Members of Parliament (MPs) from coffee-growing regions in Uganda have expressed strong opposition to a government proposal to dissolve the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and transfer its duties to the Ministry of Agriculture.
In a plenary session on Thursday, MPs voiced concerns that this shift would jeopardise the success of the coffee sector, citing the Ministry’s track record with crops like vanilla and tea, which have struggled under its management.
Joseph Ssewungu, MP for Kalungu West, questioned the government’s intent, accusing it of hindering efforts to improve prosperity in the coffee sector.
“You killed coffee after fighting the NRA battle, and people have struggled to revive it through UCDA,” Ssewungu argued.
He emphasised that UCDA has been instrumental in assisting farmers and ensuring the quality of Ugandan coffee for the global market, while expressing doubts about the Ministry of Agriculture’s ability to handle such a significant role.
In response, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Bright Rwamirama, suggested that MPs’ objections stemmed from a misunderstanding.
He noted that the government had outlined a three-year transitional period to address this gap in understanding among stakeholders.
Despite efforts by some MPs to halt the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Parliament proceeded with the vote, with 159 MPs approving the Bill’s advancement to the Committee stage and 77 opposing.
The debate over the bill will resume in the coming sessions of Parliament.
Established in 1991, the UCDA has helped the coffee industry grow, contributing to Uganda’s coffee exports, which generated $1.35 billion from September 2023 to August 2024.