Vanilla farmers in the western districts of Kasese and Ntoroko have appealed to Vincent Ssempijja, the minister of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries minister to lobby government to provide security for their vanilla farms.
The minister was in Kasese for a familiarization tour. The farmers told him that they have lost a lot of the crop to thieves who normally strike at night.
The minister told the farmers that government was already securing vanilla gardens since it was a major source of income for the people and government.
Bwera Divisional Police commander Vincent Mwesigye claimed that some UPDF officers were aiding Vanilla theft in the area.
Deputy Chief Defence Forces Lt. Gen., Wilson Mbasu Mbadi recently told Vanilla farmers in Mukono district to prepare to train in gun use.