Coffee Spills in Parliament, Forces Adjournment

In a dramatic turn of events, the Ugandan Parliament adjourned sine die following a contentious debate over the National Coffee Amendment Bill, which seeks to dissolve the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and transfer its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The aroma of coffee usually unites nostrils but in Parliament on Thursday, legislators scented a stench and lost it when the matter of coffee came down hard.

In a dramatic turn of events, the Ugandan Parliament adjourned sine die following a contentious debate over the National Coffee Amendment Bill, which seeks to dissolve the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and transfer its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The move has sparked fierce resistance among Members of Parliament (MPs), who fear for the future of the country's coffee industry.

The session, which began at 11:30am, quickly escalated into a heated exchange.

MPs from coffee-growing regions passionately argued that abolishing the UCDA would mirror the decline of the vanilla and tea sectors, both of which have struggled under the Ministry’s management.

Aisha Kabanda, the MP for Butambala, voiced her concerns, stating, “It isn’t the privilege of Government to take away everything they establish as they desire. When you create entities, they aren’t for you, they are for the nationals... it isn’t upon you to take it away.”

Connie Nakayenze from Mbale City questioned the logic behind the Committee of Agriculture's favorable report on UCDA, arguing that merging it with the Ministry would harm the livelihoods of coffee farmers.

“If you remove UCDA, it is like you are draining blood from all the Bagisu because they depend on coffee,” she asserted.

Geoffrey Lutaaya, representing Kakuuto County, lamented the government's lack of true patriotism, saying, “You know the curse you are creating for your family... What coffee means to most of our families.”

Similarly, Joseph Ssewungu of Kalungu West posed a critical question: “Why do you fear people becoming rich? Why? Why do you fear people having money?”

The debate underscored a divide among MPs, with some representing cotton and dairy interests advocating for their entities to be returned to the Ministry.

Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi emphasized the need to heed the voices from coffee-growing areas, suggesting the Ministry has failed to manage other agricultural sectors effectively.

“If the Ministry of Agriculture is doing well, let the Minister tell us one crop which they have done so well to give us a basis of confidence that they are up to anything,” he remarked.

As tensions rose in the chamber, Speaker Anita Among called for a vote, but over 40 MPs stood in opposition, leading to a prolonged standoff.

Following consultations, the Speaker announced that voting would take place in the parliamentary lobbies.

Ultimately, the session concluded without a resolution, leaving the future of Uganda’s coffee industry in a precarious state.

Stakeholders and coffee farmers alike are left questioning whether their livelihoods are at risk as the government deliberates its next steps.