Published on 06/11/2024
Proposed merger of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) with the Ministry of Agriculture, Opposition legislators have pledged to block the move in today’s plenary session as tension rises.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi addressed the media on Tuesday at Parliament, voicing concern over heightened security measures and suggesting further deployments for the upcoming session.
“We will resume where we left off, committed to defending the economic empowerment of Ugandans. Parliament has already been cordoned off, and we anticipate even more extensive deployments, including both uniformed and plainclothes military personnel. This will not deter us,” Ssenyonyi asserted.
The joint Opposition caucus emphasized that their mandate is to protect the economic interests of Ugandans. “We are here because the people elected us, not by invitation,” Ssenyonyi said. “Intimidation and threats of arrest have no effect on us; we have faced such tactics before and will stand firm.”
Criticizing the Executive’s interference with parliamentary independence, Ssenyonyi argued, “President Museveni appears to believe Parliament should follow his directives. But Parliament is an independent institution, and MPs should not be coerced into passing the Coffee Bill based on Cabinet’s instructions.”
He also condemned attempts to frame the coffee debate as a regional issue, noting that coffee production is vital to numerous districts across Uganda, not just Buganda. “This is not just a Buganda issue; coffee supports livelihoods in various regions. Let’s avoid dividing Ugandans over this matter,” Ssenyonyi urged.
The Opposition further accused the government of hypocrisy, questioning its motives for advocating the UCDA merger as a cost-cutting measure while supporting an expanded Cabinet, additional districts, and numerous Presidential advisors.
“This administration isn’t genuinely committed to economic empowerment for Ugandans. Under its watch, cooperatives have collapsed, denying people financial stability,” Ssenyonyi remarked.
Defending UCDA’s role as a strategic entity, Ssenyonyi argued that the agency plays a critical role in Uganda’s coffee industry, which has seen tremendous growth.
“While the Ministry of Agriculture has its challenges, UCDA—though not perfect—has the potential to drive our coffee sector forward,” he said, encouraging MPs from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to prioritize the needs of their constituents over Cabinet’s directives.
The National Coffee (Amendment) Bill was initially read in Parliament on September 24, 2024, and was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries for review, as per Rule 129 (1) of the parliamentary Rules of Procedure. The bill passed its second reading on October 24, 2024, amid heated debate in the House.
During the session on October 24, Speaker Anita Among called for a headcount vote after several MPs contested the initial voice vote. The results showed 159 MPs in favor of the merger and 77 against. “The ayes have it,” declared Speaker Among, adjourning the House sine die.
The government maintains that its proposal to merge UCDA with the Ministry of Agriculture is aimed at reducing public spending (RAPEX) and easing the financial burden on government resources.
Established in 1991 under the Uganda Coffee Development Authority Act, UCDA’s mandate includes regulating the coffee value chain, promoting coffee quality, supporting research and development and optimizing earnings for stakeholders. Under the National Coffee Act No. 17 of 2021, UCDA continues to oversee Uganda’s coffee sector, which is a significant contributor to the national economy.
Uganda, one of Africa’s top coffee exporters, increased its coffee revenue from USD 883.3 million to USD 952.24 million between November 2021 and October 2022, recording its highest-ever coffee exports of 6.26 million 60-kilogram bags in the 2021/2022 fiscal year, up from 5.83 million bags in 2020/2021.
