A widespread outbreak of coffee diseases is ravaging plantations across the Masaka sub-region, destroying crops, reducing yields, and putting the livelihoods of thousands of farmers at risk.
Coffee wilt disease, the black coffee twig borer, and other destructive pests have emerged as major threats, drying out branches and weakening entire coffee trees across affected farms. In many plantations, the impact is already severe, with farmers reporting premature dropping of immature coffee cherries, leaving once-productive gardens nearly barren.
Dennis Ssebinojjo, the District Agricultural Officer for Masaka, described the situation as alarming.
“We are witnessing a rapid spread of coffee diseases across the region, and farmers are losing up to 50 percent of their expected yields. If this trend continues, it will significantly affect both household incomes and overall production,” he said.
Farmers in the region are also raising concerns about a new, unidentified disease that appears to attack healthy trees from within. Reports indicate that affected trees gradually rot internally before suddenly collapsing, a development that has heightened fear among growers.
Bernard Mukasa, a large-scale farmer managing nearly 60 acres of coffee, said the outbreak has already caused him significant financial losses.
“This is the worst I have seen in years. Many trees on my plantation have been wiped out. We had hope because prices were improving, but now we are counting losses instead of profits,” Mukasa said.
Dr. Nfuga Richard, a coffee farmer and nursery operator, emphasized the central role coffee plays in the region’s economy.
“Coffee is not just a crop here—it is the backbone of our economy. When coffee suffers, every household feels the impact. Without urgent intervention, we risk a serious economic decline in this region,” he warned.
Local leaders are also concerned. Pokino Jude Muleke, the Buddu County chief, noted that communities in the area are heavily dependent on coffee for survival.
“If these diseases are not controlled, many families will lose their only source of income. The effects will go beyond farms and affect entire communities,” he said.
Muleke urged farmers to adopt improved disease control measures, including the use of clean planting materials, proper pruning, and better farm management practices.
“Farmers must embrace modern agricultural practices and work closely with extension workers to contain the spread of these diseases,” he added.
Coffee has long been a backbone crop in the Buganda region, driving economic activity and supporting millions of households. In the greater Masaka region, which includes ten districts and Masaka City, coffee production accounts for approximately 42 percent of Uganda’s total output.
Despite years of challenges such as fluctuating global prices, the recent surge in coffee prices had renewed hope among farmers. However, the ongoing outbreak is now reversing those gains and plunging many into uncertainty.
Experts and experienced farmers are calling for immediate and coordinated action to control the spread of pests and diseases. They emphasize the need for increased government support, farmer sensitization, and access to disease-resistant coffee varieties.
Uganda’s coffee sector remains a vital pillar of the national economy, ranking as the country’s second-largest foreign exchange earner. Last year alone, coffee exports generated about 2 billion dollars from 8.4 million bags, underscoring the urgency of protecting the crop from further devastation.
