Kenneth Ongalo Obote during a consultative meeting called by TCU, Area MPs and local leaders Serere on Monday 21, November 2022, urged Teso Cooperative Union and Kyere community to stop any activity or further development at the Ginnery.
According to Ongalo before any other development, government wants to make sure that people are safe.
“Until ballistic experts have been sent to assess the alleged existence of mercury in the ginnery, i am ordering that no development must take place. I am requesting TCU not to open the safe until Internal Affairs Ministry sends experts,” Ongalo said.
Hellen Adoa the state minister for Fisheries also Serere Woman MP asked individuals taking advantage of Kyere Ginnery saga for monetary gains to stop while urging them to desist from inciting violence and fights.
She said that, “Our Fore-fathers used Kyere Ginnery for development not for fights. They managed to educate their children through Cooperatives unlike today where we are operating without a commercial commodity.”
Kasilo MP also Chairperson TCU Elijah Okupa said that TCU has no intention of stealing the alleged mercury while adding that TCU is currently undertaking renovating all its assets.
He asked the Kyere residents to register as members in the cooperative society.
Patrick Okabe MP Serere County on his part said that what happened was because the people were unpleased with what was happening without community sensitization.
He asked TCU to appreciate the people of Kyere for taking care off the property before taking over the management of the ginnery.
Stephen Ochola the LCV Serere called for vigilance amongst the people of Kyere and report on any suspicious persons trying to gain access to the ginnery illegally
Nakamiya Harriet RDC Serere told the people of Kyere to be calm as appropriate action is being taken by government.
Residents like; Oule Abraham, Okurut John Robert, Ojoo William Wilberforce and Opolot Philip Gonzaga retired CAO urged TCU to engage experts to establish what’s inside the ginnery before any development can be done.