By KT Reporter
The Bishop of Sebei Diocese, Paul Masaba Kiptoo, has warned farmers in the Sebei sub-region against focusing too much on politics and neglecting farming, saying this could lead to food shortages.
Speaking during prayers on Monday, January 19, at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Kapchorwa District, Bishop Kiptoo said many farmers abandon their gardens during election periods to take part in political campaigns and debates.
He noted that after elections, many households struggle to recover because farming activities were put on hold. The Bishop said agriculture is the main source of income in Sebei and warned that ignoring it puts families and the wider community at risk.
“After elections, farmers find it hard to recover because they spend all their time and energy on politics. If this continues, our community could face a serious food crisis,” Bishop Kiptoo said.
He urged residents to balance their civic duties with farming, stressing that political activities should not disrupt planting schedules and land preparation.
Kapchorwa District Commercial Officer, Justine Jims Yeko, supported the Bishop’s message, saying the district has recorded a slowdown in farming activities at the start of the year.
Yeko explained that January is an important time for land preparation ahead of the first planting season, but many farmers delayed ploughing because of prolonged political involvement.
“Farming is a business, and timing matters a lot. When land preparation is delayed, productivity drops, and this affects food security and household income,” Yeko said.
She encouraged farmers to use the current weather conditions to return to their gardens and avoid poor harvests later in the season.
Fredrick Musobo, a farmer from Kapteret Ward in Kapchorwa Municipality, said political activities have disrupted farming schedules in his area. He noted that although land preparation usually begins in January, many farmers have not yet started. Musobo warned that delays in ploughing and planting will likely affect crop yields.
Meanwhile, Nelson Kitiyo, the LC1 Chairperson of Kween Ward, said many families have abandoned routine agricultural duties in favour of political activities. He noted that tasks such as grazing livestock and general farm management have been neglected, putting both crop and animal production at risk.
“Many families have left their farming responsibilities, including grazing animals, to follow political activities. If this continues, we shall face serious challenges as a community,” Kitiyo said. Local leaders and agricultural officials are now calling for increased community awareness to remind residents that while politics is important, farming remains the main source of livelihood for most households in the Sebei sub-region.
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