In a bid to address mounting tensions within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party over the contentious Coffee Amendment Bill, President Yoweri Museveni has summoned NRM Members of Parliament for a caucus meeting on Friday at his Kisozi Country Farm in Gomba District.
The bill, which proposes merging the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) with the Ministry of Agriculture, has sparked a fierce debate in Parliament, particularly with opposition from the Buganda Caucus and Kingdom.
According to an invitation letter from Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua, who also chairs the NRM Caucus, MPs are expected to gather at the Kisozi farm at 9:30 a.m. on November 1.
The letter specifies that the agenda of the meeting remains undisclosed, but MPs have been instructed to bring suitable footwear for anticipated farm tours, hinting at a likely discussion on coffee and agricultural policies.
Brewing Coffee Controversy
The proposed Coffee Amendment Bill has drawn strong opposition from both MPs and stakeholders in the Buganda Kingdom, who argue that dissolving UCDA would have severe repercussions on Uganda’s coffee industry and impact millions reliant on coffee for their livelihoods.
Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister Peter Mayiga warned that eliminating UCDA could “punish the Baganda,” noting that coffee production remains a vital economic pillar for the region.
Proponents of the bill argue that integrating UCDA’s functions with the Ministry of Agriculture is part of an ongoing rationalisation effort aimed at reducing redundancy in government agencies.
This rationalisation process, initiated in February 2021, is intended to streamline government expenditures and improve service delivery by curbing overlapping roles.
The government maintains that the bill aligns with its mission to optimise agricultural productivity.
Museveni’s Remarks on Coffee Development
President Museveni, speaking over the weekend, expressed his dissatisfaction with claims that UCDA alone had transformed Uganda’s coffee sector.
Instead, he attributed much of the success to wider government programmes such as Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and the Parish Development Model (PDM), which he credits with pulling Ugandans into the money economy.
“If UCDA and NAADS were successful, why were 68% of homesteads still outside the money economy by 2013?” Museveni said, pointing to OWC’s significant contributions compared to other agencies.
Political Implications for NRM
The Buganda Caucus has pledged to continue its resistance to the bill, foreshadowing a potentially prolonged political standoff that could have lasting implications for the ruling NRM party ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Some MPs have warned that alienating coffee farmers in Buganda could impact the party’s support in the region, particularly if their livelihoods are perceived to be at risk.
As President Museveni prepares to meet with NRM MPs on Friday, the coffee sector will likely take centre stage, underscoring the importance of agriculture in Uganda’s political landscape.
Observers are watching closely to see if the meeting will yield any compromises or resolutions on the Coffee Amendment Bill, as both sides remain firm in their positions.
