Exclusive:President Museveni Set to Address Nation on Controversial National Coffee Bill.

WHAT TO EXPECT

President Museveni is scheduled to address Ugandans today regarding the National Coffee Amendment Bill, a proposal stirring significant debate across the country. This anticipated address comes in the wake of intense discussions among MPs and stakeholders over a bill that seeks to dissolve and shift its duties to the .

Key Points:

The proposed changes aim to streamline government operations and reduce administrative costs. However, the move has met strong opposition from numerous MPs and local leaders, especially in Buganda, who express strong concerns over the potential impacts on Uganda’s coffee sector.

President Museveni is expected to defend the bill, asserting that it would eliminate what he termed “parasitic agencies” and support socio-economic transformation. However, some MPs argue that dismantling the UCDA could strip the sector of the specialized support crucial for maintaining Uganda’s coffee quality and bolstering its export growth.

The document below outlines what you missed during the Cabinet meeting President Museveni held in November in Masaka.

The bill was passed into law on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, with a heated plenary session that saw at least 305 MPs in attendance. The decision to approve the rationalization of UCDA functions under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) was met with tight security around Parliament. Over 12 MPs were unable to contribute their views due to the commotion that ensued during the session.

This legislative change aims to relieve the government of financial strain caused by the UCDA’s administration, with proponents arguing that the Ministry could perform these roles at a lower cost.

Despite this, many Ugandans fear that merging UCDA into a larger ministry could weaken the support system for farmers, reduce coffee quality, and slow the progress of Uganda’s coffee sector. Without UCDA’s specialized focus, Uganda’s coffee industry risks losing its competitive edge in global markets.

There are additional worries that shifting responsibilities to a less specialized ministry might hinder Uganda’s goal of doubling coffee exports by 2030, impacting coffee-producing regions that rely heavily on UCDA’s initiatives, such as free seedling programs.

Uganda’s coffee industry stands at a significant crossroads, with policy reforms coinciding with record-breaking performance in exports.

Don’t Miss the President’s National Address on This Critical Issue!