President Yoweri Museveni will meet National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament at his Kisozi Country Farm in Gomba this Friday.
President Museveni’s meeting with NRM lawmakers may mark a turning point in resolving the contentious Coffee Amendment Bill. The proposed legislation’s impact on the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has sparked fierce opposition, especially from the Buganda Caucus, who fear that livelihoods could be at stake. Museveni’s closed-door meeting could determine the future direction of Uganda’s coffee industry and its alignment with the government’s broader economic goals.
Museveni has called a gathering of NRM Members of Parliament at his scenic Kisozi Country Farm this Friday. Although the agenda has not been disclosed, the timing of the meeting is notable, coming amid heated debates over the Coffee Amendment Bill, which proposes dissolving the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and incorporating it under the Ministry of Agriculture.
The proposed changes have been met with strong resistance, particularly from the Buganda Caucus and the Buganda Kingdom, who argue that dismantling UCDA would be detrimental to Uganda’s coffee industry. Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister Peter Mayiga has also voiced opposition, stating that the Bill would unfairly impact the livelihoods of millions, especially in the Baganda community, who are heavily invested in the coffee sector.
Lawmakers opposing the Bill argue that integrating UCDA into the Ministry of Agriculture would disrupt Uganda’s coffee production chain, putting over 12.5 million livelihoods at risk and destabilizing the country’s economy. “This move would be disastrous for Uganda’s coffee industry,” warned members of the Buganda Caucus, underscoring the potential fallout if UCDA is dissolved.
Proponents of the Bill, however, argue that the restructuring is part of a larger rationalization plan initiated in February 2021. Government officials contend that bringing UCDA under the Ministry of Agriculture will eliminate redundancies, reduce overlap, and improve efficiency by streamlining service delivery within Uganda’s agricultural sector.
Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua sent out invitations to NRM MPs earlier this week, asking them to arrive at 9:30 am and prepare for farm visits during the gathering. The unusual instruction to “carry/put on appropriate footwear” has added to the intrigue surrounding the meeting, as attendees are set to tour Kisozi’s expansive farms—a setting that could inspire discussions about Uganda’s agricultural strategy.
The high-stakes meeting at Kisozi has quickly drawn attention, with many believing that Museveni may use the occasion to address the growing discord within his party regarding the Coffee Amendment Bill. As Uganda’s coffee sector plays a pivotal role in the country’s economy, the outcome of this meeting could have far-reaching implications for the industry’s future and, by extension, the nation’s economic trajectory.
