In a powerful statement addressing Uganda’s coffee sector, the Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has expressed deep concern over recent government actions that he believes could harm the livelihoods of millions of Ugandans. Speaking on behalf of the Emmwanyi Terimba Initiative, which was established in 2016 to alleviate poverty following the Ettoffaali Drive, Mayiga highlighted achievements in collaboration with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). This partnership, he noted, saw the distribution of 10 million seedlings and the provision of extension services, leading to a significant improvement in coffee crop quality and quantity across the country.
Mayiga argued that Uganda’s coffee sector suffers financially due to limited value addition, with most of the crop being sold raw, or “kase,” instead of in a processed form. He pointed out that even wealthier coffee-exporting countries like Brazil and Vietnam primarily sell unprocessed coffee because large European and American markets prefer to grind fresh coffee at consumer outlets.
The Katikiro urged the government to further support and retain the UCDA, emphasizing the agency’s critical role in advising on farming practices, enhancing crop quality both on the farm and post-harvest, and promoting coffee consumption within Uganda. He also stressed the importance of exploring coffee by-products, which could increase revenue and diversify the sector.
However, Mayiga raised red flags over recent government actions perceived as attempts to control the coffee industry. He cited the Coffee Bill 2020, which proposed severe penalties for farmers abandoning their coffee farms, and the controversial agreement with Enrica Penneti that could establish a coffee monopoly. He also pointed to the UCDA (Amendment) Bill, which aims to dismantle the UCDA, an agency that millions rely on for support.
“These maneuvers point to unclear motives, more so when stakeholders’ views are not respected,” Mayiga stated, reflecting a widespread sentiment among coffee farmers and industry players. His statement calls into question the government’s intentions and emphasizes the importance of including key stakeholders in decisions affecting the coffee sector, a critical economic backbone for Uganda.
