Representatives of the Kabaka in Mutuba 1, Buwunga Sub-county, Masaka District, have received coffee seedlings as part of a royal initiative aimed at boosting household incomes and fostering self-reliance through agriculture.
The seedlings will establish a royal demonstration plantation at the sub-county headquarters, under a programme led by youth mobiliser Christopher Mbigo Matovu.
Mbigo, who has declared interest in the Bukoto East parliamentary seat, said the initiative seeks to fight poverty and transform rural livelihoods.
“We are empowering our people through agriculture. This project will not only support the Kabaka’s vision but also strengthen the economic base of our communities,” Mbigo said during the handover.
He added that similar projects would soon be rolled out in other sub-counties within the Kabaka’s jurisdiction, expanding access to sustainable farming and promoting resilience among rural households.
Beatrice Mpanga Nabiseere, the Kabaka’s envoy in Mutuba 1, praised the effort as a step toward reducing dependency on donations and building a self-sustaining community.
“This is a timely intervention. With these seedlings, we hope to generate funds locally and address our challenges more sustainably,” she said.
Despite the optimism, local leaders voiced concerns about the growing difficulty of accessing genuine coffee seedlings, the prevalence of counterfeit agro-inputs, and the threat of pests—factors they say continue to undermine agricultural productivity.
“There’s a real struggle in accessing genuine seedlings, and many of our farmers are discouraged by pest infestations and counterfeit agrochemicals,” a council member noted.
Still, residents hope the project will not only increase income but also inspire renewed confidence in farming as a viable path to economic independence.