Mmengo Condemns Gvt Move To Scrap UCDA, Urges Farmers To Grow More Coffee
By Angel Lubowa
MMENGO
THE Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga has condemned government’s controversial push to scrap the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), saying that such a move would jeopardise the livelihoods of about two million Ugandan households.
In his strong statement, he emphasised that coffee farming is critical to the survival of many Ugandans and urged farmers to persist in their efforts despite political wrangling.
Buganda, a prominent contributor to Uganda’s coffee exports, has long championed the Emmwanyi Terimba Initiative, which encourages coffee farming across the kingdom and beyond.
With Baganda farmers reportedly contributing nearly 50% of the nation’s coffee exports, scrapping UCDA has raised concerns among community leaders who view it as a punitive measure aimed at weakening the Buganda region’s influence in the coffee sector.
The Katikkiro said that the amendment, supported by Speaker Anita Among and others, may be politically motivated, framing it as a “victory” against the Baganda people.
“Emmwanyi Terimba Initiative will go on unabated,” he tweeted, referring to the kingdom’s efforts to promote coffee farming. “I urge Baganda (and other Ugandans) to continue growing coffee: your livelihood is more important than the motives of present-day politicians.”
The UCDA has long played a central role in regulating coffee production in Uganda, providing support and guidance to farmers across the country.
Many stakeholders fear that scrapping the agency could lead to market instability, which would disproportionately impact small-scale farmers. Coffee farming is not just a livelihood but a cultural cornerstone for many Ugandans, particularly in Buganda, where the crop has historically been significant.
While supporters claim it aims to reduce regulatory costs, opponents argue it could cause long-term damage to Uganda’s coffee sector.