Bugisu Farmers Rally Against UCDA Merger
In a gathering at the Bugisu Cooperative Union, elders and youth voiced their strong opposition to the National Coffee Amendment Bill 2024.
Farmers in Uganda's Bugisu region are opposing the proposed dissolution of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), a move that would merge it with the Ministry of Agriculture.
This resistance, led by the Bugisu Cooperative Union’s (BCU) Elders Forum, has intensified as locals raise concerns over bureaucratic inefficiencies within the ministry and advocate for UCDA’s independent role.
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In a gathering at the Bugisu Cooperative Union, elders and youth voiced their strong opposition to the National Coffee Amendment Bill 2024.
Holding placards, they urged members of Parliament to reject the bill, questioning the government’s intentions and challenging President Museveni’s insistence on the merger.
They argue that the change risks eroding the support and benefits currently provided by the UCDA.
Local youth leaders, including Trimlet Muweleza Nandaya, Mbale City’s Youth Chairperson, Wilson Lukaya, Industrial Division Youth Councilor, and Mbale District Youth Councilor Fredrick Nambafu, expressed frustration over the perceived lack of transparency surrounding the UCDA’s rationalization.
Lukaya criticized Bugisu’s parliamentary representatives, stating, “The members of Parliament in Bugisu have not protected our pride as Masabaland.”
Farmers emphasized UCDA’s critical role in promoting coffee quality and productivity, doubting the ministry’s ability to deliver equivalent services. They argued that the coffee sector requires a dedicated and autonomous institution, noting the successful coffee-focused agencies in countries like Ethiopia and Brazil.
With coffee production central to their livelihoods, Bugisu’s farmers are calling for the bill’s suspension until its full impact can be assessed. Professor Patrick Kiboma, a prominent figure in the BCU Elders Forum, underscored the need for specialized support.
“If you went to the Ministry of Agriculture today, I doubt there’s a department fully mandated to handle issues of quality control and assurance,” young farmer James Wadada added, highlighting UCDA’s efforts in educating farmers about organic coffee production.
Speaking on behalf of the Bugisu coffee farmers, Professor Kiboma stated firmly, “We, the BCU Elders Forum, oppose the merging of UCDA with the Ministry of Agriculture.”
Renowned for producing some of the world’s finest Arabica coffee, Bugisu farmers aim to preserve a structure that safeguards their interests.
Coffee production, deeply rooted in the slopes of Mount Elgon, is more than just agriculture for these communities; it’s a heritage and a livelihood they are committed to protect.
