The Isabaruuli of the Buruuli Cultural Institution, Mwogezi Butamanya, has launched a community-wide coffee farming campaign in Nakasongola District, with the aim of using agriculture to uplift livelihoods and fight rural poverty.
The campaign, flagged off in Kasambya Village, Kakooge Sub-county, is expected to distribute over 100,000 coffee seedlings to at least 500 farmers across the region.
The initiative targets both income generation and food security, with additional plans to introduce fruits and poultry farming in areas less suitable for coffee.
“This campaign is broad and will cover every part of Nakasongola,” said the Isabaruuli.
“Where coffee can’t grow, we shall promote mangoes, oranges, and local chicken. We want every home to have a livelihood,” he said.
The Isabaruuli also used the event to rally his people to take full advantage of government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, noting that cultural institutions must take the lead in creating economically resilient communities.
The campaign is also tapping into the health of the people.
Butamanya advised households to adopt preventive lifestyles, including regular medical check-ups and the use of locally available remedies like aloe vera.
He encouraged fruit tree planting not only for nutrition but also for environmental protection.
However, the cultural leader expressed concern over land grabbing, which he said is a growing challenge that threatens agricultural development in Buruuli.
“Land insecurity is a major obstacle. People are afraid to invest in their land because they fear being evicted. This frustrates development and discourages potential investors,” he said, urging government authorities to act.
Samuel Kasirye, Prime Minister of the Buruuli Cultural Institution, said that while local farmers had been mobilised and trained, delays in seedling distribution by the government had forced the cultural institution to step in.
“We are rolling this out to Kakooge, Katuugo, Wabinyonyi, Kalungi, and beyond,” Kasirye said.
Sarah Nakamya, the Minister for Agriculture in the Buruuli Cultural Institution, urged farmers to take proper care of their plantations to ensure a return on investment.
"Control pests, water your crops, manage weeds, and apply fertilisers when necessary,” she said.
She also underscored the importance of post-harvest handling: “Dry your coffee on cemented yards and store it in clean containers. Quality begins in the garden and ends at the store.”
The event was hosted by James Byansi, a local farmer whose two-acre coffee plantation served as the model for the launch.
While welcoming the support, he said farmers still need help managing pests, which continue to hurt productivity.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner Gordon Musinguzi commended the cultural institution for backing the NRM government’s 2021–2026 manifesto, which places agriculture at the centre of Uganda’s development agenda.
“This coffee initiative supports national goals of improving both production and quality,” Musinguzi said.
“It shows what is possible when culture and government work together.”
With the distribution now underway, the Buruuli cultural institution hopes the campaign will not only uplift household incomes but also reaffirm farming as a dignified and pofitable venture in rural Uganda.