The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), in collaboration with Kasese District Local Government and other government agencies, handed over coffee processing equipment to various coffee cooperatives in Kasese as part of efforts to promote value addition and accelerate agricultural commercialization.
The equipment was delivered under a government initiative dubbed “Enhancing Commercialization of Agriculture for Socio-Economic Transformation: A Case of Value Addition through Coffee Processing in Kasese District.” The project forms part of ongoing capacity-building efforts aimed at strengthening the whole-of-government approach to public service delivery.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at Kasese Multipurpose Hall, David Kasura-Kyomukama said the initiative was being implemented in partnership with Kasese District Local Government and had been designed as an integrated model for rural transformation.
He noted that the project links coffee value addition, agro-industrialization, and tourism to create sustainable economic opportunities for farming communities.
“The initiative seeks to transform livelihoods by improving post-harvest handling, promoting value addition, and encouraging domestic coffee consumption. It is intended to empower farmers, strengthen market linkages, and enhance Uganda’s competitiveness in the global coffee market,” he said.
The event was presided over by three Permanent Secretaries, including David Kasura-Kyomukama, Yunus Kakande, and Doreen Katusiime.
Officials said the support would enable coffee cooperatives to improve the quality of their products, increase earnings for farmers, and create employment opportunities along the coffee value chain.
They further emphasized that promoting coffee processing at the local level would reduce post-harvest losses and ensure that farmers earn more from their produce through value-added products.
The leaders encouraged beneficiaries to make proper use of the equipment to strengthen production and processing capacities. They noted that the initiative would contribute to Uganda’s agro-industrialization agenda while fostering socio-economic transformation in Kasese and beyond.
Government officials also highlighted the district’s potential to combine coffee production with tourism, saying Kasese’s unique coffee heritage could attract more visitors and investment to the region.
The project is expected to serve as a model for other districts seeking to enhance agricultural commercialization through value addition and rural industrialization.
