Buganda Parliamentary Caucus chairperson, MP Butambala, Muwang Kivumbi
Kampala November 2 — Members of Parliament from Buganda region under their umbrella, “The Buganda Parliamentary” Caucus, are to meet President Museveni at State House, Entebbe to discuss the controversial coffee amendment bill.
According to sources the meeting was brokered by the Buganda Kingdom Katikkiro, Charles Peter Mayiga, in a bid to reach an amicable solution to the coffee amendment bill.
Sources further say Katikkiro Mayiga stealthily had a meeting with the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among in one of the hotels in Entebbe early this week where they discussed the coffee issue and probably connected to President Museveni with whom they held lengthy discussion on coffee amendment bill and agreed to organizing a meeting between the President and legislators of the Buganda caucus.
The meeting between President Museveni and the Buganda Parliamentary caucus is expected to extensively discuss issues regarding the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill 2024 that seeks, among other things, to dissolve the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and transfer its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries.
The chairperson of the Buganda Parliamentary Cause, Muwanga Kivumbi, says the meeting comes after a lengthy conversation between the Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga and President Museveni over the rationalization of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority and the need to develop the coffee industry.
Kivumbi says after the meeting, Katikkiro Mayiga requested Museveni to meet the legislators and listen to their views to come up with a harmonized solution to the heated debate over the coffee bill.
“Of course, we are going to meet Museveni and express our people’s objections to the bill. We are going to meet him in the interest of the Katikkiro who requested the meeting because we know he represents the interests of the people of Buganda,” Kivumbi said.
The Caucus has already established two separate committees to oppose the Coffee Bill.
One committee is tasked with formulating a statement that will be presented to Museveni, whereas another committee is a legal team tasked with analyzing the bill and making recommendations both to the President and Parliament.
This is not the first time Uganda has experienced the coffee crisis which erupts whenever the reigning government tries to take over the overall control of the coffee industry.
In1960s, when the Uganda government under Milton Obote attempted to take over control of coffee prices and exports, led to coffee riots as farmers expressed dissatisfaction of the trend. Also early 1980s, government then tried to take over control of the coffee industry when it appointed the army chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Oyite Ojok to manage the Coffee Marketing Board.
