A member of Eastern Equatoria state Legislative Assembly demands that former government officials be accountable for spoiled food in the government strategic reserves.
Kapoeta South County Member of Parliament Paul Napwon urged the public to seek explanations from officials who handled the strategic food programme, Emmanuel Radio reported.Mr. Napwon wondered why food grains could rot while the state was under hunger threat.
Mr. Napwon’s initiative follows a report that poor storage has led to contamination of over three tons of food grains in government strategic food reserves in the state.
He said the state government should have subsidized the cost of food with money saved from staff cuts in order to make it affordable for people and save lives of those who died of famine.
Eastern Equatoria state Director General of Finance, Mr. Alfred Kayumba, denied recent cases of food spoilage in the store.
He insisted that only 500 bags got spoilt last year which was condemned and burnt.
Mr. Kayumba says the contaminated grains that were burnt were valued at 15,000 Sudanese pounds.
The Director General of Finance said the state has problems selling a fresh stock of grain it purchased.
Mr. Kayumba explained that local traders imported grain and they sell it at lower prices than the one of the government.