Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga has called on farmers in Busujju County, Mityana District, to embrace coffee farming as a business enterprise, stressing that the crop remains a key driver of wealth creation and unity in Buganda.
Katikkiro Mayiga made the appeal during his tour of Busujju under the kingdom’s flagship Mwanyi Terimba campaign, which encourages households to grow and sustain coffee as Uganda’s “green gold.”
Addressing farmers, leaders, and community members, Mayiga underscored the need to treat coffee as a commercial crop rather than a subsistence venture.
“Coffee remains Buganda’s and Uganda’s green gold. If you farm it well and in unity, you cannot go wrong. I encourage every household in Busujju to dedicate land to coffee so that together, we fight poverty and build wealth,” he said.
The Katikkiro urged farmers to form groups and savings associations to strengthen their bargaining power in the coffee market.
He noted that cooperation would enable them to secure better prices and sustain their livelihoods.
During the tour, Mayiga visited coffee gardens at Buganga-Ngugulo guided by Capt. Christopher Lutwama, head of the Kabaka’s security and a local farmer.
He commended ongoing efforts but encouraged farmers to adopt modern practices to improve quality and yields.
At Lutwama’s home, the Katikkiro also appealed to parents to instill values of hard work and skills development in their children.
“Let us teach our children practical skills. We should not raise a generation that despises farming. Coffee farming is a dignified business that can secure their future,” he said.
As part of the wider Mwanyi Terimba agenda, Buganda Kingdom is also promoting diversification into beekeeping.
Officials said several farmers in Busujju have received beehives to produce honey, providing an additional income stream while supporting environmental conservation.
The tour was attended by area leaders, including Busujju County MP David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga and Mityana Woman MP Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa. Bagala raised concerns about rampant coffee theft, saying it was frustrating farmers and threatening livelihoods.
“Our people are losing a lot to coffee thieves. And unfortunately, some of this is done deliberately to frustrate us as leaders, knowing there is little we can do,” she said.
Katikkiro Mayiga condemned the theft and urged communities to guard their harvests while calling on government to strengthen anti-theft measures.
He also warned against land fragmentation, urging households to put their land to productive use.
“Land is a treasure. If you use it well, you cannot be poor. Let us stop the misuse of land and instead invest in crops like coffee that guarantee returns,” he noted.
The Mwanyi Terimba campaign remains central to Buganda’s socio-economic agenda, with the kingdom promoting coffee as a unifying crop and a pathway to self-reliance.
With Busujju’s fertile soils and strong coffee-growing tradition, leaders believe the county can play a pivotal role in strengthening the region’s coffee economy.
As the Katikkiro concluded his visit, his message was clear: coffee is not just a crop—it is a lifeline for families, a weapon against poverty, and a bond that holds communities together in Buganda.