Uganda’s Coffee Industry Set for Transformation
By The Public Lens
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to revolutionize Uganda’s coffee industry by increasing its quality and profitability, aiming to earn between $25-40 per kilogram, up from the current $2.5 per kilogram .
This ambitious goal is expected to create more job opportunities for Ugandans.
During his State of the Nation address on November 7, 2024, President Museveni criticized those opposing the merger of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) with the Ministry of Agriculture.
He emphasized that research scientists at Kawanda, Kituza, and Serere have been underpaid for their hard work, while UCDA employees received high salaries.
President Museveni stated, “It’s those under NARO who truly support the development and growth of our cash crops, not UCDA, whose employees were receiving high salaries while scientists, who work just as hard, were earning very little”.
He condemned the disparity in salaries, labeling it as indiscipline, lack of patriotism, possible corruption, and criminality.
The President also urged Ugandans to shun imported clothes, especially second-hand garments, which he referred to as “dead people’s clothes.”
Instead, he encouraged citizens to prioritize education to unlock their income-generating potential and meet basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, transportation, medicine, and utilities.
Uganda’s Economic Revival
Between 1962 and 1986, Uganda made significant mistakes that prompted President Museveni’s government to explore alternative revenue streams.
These included tourism, soybean and tobacco cultivation, cotton cultivation, and promoting copper resources. These initiatives boosted the country’s economy, providing previously unavailable income for many Ugandans.
Coffee Industry Reforms
In a related development, the Parliament of Uganda passed the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill 2024 on November 6, 2024, integrating UCDA into the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF).
This move is expected to streamline the coffee industry’s governance and development.
As Uganda’s coffee industry continues to grow, with exports reaching a record-breaking $1.14 billion in 2023/24, the government’s focus on value addition and quality improvement is poised to drive growth and prosperity for Ugandan coffee farmers and the economy at large.
