Published on 14/11/2024
Opposition Leader Joel Ssenyonyi has challenged President Museveni to provide evidence for his claim that coffee seedlings are only distributed to opposition Members of parliament.
Speaking to journalists at Parliament on November 12, 2024, Ssenyonyi warned that unsubstantiated statements risk deepening a culture of political propaganda. He highlighted coffee’s role in securing Uganda’s economic future, urging citizens to embrace coffee cultivation for lasting prosperity.
Following a meeting with the Opposition Caucus, Ssenyonyi emphasized that such initiatives should remain nonpartisan, stressing that agriculture’s success depends on unity and trust, not divisive rhetoric.
“Now that President Museveni sees we’ve put up a strong defense, he’s resorted to propaganda. To claim that the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) is only distributing coffee seedlings to the Opposition is unfounded. How do you explain NRM MPs, who previously defended UCDA, also speaking in favor of the seedlings?” Ssenyonyi asked.
He added, “We demand proof from the President. We won’t accept propaganda, even from someone in the State House. Just because you occupy State House doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want without evidence. We expect him to substantiate his claims so that such behavior is not normalized.”
Ssenyonyi also expressed support for increasing coffee production across Uganda, especially in regions where it has yet to be adopted. He urged Ugandans to grow more coffee as part of an economic strategy to empower the nation.
“We are encouraging Ugandans to grow more coffee. The fight for coffee hasn’t ended—some think it’s over, but coffee will be here for generations. President Museveni may think he’s won, but the future of coffee production in Uganda is not in his hands,” Ssenyonyi said.
The Leader of Opposition condemned the violence that erupted in Parliament last week over the Coffee Bill, describing the incident as unacceptable. He criticized the disruption of parliamentary proceedings and the harassment of MPs and journalists.
“Parliament is meant for intellectual debate, but last week it descended into violence. Journalists were forcefully removed, detained, and prevented from reporting. The network was even jammed to prevent communication. This is despicable,” Ssenyonyi stated.
The Opposition Caucus has vowed to demand answers from Speaker Anita Among regarding the identities of the individuals responsible for the violence in the chambers. They also plan to question her decision to expunge Ssenyonyi’s remarks from the Parliamentary record.
“We want to know who raided Parliament. If Speaker Among claims I was wrong about the involvement of security operatives, she must tell us who was behind the attack,” Ssenyonyi said.
The Opposition is also questioning the rationale behind the suspension of 12 MPs, describing the move as discriminatory. Ssenyonyi pointed out that MPs from both sides of the House were involved in heckling, but only the Opposition members were punished.
“When MPs are suspended, they should be named and a justification given. Why were only Opposition MPs suspended? Why were NRM MPs, who were also heckling, exempted?” Ssenyonyi asked.
The Opposition Caucus is committed to pushing for the revival of cash crops, including coffee, to boost Uganda’s economy. Ssenyonyi highlighted the decline of other cash crops like cotton, vanilla, and sugarcane, and called for government action to support the agriculture sector.
“We’ve seen what happened to cotton, vanilla, and sugarcane. In Eastern Uganda, the price of sugarcane has dropped drastically—from Shs250,000 per ton to Shs50,000. We need to revive these industries,” Ssenyonyi said.
The Opposition also criticized the government’s rationalization of public agencies, arguing that taxpayer money is being misused in several projects, such as the construction of the Lubowa Specialized Hospital and the Atiak Sugar Factory. They called for an end to such spending if the government is serious about reducing waste.
“We lose over Shs10 trillion annually to corruption. If President Museveni is genuinely interested in saving taxpayer money, he should focus on tackling corruption rather than defending the corrupt,” Ssenyonyi concluded.
